Economic issues at forefront of election

By Collin Gallant on March 23, 2019.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Most pollsters agree that jobs and the economy are top issues for Albertans in the provincial election.

That extends to candidates in and around Medicine Hat, where local government has promoted a string of economic announcements as signals of investor confidence and an improving economy.

Local candidates were asked to localize their parties’ plans to boost the economy and ease employment concerns in the short and long term.

The two main parties’ positions are largely in opposition to each other.

The New Democrats, under leader Rachel Notley, says the province needs to continue her government’s diversification efforts to broaden the economy

United Conservative Leader Jason Kenney has said a one-third reduction to the corporate tax rate is required to boost investment, and a signal that the province is business friendly.

Drew Barnes, who is running for re-election in Cypress Medicine Hat under the UCP banner, echoed his leader’s call for and end to carbon pricing and reducing red tape for business.

“Reversing the NDP tax increases and layers of regulatory burden will make a huge economic difference,” he told the News on Friday.

“These measures will attract people to Alberta and our city … reducing the burden on Alberta families and business will enhance our local economy and opportunities.”

The NDP increased taxes for corporations and top income earners by two percentage points in 2015, while reducing small business rates to offset carbon levy costs.

However, after a marked improvement after an oil patch dip in 2017, some economists are contemplating whether the province is entering a second slow-down.

Cypress-Medicine Hat NDP candidate Peter Mueller said the NDP provides stability and a vision of a less volatile economy.

He told the News that cutting government services would have worsened the economic downturn. Diversification – especially in renewable energy sector – will boost the regional outlook, he says.

“The recession hit families hard, and families here in our province are often made up of energy and construction workers, whose partners are teachers and nurses,” he stated.

“I want to make sure this recovery reaches every family. Part of how we need to do that is by getting the pipeline built but also diversifying the economy to create new jobs – like in the renewable sector.”

Brooks-Medicine Hat’s independent candidate is squarely against the carbon pricing.

“Cutting the carbon tax is low hanging fruit,” said Todd Beasley, who also argued government influence on the deregulated market is driving up prices and hurting business.

“(Reducing regulations) has worked very well in the Untied States and we should adopt it as well.”

Colette Smithers, the Alberta Party candidate in Cypress-Medicine Hat, said public infrastructure and diversification, and her party’s “children first” policy would give support to working families by making childcare more affordable.

“I am personally thrilled with this initiative, especially for women,” said Smithers. “It gives them choices, not to be just a parent or just have a career, but it makes it so much more accessible to do both.”

Specific to public works, she would like to see greater consideration for renovating irrigation district facilities and scope to aid agriculture sector.

Lynn MacWilliam, the NDP candidate in Brooks-Medicine Hat, said her party’s platform would ensure the “recovery will be built to last.”

“Southern Alberta is one of the windiest and sunniest places in Canada, and we need to continue to utilize those resources and harness wind and solar power,” she said.

The key item in the NDP jobs platform is a program to entice private investment in petrochemical refining.

Alberta Party leader Stephen Mandel told the News this month that the program should be extended to 10 years.

Notley announced this week she’d double the amount of royalty credits in the program to $7 billion in hopes of attracting $75 billion in private investment to upgrade petroleum.

Brooks-Medicine Hat UCP candidate Michaela Glasgo said major projects and major pipeline are important, however, day-to-day operations in the oilpatch won’t fully recover until the business environment improves, along with prices that would be bolstered by greater export capacity.

“Part of the problem with price is a lack of market access,” she said of local oilfield outlook. “There are a really great group of UCP candidates in southern Alberta, and we would be a great group advertising the region.”

Jim Black, who represents the Alberta Party in the Brooks-Medicine Hat race, said energy sector, while key to the economy, shouldn’t overshadow needs of the farms and ranches in the region.

“I’d like to say (a major pipeline) is a year away, but really it’s more like two or longer,” he said, stating agriculture sector development can be a short-term win.

“A moratorium on the carbon levy – at least until they get the competitive edge back – is very important to the people I’m talking to,” he said. “They’re looking to maintain their competitive advantage over south of the border, but this is a worldwide issue.”

The carbon levy regulations exempts most of the cost for greenhouse growers and on farm fuel, but Black said general transportation costs cut into farm incomes.

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