Premier Jason Kenney told a crowd in Medicine Hat on Thursday that the economy in the province is poised to boom after shaking off the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Jason Kenney trumpeted his government’s economic record in Medicine Hat on Thursday, weeks before his own leadership review and about one year away from a general election.
The premier announced negotiations are taking place on a $1-million base-funding agreement with regional helicopter ambulance service HALO in the morning, then told attendees of a quickly arranged business lunch at the Stampede grounds.
“We went through several years of real economic adversity, there’s no sugar-coating it,” he told about 100 attendees to the local Chamber of Commerce event. “Only now is Alberta’s economy recovering to where it was at the end of 2014 … Now this economy is firing on all cylinders, and I’m so excited about it.
“We want to make sure southeast Alberta not only benefits from that, but is leading the recovery.”
He later credited a corporate tax cut for stimulating an array of sectors. That’s resulted in petrochemical investments, he said, and been bolstered by the oil patch resurgence and strong farm income figures despite drought in 2021.
Chief among accomplishments, he said, was tabling a balanced budget in February.
“A lot of people say that’s good luck,” he said, referring to a steep rise in oil prices and therefore government revenue. “If we hadn’t brought in fiscal restraint, we’d still have a huge structural budget deficit.”
Kenney also told the crowd he will host high-profile U.S. Senator Joe Manchin this spring and has been invited to testify himself before the U.S. Senate’s energy committee to urge them on a continental oil and gas security.
“Where there’s a will there’s a way, and we’re going to get another (export) pipeline built,” he said, to healthy applause.
Also speaking at the event was Ag and Rural Economic Development Minister Nate Horner, Heath Minister Jason Copping and Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Frey.
Kenney will face a mail-in leadership vote beginning early next month, and Alberta is heading to a general election in May 2023, with general polling suggesting a dead-heat between Kenney’s United Conservatives and opposition Alberta New Democrats.
Local investment broker and active federal Conservative Party member Dan Hein said Kenney’s speech about the state of the economy was welcome.
“It’s good to hear someone trumpet about some of the positives happening in the province,” said Hein.
“I think most people are trying to figure out how to come out of this funk we’ve been in for two years. They’ll realize things weren’t as bad as we thought, and times now are not as hard as they seem.”
Immanuel Moritz, a self-described political observer, said he was disappointed in the size of the crowd.
“Like him or hate him, he’s the leader of the province, and if you’ve got something to tell him, here he is,” said Moritz.
Frey said the event at the large-capacity Cypress Centre Auditorium, was only arranged on the weekend, and she thanked the audience and members of local city and regional council’s for working with the government.
She also outlined work on mental health funding and a HALO announcement as major positives.
“It’s a wonderful day for the region,” she said.
