[RCO]

Stelmach promises to beat back deficit
In Throne Speech, Alberta Tories pledge to be ‘back in the black in three years' and improve environmental performance in the oil sands

See also:
•Globe Essay: Alberta's one-shot wonders
•Jeffrey Simpson: Conservative ferment is fertile soil for Alberta's Wildrose
•Ted Morton nabs finance post in Alberta cabinet shakeup
. Article Comments (87) Dawn Walton

Calgary — From Friday's Globe and Mail
Published on Thursday, Feb. 04, 2010 5:00PM EST

Last updated on Thursday, Feb. 04, 2010 11:25PM EST


.Facing a projected $4.3-billion deficit and slumping popularity in the polls, Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach used Thursday's Throne Speech to signal his government's plan to rein in spending and reach out to an unhappy energy sector.

After years of much-maligned spending increases, the Progressive Conservatives are now promising to be “back in the black in three years” – a task handed to Ted Morton, the new Finance Minister, who will deliver his first provincial budget Feb. 9.

“Government must live within its means,” Lieutenant-Governor Norman Kwong read from the Throne Speech as a new session began at the legislature. “We must and will carefully manage spending, with a focus on key priorities such as health, education and supports for vulnerable Albertans.”

The Stelmach government has an overwhelming majority, but it has taken a beating from the oil and gas industry over changes to the way it collects royalties. The government is now reviewing the regime, and its first order of business was to introduce the Alberta Competitiveness Act. The legislation is aimed at making Alberta more appealing by taking steps to “minimize the cost of doing business here, including the cost of regulation.”

Mr. Stelmach told reporters that the budget will “trim expenses” and complement the new legislation.

“We are coming out of a recession and we must make sure that as government we are doing all we can and that is making Alberta an attractive place to do business,” he said.

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce welcomed the direction.

“[The] Throne Speech provides a strong signal that will build investor confidence and bring the capital that creates jobs and opportunity for all Albertans,” CAPP spokesman Travis Davies said.

Liberal Leader David Swann told reporters that the speech indicates that the government is “pulling further to the right.”

The upstart right-wing Wildrose Alliance Party, which has been increasingly viewed as a friend to the energy sector, has surged into the lead in a recent poll and last month wooed two Tories to cross the floor. Thursday, Tory MLA, Fred Lindsay, a former cabinet minister, mused on a talk radio show about joining the party.

The Throne Speech also outlined the province's plan to work with Ottawa on climate change. While Alberta's oil sands are an economic engine in the country, they have also been perceived as the environmental bad boy.

“We will act to improve environmental performance in the oil sands,” the speech noted.

While lacking details, the government vowed to improve wait times and access to the health-care system. It will introduce a new health act this fall that will outline principles for the “development of legislation, policy and program delivery changes across the system.”

With a report from Nathan VanderKlippe


http://www.theglobeandmail.com.....le1456680/

[kwlafayette]

The Alberta budget must be out by now. Is it too early to tell if it has saved Stelmach?

[Alan A.]

This government is still committing 2 Billion for the stupidest and probably most useless project I've ever seen: carbon capture.

[TheMonitor1867]

Actually, despite promising cuts, the Stelmach PC's opted to increase overall spending. That seals it for me - I'll be voting Wildrose.

[FF_Canuck]

[kwlafayette]

Don't worry, they will balance the books a week before calling an election, and everyone will forget their sins and be happy to vote for them again.

[FF_Canuck]