Western Standard - The First Session of the 31st Legislature, Speech from the Throne.

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00:02:30.000 Thank you.

00:03:00.000 the prayer lord the god of righteousness and truth grant to our king and to his government

00:03:22.520 to members of the legislative assembly and to all in positions of responsibility the guidance

00:03:27.100 of your spirit. May they never lead the province wrongly through love of power, desire to please,

00:03:33.380 or unworthy ideas, but laying aside all private interest and prejudice. Keep in mind the

00:03:39.560 responsibility to seek to improve the condition of all. Amen. Honorable members, please remain

00:03:48.380 standing, Elder Leonard Saddleback of the Samson Cree First Nation, who is

00:03:56.360 joined by his wife Julia Gibson, will now offer a blessing.

00:04:18.380 my prayer is going to be only four to five minutes

00:04:27.640 but today i'm grateful to be here again

00:04:34.960 And I gave a name to the Premier.

00:04:45.860 Her name to us, 1.00

00:04:50.300 means from the sun, a woman rise and walks out from there. 0.99

00:04:59.760 That's her Korean name.

00:05:01.060 i'm grateful for that name because we connect in our tribal names the names that we

00:05:11.000 passed on so our children can work with you so our children our great-grandchildren

00:05:19.760 will work and understand the relationship that we have in treaty six also my relatives

00:05:29.140 in the Métis societies want to thank all for this prayer as a holistic prayer in our Sundance

00:05:42.360 ceremonies the middle pole the totem pole is the point of the central meetings for all

00:05:53.060 different nations to understand each other to live in peace and create programs for us

00:06:00.660 for our children to get together in the leaderships to work in this land and to enjoy

00:06:09.700 all people that came from a different area your ancestors

00:06:16.100 today creator i want to ask i'm asking you for a special blessing to give us the honor

00:06:25.140 of human race humanity everybody matters today creator

00:06:33.380 the things that we understand from school programs mind over matter and my ancestors

00:06:42.500 always told us creator i hope to understand everything matters for the existence of tribal

00:06:51.940 laws for the existence of respect of tribal laws and the laws of others creator today i blessed

00:07:01.380 this group of people in your name manto say manto lord savior i understand all the things that we've

00:07:12.980 done in our ceremonies for 58 years i honored you and fasted for the four days before we do a sun

00:07:20.180 dance this is a gathering of that the blessings i bless this gathering to work together and to

00:07:28.740 enjoying happiness right or wrong to correct that and all the stuff that you've given us

00:07:36.100 this land all this all everything the gravel the trees the animals the fish creator gives

00:07:46.420 these people that special blessing to understand to help us to help all not just a few people

00:07:53.780 but all the hospitals all the schools every institution creator i'm asking you to bless that

00:08:01.860 last night the prayers that i did with my pipe the prayers i did in my mind heart and soul

00:08:08.700 i honor rick wilson today in that prayer eagle man give us that blessing today to understand

00:08:19.820 and also the woman, Leila, who her Cree name is P.S.O. School Thunderbird Woman.

00:08:27.740 Bringing this tobacco to me today is a great honour, and with that I want to honour and bless

00:08:33.540 the Lieutenant Governor to speak throne, to give us an understanding, so I can go back to my reserve

00:08:41.020 and that understanding and talk to my people in a good way. With that, hi, hi.

00:08:49.820 Ladies and gentlemen, I would now like to invite

00:09:07.820 Arianne Whitlow, accompanied by the Royal Canadian Artillery Band, to lead us in the

00:09:13.260 singing of our national anthem. Please join them in the language of your choice.

00:09:20.540 Oh Canada, our home and native land

00:09:44.160 True patriot love in all of us command.

00:09:53.720 With glowing hearts we see thee rise, true north, strong and free.

00:10:02.540 From far and wide, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

00:10:14.160 God, keep our land glorious and free, O Canada, we stand on guard for Thee.

00:10:34.160 Oh, Canada, we stand on guard for Thee.

00:10:49.320 Please be seated.

00:10:53.920 Honourable Members, I think we should have the RCA band here every week for O Canada.

00:11:17.360 The RCA band will now play a brief musical interlude.

00:11:21.480 The piece to be performed is entitled Grand Valley Fanfare.

00:11:26.540 The RCA band, Canada's oldest regular army band, was formed in Quebec City in 1879 and

00:11:33.160 reconstituted in Edmonton in 1997.

00:11:36.980 It subsequently stationed in Montreal and Halifax and it has been in service for both

00:11:41.160 world wars and in Korea and has traveled across Canada and beyond our borders.

00:11:47.100 Please enjoy this performance of Grand Valley Fanfare by the Royal Canadian Artillery Band.

00:12:17.100 Thank you.

00:12:47.100 Thank you.

00:13:17.100 Thank you.

00:13:47.100 Thank you.

00:14:17.100 Thank you.

00:14:47.100 Thank you.

00:15:17.100 Thank you.

00:15:47.100 Sergeant at Arms, admit her honor, the honorable, the lieutenant governor.

00:16:17.100 Thank you.

00:16:47.100 Please be seated.

00:17:17.100 May it please, Your Honour, the Legislative Assembly has elected me, their Speaker, though

00:17:25.140 I am but little able to fulfil the important duties thus assigned to me.

00:17:31.220 If, in the performance of those duties, I should at any time fall into error, I pray

00:17:37.560 that the fault may be imputed to me, and not to the Assembly, whose servant I am, and

00:17:44.920 who through me the better to enable them to discharge their duty to their king province

00:17:52.920 and people humbly claim all their undoubted rights and privileges especially that they

00:18:00.760 may have freedom of speech in their debates access to your honors person at all sensible times

00:18:07.080 and that their proceedings may receive your honours the highest favourable construction.

00:18:16.100 Your Honour, the Provincial Secretary, the Minister of Justice, and the Keeper of the Great Seal of Alberta.

00:18:23.660 Mr. Speaker, I am commanded by her honour, the Honourable Lieutenant Governor,

00:18:29.340 to declare to you that she freely confides in the duty and attachment of this assembly

00:18:35.560 to His Majesty's person and government, and not doubting that their proceedings will be conducted

00:18:42.440 with wisdom, temper, and prudence, she grants and upon all occasions will recognize and allow

00:18:51.060 their constitutional privileges. I am commanded also to assure you that the Assembly shall have

00:18:58.180 ready access to her honour upon all seasonable occasions, and that their proceedings, as well

00:19:05.320 as your words and actions will constantly receive from her the most favorable construction.

00:19:22.460 Well, good afternoon, everyone. Before I read the speech from the throne,

00:19:27.840 I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all members of the Assembly for your dedicated

00:19:36.760 service to our province. The role that each of you plays is important to our system of government

00:19:46.060 and the work that you collectively do in this chamber is essential to the quality of life

00:19:54.360 of Albertans. I wish each and every one of you a most productive and constructive session

00:20:03.860 and I hope that you will share my thanks with the leaders and volunteers in your constituencies

00:20:12.940 who work so hard to keep our communities and province moving forward. Please also convey my

00:20:24.200 gratitude to your families and loved ones who make daily sacrifices to support you.

00:20:33.700 With that, I will begin the speech from the throne.

00:20:40.180 Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members of the Legislative Assembly and fellow Albertans,

00:20:47.720 I open this first session of the 31st Legislature as His Majesty the King's representative.

00:20:59.500 Today, we gather on Treaty 6 territory, and I invite all honourable members to reflect

00:21:09.300 upon and acknowledge the traditional territories of the first peoples of this land and their

00:21:18.900 invaluable contributions to our province and country. I also recognize Métis people in Alberta

00:21:28.860 who share a deep connection with this land.

00:21:35.020 Honorable members, since this assembly last convened,

00:21:41.040 the people of Alberta voted in a free and competitive provincial election.

00:21:50.220 During that period, there was robust discussion and healthy public debate

00:21:57.660 on a variety of critically important issues facing our province.

00:22:06.600 These many discussions and debates took place on doorsteps,

00:22:12.300 in coffee shops, at dinner tables, during local candidate forums

00:22:19.200 and, of course, live on television.

00:22:23.240 After those vigorous debates and discussions were concluded, almost 1.8 million Albertans

00:22:35.440 exercised their constitutionally protected right to vote for the candidate of their choice.

00:22:44.320 The results of that free and fair vote are reflected by the presence of each and every elected member in this Assembly, the membership of the Provincial Cabinet, and, of course, the Premier of Alberta.

00:23:03.680 And today's speech from the throne will outline the commitments of this newly elected government to the people and province of Alberta.

00:23:19.460 Honourable members, our province finds itself at a critical juncture in our history, and

00:23:30.540 choices must be made in the coming months and years that will have generational impacts.

00:23:39.960 There are powerful forces in our country, including in the federal government, that

00:23:47.160 believe our province must fundamentally alter our provincial economy and way of life and

00:23:57.700 that we must do so without delay or concern or cost.

00:24:06.440 These individuals believe that developing Alberta's natural resources is inconsistent

00:24:15.220 with reducing global emissions.

00:24:19.140 They intend to enforce this belief

00:24:22.580 by effectively capping emissions

00:24:25.900 and therefore production of our oil and natural gas sector,

00:24:31.900 which will cost Alberta hundreds of thousands of jobs

00:24:37.500 and hundreds of billions of dollars

00:24:40.460 in economic investment and provincial revenues.

00:24:45.220 These same individuals believe that our province must also fundamentally transform our power grid to be net zero within approximately a decade with risk to the reliability of Alberta's power grid and at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars to Alberta rate payers.

00:25:15.220 And they seek to impose these policies on our province, knowing full well the Canadian Constitution grants our province exclusive jurisdiction over the development of our natural resources and operation of our provincial electrical grid.

00:25:41.460 Honourable Members, Alberta's Government will not permit the Federal Government to inflict

00:25:51.460 these destructive policies on the people of Alberta.

00:25:58.900 If the Federal Government continues down its current path, Alberta's Government will,

00:26:07.420 over the coming months, introduce several motions under the Sovereignty Within a United

00:26:15.900 Canada Act detailing provincial initiatives and legislation necessary to protect Albertans

00:26:26.080 from these unconstitutional and harmful policies.

00:26:33.620 It is the Alberta government's position that every Albertan must have access to affordable

00:26:43.040 and reliable electricity, no matter the weather or time of day.

00:26:50.500 And this government will not permit misguided federal policies to risk the safety and prosperity

00:27:01.060 of Albertans.

00:27:03.620 Further, it is the Alberta government's position that our world will have little hope of meaningfully

00:27:13.700 reducing carbon emissions without Alberta multiplying its natural gas and other energy

00:27:22.660 exports to Asia and other jurisdictions to replace the world's use of coal, wood and other

00:27:32.500 high emitting sources for energy the world needs more alberta energy not less and alberta's

00:27:43.620 government intends to empower albertans to deliver it honorable members alberta's government does not

00:27:56.580 believe Alberta has in any way reached the peak of our provincial journey.

00:28:05.700 Just the opposite. In fact, the government believes our province is still in the midst of

00:28:15.220 Alberta's century. Our province is growing faster than at any other time in our history.

00:28:24.340 Hundreds of thousands of new and wonderful people are intentionally choosing to call

00:28:33.380 this province home each year.

00:28:37.920 As we surpass 5 million people in the coming 24 months, Alberta's government must set priorities

00:28:47.780 and guide its work through the lens of understanding that by 2050, our province is projected to

00:28:58.560 be the second largest in the country, with a population approaching 10 million people.

00:29:09.080 This growth represents both incredible opportunities and massive challenges.

00:29:17.180 It means our economy will be one of the strongest in the world for many decades.

00:29:25.720 It means that all the technology and growth required to build flourishing new industries

00:29:34.540 and transform and grow established ones will occur right in our front yard.

00:29:43.840 It means massive infrastructure improvements and new recreational and entertainment opportunities

00:29:52.820 that will build our quality of life and culture for decades.

00:29:59.380 It means the best and brightest from all over the world will continue treating this province

00:30:07.820 as a land of promise a shining city on a hill where those willing to work hard and contribute

00:30:18.700 can realize their and their families greatest dreams but it also means our province will face

00:30:29.820 significant challenges challenges born out of high growth and economic activity

00:30:39.820 our province has experienced these challenges in the past but alberta's government intends

00:30:48.060 to learn from both the successes and mistakes of past governments in dealing with these challenges

00:30:58.060 as we move forward.

00:31:02.260 A primary concern in times of growth is affordability.

00:31:09.080 We have seen cities, provinces, states, and countries across the world

00:31:16.720 fail to address this issue effectively for decades.

00:31:22.820 Alberta needs to be the exception to those failed examples

00:31:27.740 and forge our own successful path to prosperity.

00:31:34.680 Albertans, new and old, need to be able to rent apartments and homes for their families

00:31:43.640 without compromising their food budget.

00:31:48.460 When they have good credit, they need to be able to purchase a home at an attainable price.

00:31:56.040 The cost of fuel for their vehicles needs to be reasonable and stable.

00:32:05.280 Electricity prices and insurance premiums need to reflect the reality of people's paychecks.

00:32:15.180 Although it is certainly a bold undertaking, Alberta's government intends to tackle all these affordability challenges head-on.

00:32:29.180 The biggest expense for almost every Albertan and Canadian are the taxes we pay.

00:32:39.180 The burden has simply become too great for most to bear.

00:32:46.180 Income taxes, sales taxes, fuel taxes, and of course the inflation-inducing federal carbon tax.

00:32:57.180 Albertans are taxed too much, and it's making everything Albertans need to live more expensive.

00:33:09.180 For obvious reasons, Alberta's government can do little about the federal carbon tax

00:33:16.680 or federal sales tax, but it can and will do its part to lower the tax burden for Albertans.

00:33:28.300 That is why Alberta's government will introduce Bill 1,

00:33:34.680 The Taxpayer Protection Amendment Act to guarantee there will be no new taxes or increases in personal or business taxes in this province without approval by Albertans in a referendum.

00:33:55.860 In addition, Alberta's government will lower the tax burden for Albertans by creating a new 8% tax bracket on income under $60,000, saving Alberta taxpayers up to $750 annually.

00:34:19.860 annually the government will also legislatively extend the fuel tax pause until december 31st

00:34:31.700 2023 and has made the fuel tax relief program permanent to protect albertans during times

00:34:43.060 of high oil prices. Albertans will reap the benefits of these tax cuts and their consumer

00:34:53.060 protections. They will keep more of their hard-earned money for the things that are

00:35:00.180 important to them, whether that's nutritious food, hockey fees, dance lessons, further education,

00:35:09.700 family vacations or retirement savings.

00:35:15.600 Honourable Members, housing and the price of housing has become one of the greatest concerns across the country.

00:35:28.380 Albertans feel these pressures and Alberta's government is here to support them.

00:35:35.000 The government is expanding the use of rent supplements to better use existing rental

00:35:44.120 market capacity and help more Albertans get into suitable, affordable housing.

00:35:54.880 Alberta's government is also working to develop partnerships and build capacity within the

00:36:02.560 housing system to support an additional 12 000 low-income households through rent assistance

00:36:14.320 with its partners alberta is now supporting 9 billion dollars in housing investments to build

00:36:24.240 25 000 new units by 2031 and will be working with municipalities to drastically increase

00:36:35.760 private construction to ensure albertans can find homes to rent and buy that fit within their budgets

00:36:47.520 Alberta's electricity costs are too high, honourable members.

00:36:56.920 There are many reasons for this.

00:36:59.700 A rushed provincial transition from coal to natural gas and federal policies that are

00:37:07.900 scaring away new investment in electricity generation from natural gas are the primary

00:37:16.080 culprits but there are certainly additional factors regardless electricity in alberta

00:37:25.520 has gone from being among the most affordable in the country to among the most expensive

00:37:35.200 alberta's government will not allow that to continue

00:37:39.920 Over the coming months, Alberta's government will work collaboratively with industry and consumers on a package of substantive reforms to ensure Albertans have an electricity grid that gives them access to affordable and reliable power

00:38:04.920 power and supports the expansion of a power grid that will need to more than double its base load

00:38:14.120 capacity in the coming decades these reforms will ensure ample natural gas generated electricity

00:38:25.240 is brought onto the electricity grid to ensure prices are pushed down and the lights always

00:38:35.080 stay on it will ensure that our electricity market is free from market manipulation

00:38:45.080 and that ratepayers are not left with unaffordable electricity rates under what is now

00:38:53.400 inappropriately termed the regulated rate option. Alberta's government will incentivize investments

00:39:04.520 in carbon capture, utilization and storage, nuclear, geothermal, and other reliable sources

00:39:15.000 of base load power it will modernize the grid and incentivize consumers to install solar panels

00:39:26.280 and other energy efficient technologies in their homes and businesses to decrease demand stress

00:39:34.840 on the grid and alberta's government will conclude work on a regulatory regime

00:39:42.600 that continues to see Alberta lead the country in renewable energy growth in a

00:39:50.340 manner that is financially sustainable, protects our pristine landscapes and

00:39:57.660 prime agricultural lands, guarantees end-of-life site reclamation, and does

00:40:05.580 not risk the integrity of our power grid simply put albertans will have affordable and reliable

00:40:16.060 electricity when and where they need it and the province will accomplish all this

00:40:25.180 while moving towards a carbon neutral electrical grid by 2050

00:40:31.980 insurance premiums are another cost of living pressure that this government must act on

00:40:41.860 Albertans can't just choose not to have insurance they need it for their vehicles and property

00:40:50.640 and although Alberta's government supports the consumer choices and other advantages

00:40:58.460 that our free market insurance system provides.

00:41:02.400 Our insurance industry must understand

00:41:06.520 that when it provides a product

00:41:09.740 that effectively all Albertans are required to have,

00:41:16.000 consumers must be protected from undeserved spikes

00:41:20.720 in the costs of those products.

00:41:24.840 That is why Alberta's government

00:41:27.940 froze auto insurance rates before the end of last year and it is why when the government lifts that

00:41:38.600 freeze in the new year it will also implement a series of reforms to limit increases to premiums

00:41:47.740 for drivers who have safe driving records and introduce other changes to assist insurers

00:41:56.280 to keep premiums more reasonable and competitive

00:42:01.140 with the rest of the country on a go-forward basis.

00:42:07.100 Life in Alberta must be affordable for those who choose to live here.

00:42:15.040 Life in Alberta must also be safe.

00:42:20.580 Albertans are done with allowing further deterioration

00:42:24.960 of public safety on our streets, especially in Edmonton and Calgary.

00:42:33.240 They are done with open-air drug use and unsafe tent cities

00:42:38.960 and criminals being repeatedly released on bail to re-offend.

00:42:46.660 Albertans are tired of the excuses and tolerance for the criminal behaviour

00:42:51.880 by those who seem to think that what we see on our streets is acceptable in any way.

00:43:01.220 That is why Alberta's government will provide funding to support the hiring of hundreds of new police officers

00:43:11.960 and introduce multiple justice system reforms to do all that is possible as a province to arrest

00:43:22.200 and put criminals behind bars.

00:43:27.160 While Albertans are looking for consequences for criminals, our hearts also break as we

00:43:35.920 see so many falling into the deadly and destructive trap of addiction and untreated mental health 0.87

00:43:45.360 issues in many instances these albertans have become a danger to themselves and others in the

00:43:54.960 community that is one of the reasons why alberta's government will introduce legislation to create

00:44:05.440 a compassionate intervention program for those who have lost the capacity to make life-saving

00:44:14.000 decisions and are a danger to themselves or others and it's why alberta's government

00:44:24.240 is establishing 11 recovery communities and adding to the more than 10 000

00:44:32.320 new publicly funded addiction treatment spaces across the province.

00:44:39.160 We owe it to these Albertans, their families, and the community

00:44:45.300 to find a better way to get them the help they need.

00:44:51.940 Our streets and communities must be safe,

00:44:57.220 and Alberta's government calls on the federal government,

00:45:01.700 municipal councils, and police commissions

00:45:05.400 to work together to aggressively address

00:45:09.740 this critically urgent challenge.

00:45:14.820 As our province doubles in size over the coming decades,

00:45:20.500 we will also need to significantly improve

00:45:24.600 and grow the capacity of our healthcare system

00:45:29.140 for all Albertans.

00:45:32.740 Despite the excellent work of doctors, nurses,

00:45:36.600 and other frontline staff,

00:45:39.740 more work is needed

00:45:41.220 so Albertans can access world-class health care

00:45:45.720 when and where they need it.

00:45:50.640 Alberta's government began down this road last fall

00:45:54.640 with its health care action plan.

00:45:59.140 While we have seen some success with reducing wait times in emergency rooms and for surgeries,

00:46:07.140 and improving ambulance response times, the government believes more needs to be done.

00:46:15.140 Earlier this month, Alberta's government took action to help Albertans get more access

00:46:24.700 to family doctors and other local health professionals, which is the foundation of

00:46:32.520 a healthier province.

00:46:35.220 The government will have more to say in the coming weeks on additional action to decentralize

00:46:42.860 decision making and move additional health resources and professionals to the front lines

00:46:52.220 this in turn will increase health care capacity and improve health care delivery in the province

00:47:01.660 and lead to better outcomes for patients

00:47:05.660 Honourable members, with the substantial growth our province is set to experience in the years ahead,

00:47:17.560 Alberta's government must significantly expand the number of spaces in our kindergarten

00:47:26.200 through grade 12 and post-secondary education systems.

00:47:31.760 Not only does our province need many more classrooms, teachers, assistants, and support staff, we also need more quality educational choices for parents by growing capacity in and improving the quality of our public, separate, charter, independent, and home schooling systems.

00:47:59.120 Government will further integrate mental health supports within schools and continue to implement additional educational assistance into classrooms to address the unique and specialised needs of many of our students.

00:48:19.500 Alberta's government will also ensure our kindergarten through grade 12 and post-secondary

00:48:30.060 school systems outline clear paths for students and parents to help direct students into the jobs

00:48:40.800 and careers our province needs most.

00:48:46.100 The government will work to strengthen career education

00:48:50.300 by funding new and enhanced dual credit programs,

00:48:55.820 bringing more collegiate schools online across the province

00:49:00.720 to create pathways for students,

00:49:03.960 and exploring new ways to attract and bridge qualified tradespeople,

00:49:11.840 healthcare professionals, information technologists,

00:49:15.900 and other experts into the teaching profession.

00:49:20.820 And Alberta's government will champion skilled trades and professions

00:49:26.800 to ensure young Albertans know that apprenticeship, education,

00:49:33.320 has as much merit and value

00:49:37.300 as any other form of post-secondary study.

00:49:42.920 Our children deserve a world-class education system

00:49:47.900 geared towards obtaining jobs and success

00:49:52.240 in the economy of today and tomorrow.

00:49:57.920 Alberta's government will ensure they have it.

00:50:03.320 Honourable members, if Alberta wishes to maintain and further grow one of the world's most successful economies,

00:50:14.640 the government believes we must build on our core strengths while incentivizing the creation and growth of new industries and opportunities.

00:50:28.920 Our province is the fourth-largest producer of oil and gas in the entire world, and is far and away its most environmentally responsible one.

00:50:43.920 Alberta will not be content with fourth place – not when our province's energy reserves

00:50:53.320 and environmental technologies are second to none, and when increasing our exports can

00:51:01.960 guarantee energy security for the free world while replacing thousands of megatons of carbon

00:51:10.240 dioxide from coal and other high-emission fuels with clean Alberta LNG and responsibly developed

00:51:20.820 oil products.

00:51:23.400 That is why Alberta's government is forming a cross-ministry working group to review and

00:51:32.380 reform how it regulates natural resource development in this province not only will alberta

00:51:42.140 be the greenest energy producer in the world the government will ensure we create one of the most

00:51:50.060 efficient timely and red tape free jurisdictions on the planet to invest in energy whether that

00:52:00.060 be conventional non-conventional renewable or otherwise alberta's government will ensure the

00:52:10.540 entire world understands that the words alberta and energy are inextricably linked for generations

00:52:21.660 Further, with food security becoming an emerging world challenge, Alberta is perfectly placed

00:52:33.000 to help feed the world with our world-class agricultural entrepreneurs, farmers and ranchers.

00:52:43.040 is why alberta launched the agri processing investment tax credit to attract large-scale

00:52:52.240 investment in value-added agricultural manufacturing this tax credit builds on the

00:53:00.320 province's other competitive advantages and maximizes opportunities to create more jobs

00:53:09.920 for Albertans. And although energy and agriculture will be the bread and butter of our economy

00:53:18.000 for the foreseeable future, the government will not wait to build the industries of tomorrow.

00:53:27.680 Alberta's government will incentivize the development of new and emerging industries

00:53:35.520 such as hydrogen rare earth minerals technology new forestry products tourism and culture

00:53:47.040 and as it does so the government will remove barriers for new albertans to qualify to work

00:53:56.800 in the jobs our economy needs most and where they are often already qualified to work

00:54:06.160 by working with our professional regulatory partners to create a more efficient and

00:54:13.760 streamlined system for the best and brightest to join the workforce of tomorrow and secure

00:54:22.800 our province's future. Alberta's government will also remain steadfastly committed to economic

00:54:33.180 reconciliation by partnering in prosperity with indigenous communities as we unlock Alberta's

00:54:42.860 full economic potential together. Alberta's government has expanded the capacity of the

00:54:52.060 Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation to $2 billion and will further increase it

00:55:01.080 to $3 billion so it can continue to remove barriers to Indigenous investments by providing

00:55:10.260 large loan guarantees that weren't previously available.

00:55:17.080 And in Budget 2023, Alberta's government created the Indigenous Reconciliation Initiative,

00:55:27.060 which supports Indigenous-led economic and cultural initiatives.

00:55:35.720 Economic reconciliation is about improving social outcomes by creating jobs and opportunities

00:55:44.740 for indigenous peoples in Alberta.

00:55:48.660 It is about collaboration,

00:55:51.600 and it is a central part of this government's commitment

00:55:56.320 to walking the path toward reconciliation together.

00:56:03.700 Honorable members, as our province grows

00:56:07.660 by another million people over the next five years

00:56:12.660 and to $10 million by 2050, so too must investment in our municipalities and provincial transportation network.

00:56:25.580 Aside from health care facilities, schools, and other needed building infrastructure,

00:56:33.380 the province needs to substantially invest in infrastructure that incentivizes economic development,

00:56:41.460 attracts skilled professionals and increases the quality of life of Albertans.

00:56:50.180 That is why Alberta's government has been working closely with municipalities across Alberta

00:56:59.140 to finalize a new funding framework that is tied to provincial revenues

00:57:06.340 and provides more predictability for capital planning at the municipal level.

00:57:14.980 But the province also needs to significantly expand our provincial transportation and highway network

00:57:26.120 and build commuter railings between our two largest cities

00:57:32.520 and their growing neighboring communities and airports.

00:57:38.520 We need to decongest our highways to Kananaskis and Banff

00:57:44.200 with a passenger rail tie between the Calgary Airport,

00:57:50.560 downtown Calgary, and Canmore Banff.

00:57:53.840 And yes, we need to start planning for the inevitable need for high-speed rail through the Calgary-Red Deer-Edmonton Corridor when 6 to 7 million Albertans eventually call that corridor home.

00:58:16.460 These investments are decades long and should not be made randomly.

00:58:22.440 They must be planned carefully and in an integrated fashion to ensure the most efficient and timely use of tax dollars.

00:58:37.200 Alberta's government intends to do just that.

00:58:41.960 Alberta's government will do all of what has been spoken of today

00:58:49.000 within the discipline of our province's newly passed fiscal framework.

00:58:56.080 It will simply not place crushing debt on the backs of future generations of Albertans.

00:59:04.560 Our children and grandchildren deserve so much better.

00:59:10.420 Alberta's government will give them better.

00:59:14.800 It will balance our provincial budget each year.

00:59:19.240 It will limit spending increases each year to below inflation plus population growth.

00:59:28.140 It will pay down debt every year until our province is debt-free again.

00:59:35.460 And when the province runs surpluses, rather than spend it all away on the wants of today, Alberta's government will build our heritage fund by billions of dollars and eventually by tens of billions of dollars,

00:59:57.680 so that one day our province's reliance on oil and natural gas royalties will be eliminated.

01:00:09.980 Let us leave future generations of Albertans a legacy of prosperity and opportunity

01:00:19.080 built on a fiscal foundation as strong as our Rocky Mountains.

01:00:27.680 Yes, honourable members, this government's agenda is ambitious, but so, too, are Albertans.

01:00:40.840 We are not content with average.

01:00:44.240 We are not a people to say good enough when the job is not yet finished.

01:00:51.560 And we do not shy away from a challenge.

01:00:55.580 Not when the future of our families, friends, and neighbors is at stake.

01:01:03.940 We are indeed a province of leaders, innovators, pioneers, and visionaries, but we are also

01:01:14.800 a province of teachers healers and protectors and we will need the unique strengths and gifts

01:01:25.520 of all of us and those of our children and their children to realize the limitless promise of this

01:01:37.680 this great province. God save the king and may God bless Alberta to be forever strong and free.

01:01:48.320 Ladies and gentlemen, I would now invite Ariana Whitlow, accompanied by the RCA Artillery

01:02:07.800 Band, to lead us in the singing of God Save the King.

01:02:18.320 God save our gracious King, long live our noble King, God save the King.

01:02:36.320 Sand and victorious, happy and glorious, long to reign over us and save the King.

01:03:06.320 I hope you have great time.

01:03:36.320 You

Western Standard - October 31, 2023

The First Session of the 31st Legislature, Speech from the Throne.

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