Alberta’s energy resources drive our economy and are vital to the future of our province. We must continue to develop these resources in an orderly manner and provide businesses the certainty they require to invest in Alberta.

The vast majority of our oil and natural gas is sold to the United States. It relies on Canada for much of its energy supply. However, the U.S. is working hard to develop its own sources of energy. While the United States will be Alberta’s largest customer for some time, it is in our best interest to access new markets such as China and India.

It is also important that Alberta develop a reliable, cost-effective supply of low-carbon electricity for its own use.

Fiscal Policy

Alberta’s real advantage is the opportunity we have to invest the revenue we receive from the sale of our non-renewable natural resources to create new opportunities for future generations. We must plan for the future today by responsibly reducing our reliance on energy royalties to fund annual government operations. We must start investing this revenue to strategically develop our economy.

There will come a day when our oil sands are displaced by other energy resources or have simply run their course. Future generations of Albertans will thank us for responsibly managing the revenues from the sale of our resources.

Justice

Albertans can be proud of the Safe Communities Program. It balances crime prevention and enforcement in a meaningful way. Providing services to the homeless and to children at risk of committing crime should continue to be a priority. Much work remains to be done. Problem-solving courts dealing specifically with individuals who are in violent relationships or suffer from mental illness or drug addiction show great promise. Collaboration between all levels of government and many helping professions is essential. Particular attention has to be paid to aboriginal communities.

Nonetheless, enforcement cannot be neglected. The federal government has to begin to show a genuine commitment to the prosecution of drug trafficking offences-especially trafficking in cocaine. Harsh laws without adequate prosecutorial resources to enforce them are meaningless.

No amount of funding to police agencies will suffice if Courts are inefficient. Legislation to give judges more power to control proceedings before them is essential. Accused persons are entitled to a fair trial but they are not entitled to make the Court look foolish because of inordinate, wasteful delay. Our justice system can also be improved with a legislated legal aid program. Such a program is necessary to ensure not just that competent, professional and independent counsel represent accused persons but to ensure justice efficiency.

Health

To be able to deliver the quality healthcare that Albertans deserve, it is important to continue the practice of providing predictable funding for periods of at least 5 years. Without stable funding, it is impossible to develop and implement effective strategic plans to reduce wait times, support families, and provide safe and high quality care.

We all know that as “baby boomers” start to age, there will be growing pressure on our healthcare system. Our government needs to be responsive to the changes in our population and willing to act creatively to deliver effective publicly funded healthcare.

Encouraging healthy lifestyles also continues to be important. Obesity rates are rising in Alberta at alarming rates – especially with our youth. Obesity leads to a rise in chronic diseases and increases the costs of delivering healthcare. The Alberta government needs to find more ways to encourage healthy living.

Education

Alberta’s public education system continually ranks among the best in the world. We can continue to pursue excellence by renewing and refining our focus on early childhood development. A child’s experiences before the age of six have a lifelong impact on his or her development. Focusing our efforts on ensuring that every child has the best possible start in life is not only important to that child but to our society as a whole. It is also the most cost-effective way of helping our young people reach their potential. To accomplish this task, we need targeted coordination between government ministries to provide Albertans with the services and education they need to raise their children.

Alberta has a unique problem in that in economic “boom times” there are many high paying jobs that do not require a significant amount of education. We need a creative approach to reduce the opportunity costs of pursing an education. Given the changes in the global market place, Alberta will be best served in the long run by having a highly educated population with worldwide connections.