Premier Danielle Smith addresses Red Deerians at Christian Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast

“I think it’s so important for elected officials to be encouraged,” he said. “A lot of them confuse role and identity and leaders do that. I wanted to share a message that would really encourage them that who they are is very different than what they do.”

He shared four pitfalls that can hinder people from achieving a healthy identity:

Getting caught in the performance trap: using job performance as a way to solve identity issues
Battle for attention: particularly on social media, creating an identity based on what is seen and promoted
Seeking approval from others: becoming a people pleasurer instead of a leader
What society says: being pressured by others into what and how to think

Reyes said that his company works with the Department of Education in the U.S. to share messages of leadership, like listening and respect, in presentations to young students through a value-based curriculum. He said students can take these concepts to help them build their lives and would be open to sharing them with Alberta students if called upon.

SMITH

The Premier gave an update on the province’s priorities in education, finances, and addictions recovery.

She first spoke about the controversial transgender youth policy, introduced to the public this February. Some changes include students 15 and under requiring parental consent for name and pronoun changes, and other restrictions on hormone therapy, surgery, and participation in sports.

READ: Alberta Premier Smith says new transgender youth policy arriving this fall, critics call it damaging

She said one of the jobs of her government, “is protecting the rights of children to be able to make their own choice and have children of their own one day and to protect the right of parents to be the principle guide and overseer of the child’s education.”

Reyes added: “It’s so important for a child to make a permanent decision, they have to be able to have the maturity to make that decision, and that comes with anything in life if you think about it. There’s a reason why there’s an age for drinking.”

Referencing Reyes’ book, Smith said it’s important to awaken the potential in young minds that they can achieve anything in their future. She pointed to a Statistics Canada census in 2021 showing that 31 per cent of people aged 25 – 64 have a bachelor’s degree or higher in Alberta. She said it is government’s job to ensure the remaining 70 per cent have other alternatives to give them the confidence to go on their own paths, whether it be in trades, entrepreneurship, or other.

Hundreds attend at Red Deer’s Christian Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at the Pidherney Centre on Thursday. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

Secondly, she spoke about conservative values of fiscal responsibility and how they must use the $70 billion of taxpayer funds in a way that maximizes the happiness and future for Albertans. She said part of the reason they want to introduce the Provincial Priorities Act, which would allow them to veto deals struck between municipalities and the federal government, is because Ottawa does not have the same lens to what Albertans find valuable, particularly regarding mental health.

READ: CP NewsAlert: Alberta introduces bill giving it gatekeeping role on federal funding

The Town of Sylvan Lake was one of the six communities in Alberta to receive funding from the federal government for housing this year.

Mayor Megan Hansen said 550 diverse housing units, including apartments, are expected to be built over three years, with funds given to partners within the next few months. She said she is cautious about any policies that will add red tape but will wait to see the province’s details.

“At the end of the day, we are happy to accept funds for the things that align with our strategic plans so however that gets to us, I’m not sure we’re too picky, as long as the funds are flowing and we’re able to support the things that are important to our residents,” she said.

READ: Helping build more homes, faster in Sylvan Lake

Finally, Smith added the province is continuing their Recovery Oriented System of Care model, with the recent announcement of Recovery Alberta, a new entity that will deliver mental health and addictions services instead of Alberta Health Services.

READ: Province details ‘Recovery Alberta’, new mental health and addiction agency

She shared the challenges places like B.C. are having, with nurses dealing with increased exposure to illicit drugs in harm reduction facilities and an inability to search patients’ belongings through decriminalization of drugs.

On the other hand, she says in Alberta she has heard various anecdotes of people turning their life around with the increased options for recovery, particularly in the correctional system.

She gave a shoutout to Red Deer for holding the first Recovery Summit.

READ: Red Deer welcomes over 300 guests to first Recovery Summit; praised by province

Mayor Ken Johnston said they City will be hosting another summit in October, with details to come this Fall.

“We have to prepare now for the best opportunity for the people now to succeed, which would be the housing equation and so on. We need to be into where we’re receiving people who are in recovery and giving them the best shot at staying in recovery,” he said.

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by Alessia Proietti

Premier Danielle Smith addresses Red Deerians at Christian Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast

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