Provincial Election Results 2023
Last night Albertans elected their new government. I want to congratulate Premier Smith and the Alberta UCP on being elected to serve all Albertans.
The Alberta UCP have made many commitments to Albertans over the course of the campaign but I want to focus on a few that I am looking forward to working with the incoming government on.
Job Growth and Diversification
Since I began being involved in public service it has always been important to me to see the growth of our economy through attracting and retaining talent into the province and to focus on some of our newer areas of investment such as gaming, film, and tv. The UCP will continue to promote Alberta’s successful Film and Television Tax Credit and give an additional $100 million to the Alberta Enterprise Corporation to attract more venture capital investment, including targeted investments in Indigenous investment. I look forward to working with the government on what these investments look like for Edmonton based companies and organizations.
Support for Seniors
I am proud to represent 10 senior facilities in my ward and I was happy to see that the UCP is providing targeted supports to make life more affordable for seniors across the province. This includes the creation of a 25 percent discount that will automatically be applied when Alberta seniors go to a registry to access government services or book a camping spot, and a new billing code will be created to discount medical driving tests. The UCP have also made commitments around more seniors housing and I look forward to working with the government on how these investments will impact the growing need for seniors housing in Edmonton.
Investments in Domestic and Sexual Violence Supports
Alberta has one of the highest rates of domestic and sexual violence and we know that these issues were just heightened during the pandemic. After Budget 2023, advocates were concerned about a lack of focus for the agencies that support those impacted by these issues, so I was happy to see a commitment from the UCP for $10 million for both women’s shelters and sexual assault counselling over four years. I will continue to work with our new government on how we can all better support vulnerable and at risk Edmontonians.
There are outstanding issues that were not covered in the platform that I look forward to discussing with the new government.
Support for People Experiencing Homelessness
A major area is proper support for people experiencing homelessness (ex: better shelter operations, more housing, recovery centres, etc.). There is a housing crisis across the province and while we have been trying to fill in the gaps, this is ultimately a provincial responsibility and we need their support to address a very serious issue. I appreciate the work they have been doing on recovery centres and I hope that continues along with a focus on minimum shelter standards, 24/7 supportive housing, and addictions/mental health support.
I also hope to see the digital media tax credit reintroduced to allow us to grow the gaming industry. This credit has the potential to drive the video game industry in Edmonton the same way the film and TV industry is growing in Calgary. We have an incredible foundation here in Edmonton and if this credit is reintroduced, we will be able to flourish.
Finally, I hope to see many of the concerns raised by municipalities in Alberta meaningfully addressed. For example, the infrastructure funding gap that every municipality faces must be resolved. By not adequately funding municipalities, it makes it hard to provide the services and amenities that our residents need. Both Alberta Municipalities and Rural Municipalities of Alberta are clear that the overall pool of infrastructure must be increased which will allow for more roads, rec centres, libraries, community hubs, etc. to be built.
The results from last night show that we have a divide in Alberta between rural and urban voters. I know I’m ready to help work on this with the provincial government and my hope is that they will work closely with the city councils of both Edmonton and Calgary to work on our common goals and to help bridge that divide. I’ll also note that one thing I have noticed when meeting with municipal leaders from across the province is that we have far more in common than we might first think. Nevertheless, the big cities will have limited representation in the cabinet based on the number of seats. Therefore, along with extending our support to help bridge the gap between urban and rural, we should look to form more relationships with our other municipal partners who are dealing with many of the same issues.
Again, my congratulations to the Alberta UCP on their win and my most sincere thank you to all the staff, volunteers, and candidates from all parties for their contributions to democracy in Alberta. I know how much work and dedication goes into the process, so thank you to every person who contributed to this election. I want to congratulate Searle Turton on his re-election in Spruce Grove-Stony Plain. Searle and I have known each other a long time and share a border and I look forward to working with him in the new UCP government to address Edmonton and area concerns. I also want to congratulate specifically my provincial counterparts Sarah Hoffman, Lorne Dach, and Lori Sigurdson on their re-elections in Edmonton-Glenora, Edmonton-McClung, and Edmonton-Riverview respectively. Also a huge congratulations to Brooks Arcand-Paul on his election in Edmonton West-Henday. I look forward to working with the new government and opposition over the next four years to continue to make Alberta and Edmonton the best it can be.
