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From YouTube: Budget Address 2023
Description
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
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D
D
D
Mr
Speaker
I
count
it
a
tremendous
tremendous
honor
today
to
rise
in
the
house
and
present
budget
2023.
The
fifth
I
presented
on
behalf
of
albertans,
the
fall
of
2012
pardon
me
in
the
fall
of
2019
I,
put
forward
a
four-year
plan
to
bring
the
Province
back
to
fiscal
responsibility
and
a
balanced
budget
in
some
respects.
D
Our
plan
to
strengthen
Alberta's
economic
Foundation
was
twofold.
First,
to
bring
discipline
to
Alberta's
spending,
we
could
no
longer
afford
to
be
the
spending
outlier
among
Canadian
provinces,
and
then
we
were
determined
to
position
our
Province
for
competitiveness,
leading
to
exceptional
investment
attraction,
economic
growth,
diversification
and
job
creation,
thereby
ensuring
an
increase
in
fiscal
capacity
and
provincial
revenues.
D
D
This
would
ensure
that
that
debt
and
debt
repayment
would
not
strangle
our
economic
growth.
Second,
it
was
imperative
that
we
would
get
our
spending
in
line
with
comparative
provinces
and
third,
when
there
was
economic
Clarity
to
chart
a
path
to
a
balanced
budget.
As
we
implemented
our
ambitious
economic
recovery
plan,
the
impact
on
albertans
was
almost
immediate.
D
D
D
We
recapitalized
the
Alberta
Enterprise
Corporation,
adding
175
million
to
support
investment
into
Alberta
startups,
and
we
established,
invest
Alberta
to
sell
the
province's
incredible
value
proposition
to
the
world
and
then
on.
February
23
2022
I
was
able
to
stand
in
this
house
and
present
Alberta's
first
balanced
budget
in
a
decade.
D
And
that
brings
us
to
today
is
Alberta's
leading
the
nation
in
economic
growth.
Today,
with
the
rapidly
diversifying
economy,
there
are
career
opportunities
that
didn't
even
exist
a
few
years
ago
today,
albertans
pay
20
billion
Less
in
taxes
than
they
would
if
they
lived
in
the
next
lowest
tax
province.
D
This
means
debt
is
on
the
decline
in
in
this
last
fiscal
year,
Mr
Speaker
we
paid
off
over
13
billion
dollars
of
debt,
all
of
the
debt
that
matured
in
2022.
This
means
lower
debt,
service
costs
and
more
resources
available
for
health,
education
and
other
programs.
It
means
more
available
fiscal
room
and
thereby
more
Runway
and
capacity.
Should
we
experience
another
economic
shock,
Mr
Speaker.
We
are
by
far
and
Away
below
our
net
debt
to
GDP
ratio
ceiling
of
30
percent.
D
D
Four
years
ago
we
put
out
the
open
for
business
sign
and
we
followed
it
up
with
real
actions.
Mr
Speaker,
not
just
words:
we've
reduced
business
taxes,
cut
red
tape
and
have
created
one
of
the
most
business
friendly
environments
on
the
continent,
and
the
results
speak
for
themselves
in
a
year
when
venture
capital
investment
dropped
in
Ontario
at
Quebec
NBC.
We
in
Alberta
at
729
million,
set
another
record
businesses
across
sectors.
D
Businesses
across
sectors
and
across
the
province
are
creating
thousands
of
new
jobs
while
diversifying
Alberta's
economy.
Just
days
ago,
a
plexus
Technologies
announced
they
were
moving
their
Canadian
headquarters
to
Calgary,
creating
125
tech
jobs.
Southland
trailer
Corp
in
Lethbridge
will
double
its
production.
Creating
250
jobs
de
Havilland
is
moving
its
head
office
to
Alberta
instead
of
subsidized
Quebec.
I
might
add.
D
And
it's
building
an
aerospace,
Center
and
manufacturing
plant
employing
1500
people
and
that's
just
the
start.
Cgc
development
is
building
a
210
million
dollar
wall
board
manufacturing
plant
in
Wheatland
County
Garmin
Canada
has
announced
expansion
plans
for
their
Cochrane
head
office
that
will
double
their
Workforce.
In
two
years
we
have
Imperial
oil,
investing
720
million
in
the
Heartland
for
a
biodiesel
Refinery
drilling
activity
in
the
oil
and
gas
sector,
ramped
up
to
an
eight-year
High
last
year
and
investment
is
expected
to
grow
by
a
further
19
percent
in
2023.
D
Ibm
is
opening
its
client
Innovation
Center
for
western
Canada.
In
Calgary
side
trade
is
investing
24
million
to
make
Calgary
its
North
American
headquarters.
Air
Products
is
building
a
net
zero
hydrogen
complex
right
here
in
the
Heartland
Amazon
Walmart
Canadian
Pacific
Dao
emphasis
emphasis,
HBO,
Northern,
petrochemical
RBC,
see
CN
rail
Ernst,
young
I
could
go
on
and
on.
D
D
And
these
jobs
are
paying
albertans
more
workers
in
our
Province
make
more
than
in
any
other
Province.
Since
January
2019,
the
mount
albertans
earned
per
week
has
gone
up
12
percent,
and
we
expect
these
earnings
to
keep
growing
further
to
that.
Thanks
to
the
lowest
taxes
in
Canada,
albertans
keep
more
of
their
hard-earned
money
in
their
pockets.
Mr
Speaker,
Canadians
from
other
provinces
and
those
new
to
Canada
are
taking
note
of
Alberta's
growing
economy,
our
lower
cost
of
living
and
the
Abundant
opportunities.
D
We
offer
like
the
story
of
Nick
and
Jessica
two
young
professionals,
one
from
Edmonton
one
from
Vancouver,
debating
about
where
they're
going
to
start
life
together
when
Jessica
recently
visited
Edmonton
for
the
first
time
she
was
surprised
by
its
natural
beauty,
but
what
tipped
the
scales?
The
high
wages,
the
affordability
and
the
cost
of
housing
Edmonton
is
called
Jessica
says,
but
I
can
buy
a
coat.
D
D
Now,
while
Alberta's
economy
strengthens,
we
cannot
afford
to
become
complacent.
We
continue
to
face
headwinds,
fueled
by
supply
chain
constraints,
Global
unrest
on
our
federal
government's
irresponsible
fiscal
policy.
Inflation
is
making
life
more
costly
for
all
albertans
at
home,
in
business
and
even
in
government.
D
The
same
time,
despite
record
record-breaking
investment
in
Alberta,
we
continue
to
see
declining
business
investment
nationally
since
2015
Canadian,
real
GDP
is
growing
by
13
percent,
but
this
growth
has
been
entirely
driven
by
government
and
consumer
spending
and
residential
investment.
Much
of
this
growth
has
been
funded
by
debt
and
as
and
it's
masked,
the
stagnant
state
of
Canadian
business
investment
alarmingly
between
2015
and
2019
business
investment
in
Canada
actually
declined.
D
One
of
the
impediments
to
business
investment
in
Canada
is
Canada's
growing
reputation
as
a
nation
where
it's
difficult,
if
not
impossible,
to
get
large
projects
completed.
Global
Investors
have
taken
note
of
the
many
projects
killed
by
the
Trudeau
government,
Northern
Gateway
in
2016.
energy
East
in
2017,
the
tech
Frontier
mine
in
2020
and
at
least
15
LNG
projects.
D
In
fact,
since
the
federal
impact
assessment
legislation
bill,
c-69
was
passed
in
2018,
there's
not
been
one
project
subject
to
the
ACT
approved
in
all
of
Canada.
Not
only
has
Canada
lost
out
on
billions
of
dollars
of
investment
that
would
have
created
more
jobs,
better
paying
jobs
and
greater
Financial
stability
for
Canadians.
D
We've
turned
our
back
on
a
world
that
desperately
needs
what
we
offer,
including
responsibly
produced
energy.
If
Canada
fails
to
maximize
responsibly
produced
energy
production,
we're
not
only
failing
Canadians,
we're
contributing
to
massive
hardship
for
the
world's
most
vulnerable.
Canadian
energy
will
help
those
living
on
the
margins
Heat
their
homes.
It
will
make
fertilizer
more
affordable
and
boost
agricultural
output.
D
D
D
D
What
can
we
do
today
to
secure
Alberta's
future
tomorrow?
First
Mr
Speaker
I'm,
appealing
to
the
rest
of
Canada,
to
follow
Alberta's
lead
to
make
business
competitiveness
a
key
priority.
Securing
a
prosperous
future
for
the
Next
Generation
depends
on
it.
We
need
to
be
a
nation
that
once
again
can
get
big
Visionary
projects
completed.
We
need
to
be
a
nation
that
values
the
welfare
of
Canadians
above
the
ideologies
of
the
elite.
D
D
Remaining
disciplined
and
responsible
is
most
difficult
during
years
of
plenty.
I
expect
most,
if
not
all
of
us
in
the
house
today
would
agree
that,
whether
in
our
businesses
or
households,
the
tendency
to
unsustainably
increase
spending
as
revenues
rise
is
almost
inevitable
in
this
province,
with
our
economy
heavily
influenced
by
Commodities
and
our
volatile
Revenue
structure.
It's
been
our
story
all
too
often.
D
D
A
fund
of
this
size
would
earn
albertans
close
to
20
billion
a
year
in
investment
income,
and
while
we
all
wish
we
started
reinvestment
earlier,
the
best
day
to
start
is
today
and
speaking
of
today,
to
make
up
for
lost
time.
We
will
immediately
invest
in
additional
two
billion
dollars
into
the
Heritage
fund
from
the
surplus
of
the
last
two
years.
D
All
of
these
measures
together
provide
fiscal
stability
enabling
low
taxes
and
will
ensure
that
business
investment
continues
to
be
preferential
to
Alberta
and
it
means
future
Generations
will
not
be
encumbered
with
a
debt
they
did
not
incur
because
Mr
Speaker
budget
23
is
about
the
future.
It's
about
doing
more
of
what
is
worked.
D
This
carefully
calibrated
incentive
will
build
on
our
broad-based
value
proposition
and
ensure
we're
able
to
compete
with
neighboring
jurisdictions,
growing
our
value-added
agriculture
sector
as
the
largest
hydrogen
producer
in
Canada,
we're
building
for
the
future
with
the
Alberta
petrochemical
incentive
program,
as
we
do,
the
regulatory
work
assign
carbon
hubs
and
work
with
the
industry
to
advance
Logistics
in
our
commitment
to
position
this
emerging
sector
for
growth
and
we're
ensuring
that
future
generations
of
indigenous
albertans
are
Partners
in
prosperity.
With
a
50
increase
allocated
to
the
Aboriginal
business
investment
fund,.
D
According
to
the
Canadian
Federation
of
Independent
Business,
there
are
a
hundred
thousand
unfilled
employment
positions
in
Alberta.
Today,
it's
remarkable
a
skilled
Workforce
is
crucial
to
meet
the
needs
of
a
growing
and
diverse
economy
and
as
such,
Broad
and
diverse
training
opportunities
are
needed
not
only
to
ensure
key
capacity
for
employers,
but
to
ensure
more
albertans
are
invited
into
the
Alberta
advantage.
D
D
Over
180
million
is
earmarked
for
upgrading
or
expanding
facilities
around
the
province,
including
a
new
School
of
Business
building
at
McEwen
University
and
a
power
engineering
and
instrumentation
Lab
at
Northwestern
Polytechnic
Mr
Speaker
in
Alberta.
We,
like
every
other
Province,
are
experiencing
a
serious
challenge
in
healthcare
capacity.
D
This
challenge
is
less
about
bricks
and
mortar,
but
instead
a
lack
of
Frontline
Healthcare
professionals.
The
new
health
Workforce
strategy
provides
158
million
to
support
multiple
initiatives
to
recruit
and
retain
health
care
workers,
including
the
targeted
recruitment
of
internationally
trained
workers
and
nurses.
D
This
budget
provides
funding
to
increase
the
number
of
learning
seats
available
in
health
care
professions,
including
1800
new
seats
for
health
care
aids
licensed
practical
nurses
and
registered
nurses,
and
an
additional
120
seats
to
train
more
physicians
at
our
schools
of
medicine.
A
40
percent
increase
in
our
physician
training
capacity.
D
Mr
Speaker
affordability
and
the
High
Cost
of
Living,
due
to
inflation,
has
been
a
source
of
hardship
for
many
albertans.
The
affordability
action
plan
provides
over
three
billion
dollars
in
relief
measures
that
will
help
albertans
and
Mr
Speaker.
If
we
added
all
of
the
measures
up,
including
all
of
the
re-indexing,
we
would
be
well
over
8
billion
over
the
four
years.
This
fiscal
plan
represents
the
fuel
tax
suspension
program
is
saving
albertans
and
Alberta
businesses
real
dollars.
D
Every
time
they
fuel
up
and
gives
albertans
an
enduring
affordability
Advantage,
as
we
benefit
from
an
owned
resource,
electricity
rebates
are
providing
almost
2
million
Alberta
homes
and
businesses,
with
relief
from
the
high
cost
of
electricity
and
targeted
affordability.
Payments
will
support
families
seniors
and
our
most
vulnerable.
D
D
D
This
will
fund
a
new
First
Nation
Police
Service
for
six
Sica
and
additional
officers
across
the
country
and
Mr
speaker,
part
of
investment
attraction
means
making
sure
we
have
the
infrastructure
and
systems
to
meet
the
demands
of
growth.
With
tens
of
thousands
of
Canadians
making
Alberta
home,
the
volume
at
Land
Titles
has
been
unprecedented
to
all
the
Realtors
developers
and
lawyers
out
there,
we've
heard
you
service
Alberta
will
again
receive
increased
funding
to
clear
up
the
backlog
at
Land,
Titles
and,
more
importantly,
to
finely
modernize
the
system.
D
And
speaking
of
critical
infrastructure,
keeping
communities
connected
with
a
road
Network
that
supports
jobs
and
ensures
the
safe
and
efficient
flow
of
traffic
is
essential.
Budget
23
provides
an
additional
580
million
for
transportation
projects
across
the
province,
with
a
focus
on
projects
that
improve
productivity
and
competitiveness.
D
D
D
Now
Mr
Speaker
government
initiatives
and
funding
are
essential
in
the
care
of
vulnerable
albertans.
They
are
so
important,
but
the
measure
of
our
society
goes
so
far
beyond
government
programs.
This
province
was
built
by
people
who
didn't
wait
for
government.
They
saw
a
need
in
their
family
or
their
community
and
they
stepped
out
to
meet
that
need.
The
future
of
Alberta
will,
in
some
measure,
be
contingent
upon
our
ability
to
preserve
and
Foster
the
character
trait
of
self-determination
Even
in
our
compassion.
D
There
are
examples
every
day
from
every
corner
of
our
Province
people
like
Matthew
Potts
from
Samson
creation,
who
opened
up
his
restaurant's
kitchen
to
Ukrainian
newcomers
like
those
from
an
Edmonton
youth
group
who
prepared
a
traditional
Lebanese
meal
and
care
package
for
members
of
Edmonton's
homeless.
Community
people,
like
Tylan
hauling,
said
for
my
constituency
in
sexmith,
who
raised
over
twenty
four
thousand
dollars
for
the
stahlery
Children's
Hospital
or
11
year
old,
Kennedy
Bruno,
who
started
her
own
t-shirt,
design
business
and
donated
the
proceeds
to
the
urban
skin
women's
shelter.
D
D
Albertans
are
generous,
compassionate
and
intentional,
and
just
like
economic
investment,
when
it
comes
to
generosity
government
can
either
be
a
help
or
a
hindrance
to
albertans
as
they
work
together
to
meet
the
needs
in
their
communities.
A
good
job
is
more
than
just
paying
the
bills,
it
creates
conditions
favorable
for
people
and
families
to
thrive,
so
they
can
lend
that
helping
hand
to
their
neighbor
to
newcomers
or
to
those
in
their
Community.
Who
are
less
fortunate?
D
D
Speaker
in
three
months,
albertans
will
have
a
decision
to
make
regarding
their
next
government
as
a
province.
We
have
a
the
benefit
of
contrasting
two
very
different
approaches
to
governance
and
the
economy,
not
theoretical
or
hypothetical
conjecture,
but
the
actual
results
of
two
contrasting
economic
strategies
now
Mr
Speaker
I,
want
to
be
clear.
I
believe
that
almost
every
MLA
that
comes
to
this
house
that
comes
with
the
intention
of
making
life
better
for
albertans,
regardless
of
which
side
of
the
aisle
they
sit.
D
D
Mr
Speaker,
61
years
ago,
my
parents
came
West
to
Alberta
with
nothing
more
than
a
dream,
a
big
work
ethic
and
a
deep
sense
of
self-determination,
a
story
shared
by
so
many
in
this
province.
They
worked
hard,
sacrificed,
much
and
built
a
home
and
a
life
for
their
family
in
a
place
where
opportunities
abound
in
a
in
a
province
where
Family,
Faith
and
Community
are
held
in
high
regard.
D
Mr
Speaker
four
years
ago,
I
sought
public
office
for
one
reason
to
fight
for
an
Alberta
that
can
offer
the
next
generation
of
albertans
the
same
opportunities,
prosperity
and
freedom.
This
province
has
has
offered
me
and
my
family,
the
same
opportunities
for
our
children
and
grandchildren
for
people
like
Nick
and
Jessica
and
those
and
for
those
that
don't
yet
call
this
land,
their
home,
Mr,
Speaker,
the
same
opportunities
for
all
albertans.
D
E
B
The
Honorable,
the
official
opposition
house
leader,
thank
you,
Mr
Speaker,
I,
move
that
we
adjourn
debate
honorable
members.
Having
heard
the
motion
to
adjourn
debate,
all
those
in
favor,
please
say
aye
any
opposed.
Please
say
no,
in
my
opinion,
the
eyes
have
it.
The
house
stands
adjourned
until
Monday
at
1,
30
pm.