premier redford remains focused on building alberta - april 23.pdf

7/28/2019 Premier Redford remains focused on Building Alberta - April 23.pdf

1/3

News releaseFollow @Premier_Redford on Twitter

April 23, 2013

Premier Redford remains focused on building Alberta

Premier Alison Redford issued the following statement today on the anniversary of the April 23,2012 provincial election.

A year ago today, I was privileged and humbled by the confidence the people of Alberta placed inme and our party to deliver on our plan to build Alberta.

Despite a $6 billion hit to our revenues this year because of the bitumen bubble where Albertans

are not getting the price we should for our resourcesIm proud of what weve managed toaccomplish so far.

Weve had to make tough, but necessary decisions to protect Albertas gains, and well remainfocused on building for the future so Alberta remains the greatest province, in the greatest countryon the planet, and the bright, confident place we love to call home.

- 30 -

Making Progress. Keeping Our Commitments.

Building Alberta

Building infrastructure: $5.2 billion in Budget 2013 to keep building modern health facilities,quality schools, safe highways and other important infrastructure , including the acceleratedtwinning of Highway 63. Nearly $500 million over three years is budgeted for post-secondarycapital projects.

Increased Health and Education Funding: Health care spending increased by 3%;Education increased by 3.2% in Budget 2013. $107 million in education funding was restoredon Oct 12, 2011, five days after being sworn in.

Family Care Clinics: Budget 2013 includes $235 million to add new family care clinics and

support primary care networks.

Insulin pump therapy program: Created in Budget 2013 for eligible Albertans with type 1diabetes.

PharmaCare: Budget 2013 creates a new PharmaCare program that will provide access todrug and supplemental health benefit coverage to all Albertans.

Lower prescription costs: beginning May 1, Albertans will pay the lowest price in Canadafor prescription drugs.

New Education Act: received Royal Assent on Dec. 10, 2012.


2/3

New schools: Budget 2013 includes $500 million as the first step in building 50 new schoolsand 70 school modernizations.

Tuition freeze: rates for the 2013-14 academic year have been frozen.

Canadas toughest expense policy: implemented on October 1, 2012 requiring disclosureof travel, accommodation, meals and hospitality expenses.

Social Policy Framework: launched on February 28, 2013 and called by observers the

most in-depth government guide to social policy in 30 years. PTSD presumptive coverage for first responders: The Workers Compensation

Amendment Act, 2012 received Royal Assent on Dec. 10, 2012.

Protecting vulnerable Albertans: including increased funding to AISH, Persons withDevelopmental Disabilities, homelessness programs and child intervention programs.

Whistleblower Legislation: Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower) legislation receivedRoyal Assent on Dec. 10, 2012.

Seniors Property Tax Deferral Program: included in Budget 2013, will allow eligibleseniors to defer all or part of their property taxes through a low-interest home equity loan.

Property Rights: Property Rights Advocate Office opens in Lethbridge on February 6, 2013.The Electric Utilities Amendment Act, 2012 ensures that all future transmission line projectsrequire complete review and approval by the Alberta Utilities Commission received Royal

Assent on Dec. 10, 2012.

Stable Municipal Funding: Despite the bitumen bubble, funding for the MunicipalSustainability Initiative (MSI) was protected in Budget 2013. $200 million was also allocatedfor GreenTRIP, to reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions and increasepublic transit access.

Building Savings

Savings strategy: focused plan to save a portion of our resource revenues in the AlbertaHeritage Savings Trust Fund for the first time in 25 years.

Labour stability: Landmark agreements with doctors and teachers include salary freezes forthe first three years and will provide long-term stability in health care and education.

Hold the line on spending: Budget 2013 holds overall spending increases to zero wellbelow the expected population plus inflation rate of 4.3%.

Results-based budgeting: review of 800 government programs and servicesaccelerated.

MLA pay: has been reduced by 8%, and committee pay, transition allowances and the tax

free allowance were eliminated.Leading by example: management salary freeze and reduction of the number of publicsector managers by 10% over three years to save taxpayers $54 million.

No provincial sales tax or tax increases:Alberta has the most competitive tax system inNorth America and the lowest overall taxes in the country with the lowest fuel tax amongprovinces, no health premium, no payroll tax, no capital tax and no provincial sales tax.


3/3

Building Markets

Advocating Alberta's interests: Premier has been to Washington four times to tell our storydirectly to those who will make the critical decisions about market access.

Building bridges: Envoys to Washington and Ottawa appointed February 1, 2013. AsiaAdvisory Council launched on June 12, 2012 as part of a larger strategy to grow andstrengthen relations with the crucial Asian market.

International offices:Budget 2013 included an additional $5 million to strengthen Albertaspresence and grow and diversify markets in Asia, the U.S. and Europe.

Canadian Energy Strategy: Leading the development of a Canadian Energy Strategyincluding working with Quebec sharing energy expertise and address and examining howEastern Canada refineries and economies can benefit from taking Alberta oil.

Single Regulator: the Responsible Energy Development Actreceived Royal Assent on Dec.10, 2012.

Environmental Monitoring: the new Environmental Monitoring Agency will be establishedthis year. Budget 2013 announced over $100 million will be provided over the next two years.

Media inquiries may be directed to:Neala BartonOffice of the PremierCell: [email protected]@ABPremierCommsFacebook.com/PremierRedford

To call toll-free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://twitter.com/abpremiercommshttps://twitter.com/abpremiercommshttps://www.facebook.com/PremierRedfordhttps://www.facebook.com/PremierRedfordhttps://www.facebook.com/PremierRedfordhttps://twitter.com/abpremiercommsmailto:[email protected]

premier redford remains focused on building alberta - april 23.pdf

Documents