Minister of Infrastructure Pete Guthrie (Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Pete Guthrie

Minister of Infrastructure receives mandate letter from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith

Jul 26, 2023 | 4:19 PM

Premier Danielle Smith has issued a mandate letter to Minister of Infrastructure Pete Guthrie calling on him to continue to build Alberta.

In her letter, the Premier outlines her expectations that Alberta continues to offer a high quality of life and has the infrastructure in place to support the services that Albertans need.

She asks Minister Guthrie to deliver on platform commitments, including:

• Working with the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, who is the lead, to build and operationalize 11 new recovery communities in key locations throughout the province.

  READ: Premier Kenney cuts the ribbon on Red Deer Recovery Community

• In cooperation with the Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, who is the lead, and the Minister of Municipal Affairs, to contribute up to $330 million towards road and bridge construction, LRT connection, site utilities, site reclamation and other supportive infrastructure to support the Calgary arena and entertainment district project. This funding includes up to $30 million for a new 1,000-seat community arena neighbouring the main arena to serve youth and amateur hockey.

The Premier also tasks Minister Guthrie with:

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• Analyzing the current process for building schools and hospitals with a view to accelerate construction timelines and reduce cost.
• Modernizing building contracts for Alberta Infrastructure projects to reduce red tape and costs for contracted businesses.
• As lead, working with the Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors and the President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Finance, to propose a formula that provides guidance on the amount of capital funding that should be budgeted each year to ensure long-term greater predictability for our industry partners while ensuring infrastructure resiliency and effective maintenance of the network. This should include assessing innovative financing and funding opportunities for infrastructure solutions, such as financing public-private partnerships and other government sources.
• Working with the Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, who is the lead, to develop a building naming policy that celebrates and exemplifies Alberta’s culture.
• Working with the Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, to accelerate priority investments identified by Cabinet and Caucus.
• Working with Jobs, Economy and Trade, to assist in designing a ministry-specific job-attraction strategy to raise the awareness of young Albertans (aged 16 to 24) and adults changing careers of the skilled trades and professions available in the construction industry, including pathways for education, apprenticeship and training.

“Alberta’s economy is booming and we need to ensure that we have the proper infrastructure in place to meet the needs of Albertans for years to come. Throughout this mandate I look forward to working together as we continue to build the hospitals, schools and recovery centres Albertans need now and into the future,” said Guthrie.

Jasvir Deol, Alberta NDP Critic for Infrastructure, made a statement in response to the Infrastructure mandate letter:

“I’m shocked that Danielle Smith didn’t give a word of direction to advance work on the South Edmonton Hospital – which the UCP candidates in South Edmonton made as their main election issue – or a new Stollery Children’s Hospital facility, a North Calgary Health Centre, or a Lethbridge training hub. None of these campaign promises were mentioned in the Health mandate letter either.

“There is also no plan here to build the many schools we so desperately need in growing communities. The dire need for more classroom space was not addressed in the Education mandate letter yesterday either.

“Smith has dropped all these campaign promises within weeks of making them.

“Instead of a blueprint to build the future of Alberta’s economy, the Infrastructure Minister mandate letter is a brutal let-down for Alberta families banking on improved health care or education in their neighbourhood.”