By Alex McCuaig

Economic outlook

Uncertain economic outlook following busy week for politics

Oct 28, 2019 | 8:49 AM

Medicine Hat, AB – It was a record crowd at the Great West Home and Leisure Show this weekend but whether that is indicative of greater consumer confidence is anything but certain with the Chamber president and city’s two MLAs offering their opinions on where the economy is going.

An inconclusive federal election result, a provincial budget which has shifted fiscal priorities, local employment figures which conversely show a high unemployment rate but more Hatters working than a year ago are all contributing to a murky economic outlook.

But Chamber of Commerce president Sarah MacKenzie says in many respects, Medicine Hat is charting its own future irrespective of the federal or provincial governments, largely in part to its city-owned utilities able to attract a diversified industrial development.

“There is still a lot of work to be done but there are steps moving forward with our provincial budget and also, I think this new minority government could be something where they work together,” said MacKenzie.

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Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes says the provincial government is doing its part in improving market conditions in Alberta by stabilizing spending for the first time in a quarter century.

‘I’m so glad our government addressed that but at the end of the day, it’s about getting our people back to work at full capacity,” said Barnes. “And in Alberta, that about pipelines, oil and gas and agriculture.”

For Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Glasgo, the frustration Albertans feel is largely tied to the lack of getting market access for oil. Something she says Albertans feel frustrated about.

“And that’s totally justifiable when you have a federal government that seems to be doing everything it can to blcok our resources,” said Glasgo. “At this point, I hope that Justin Trudeau sees that there is serious discontent in Alberta right now and he does something to remedy that.”