Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf. (Supplied by Nathan Neudorf)

By David Opinko

Budget 2020 Lethbridge

MLA Neudorf: budget “corrects spending” and invests in jobs

Mar 6, 2020 | 2:21 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The MLA for Lethbridge-East says last week’s provincial budget makes some tough spending decisions, but ones that will ultimately be beneficial.

Nathan Neudorf told LNN that, while there is only so much the government can do to support the “volatile” oil and gas sector and keep it from fluctuating, the United Conservative Party is doing what it can to balance the books by 2023.

“It is a clearly thought out document that stays the course that doesn’t do anything drastic. There shouldn’t be any surprises in there from the fall budget to now. It has achieved, already in this short period of time, a reduction in the overall deficit of $1.2 billion.”

In order to make this happen, there are cuts to several areas of the budget.

“We can control our spending, so that spending increase has been on a massively-high trajectory for 15 years and we are not trying to cut that or roll that back. What we’re trying to do is correct it to the tune of 2.8 per cent so we can wait until our economy comes back in [and] other provinces can match the levels that we’ve got.”

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

21m ago

POSTAL STRIKE

Donations to Medicine Hat non-profits drop over Canada Post strike

29m ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Adopt-A-Rink program still seeking volunteers

8h ago

Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman called it a “budget of austerity” that will likely result in slight increases to property taxes in the city. Infrastructure funding through the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) will likely stay the same.

The University of Lethbridge is set to lose upwards of $7-million in funding compared to last fall’s budget, while Lethbridge College is bracing for a $3-million cut.

Neudorf says funding for advanced education was one of the tough, unfortunate decisions that had to be made. Either way, he believes both institutions will be fine in the end.

“Thankfully, we have two outstanding, nationally-recognized programs where they have been able to secure funds federally, through private fundraising efforts, and private endorsements and gifts. They run phenomenal programs and they will be able to make that adjustment by continuing to attract large numbers of students. Once we get this corrected, I’m sure they’ll be among the best-positioned institutions in the province.”

Finance Minister Travis Toews called the budget a “Blueprint for Jobs.”

Neudorf was happy to see capital funding has been maintained at $19.3-billion over the next three years, although none of the projects in the Capital Plan are for facilities south of Calgary. The MLA said he believes there is somewhere in the neighbourhood of $200-million that has yet to be allocated.

Neudorf told LNN that he will continue to advocate to the province for funding for initiatives such as upgrades to the Lethbridge Airport, the proposed redevelopment of Exhibition Park, and the proposed twinning of Highway 3. All of these projects, according to Neudorf, would bring heaps of economic growth to the region and would create numerous new jobs.

He also talked about how the city getting a drug treatment court and hiring more ALERT officers would help to expand the continuum of care for those facing addictions, and that an amalgamation of operating rooms at Chinook Regional Hospital would ensure a greater number of complex surgeries could be done locally.

We asked Neudorf about the report that came out Thursday that called Alberta’s supervised consumption sites (SCS) a “system of chaos.”

At the time of recording, he had not had a chance to review the report fully. As such, he could not give his thoughts on the contents of the report or what specifically he would like to see done as a next step.

“I am in agreement with the Ministry in general that the emphasis on treatment and recovery needs to be a major focal point in those decisions.”

The province will be making decisions on SCS’s on a city-by-city basis. Neudorf does not believe that any of these decisions have been made at this time.