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United Conservative Party will fight for Alberta’s economy

Sep 7, 2018 | 5:31 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB —The 2019 provincial election is still months away but United Conservative Party leader Jason Kenney spoke about his campaign at a party fundraiser in Medicine Hat last night.

Kenney was there in support of local MLA Drew Barnes and Michaela Glasgo, UCP candidate for Brooks-Medicine Hat.

This will be the first election since the Wildrose Party and Progressive Conservatives merged last year.

Kenney says the party is confident but staying humble ahead of the election.

“We’re not entitled to power.  The PC’s became arrogant. We need to learn that lesson, right. But I think Albertans want a government focused on renewing the Alberta advantage, re-igniting our economy, turning Alberta into a job creation machine,” said Kenney.

Kenney believes Alberta needs someone who will fight for the province’s economy.

He says the province is missing out on billions of oil and gas dollars, that’s going to the United States or elsewhere in the world.

“We gotta fight like heck to get a coastal pipeline built but also to reduce the huge burden of dumb regulations on our energy companies, scrap the carbon tax, and make it clear to global investors that Alberta is open for business again,” said Kenney.

With the Trans Mountain Pipeline currently delayed, Kenney says Justin Trudeau needs to file an appeal with the supreme court.

He also believes Canada needs to start listening to the pro development Aboriginal Canadians living along the proposed pipelines.

“Why were their voices ignored by the court? I think it’s time that we frankly ask the courts that exercise such huge power to also be accountable to these pro development First Nations, who want to move from poverty to prosperity through projects like this pipeline,” said Kenney.

If elected, Kenney says the carbon tax will be the first bill to go.

Jim Groom, political science instructor at Medicine Hat College, doesn’t think that it’s the best option for Alberta.

He thinks it sends the wrong message about pollution and it’s already been proven that the carbon tax won’t negatively affect Alberta’s economy.

“It makes us look like a Trump regime as opposed to a more progressive and understanding that there is a pollution problem, and we have to resolve it,” said Groom. “And it has an enormous impact of course.”

While an official election platform won’t be unveiled for some time, Kenney is already focusing on renewing the Alberta advantage, reigniting the economy, and turning Alberta into a job creation machine.