With May, the trees are green with leaves and the flowers are in bloom. It has been a busy spring legislative session, with the budget having been announced for 2018. Budget 2018 focuses squarely on extending the benefits of the province’s recovery to all Albertans by continuing to diversify our economy, create jobs and protect the vital public services families depend on.
We are investing $1 billion in diversifying our energy sector through loan guarantees and grants to build upgrading and refining capacity in Alberta. We are funding 3000 new post-secondary technology spaces over the next 5 years at institutions such as the University of Calgary to ensure we have a highly educated work force that can innovate. We are continuing capital investment in public facilities like the Calgary Centre as well as 3 newly announced schools in Calgary. We are extending the post-secondary tuition freeze for a fourth year. We are creating 4,500 additional affordable child-care spaces through the Early Learning and Child Care Centre Program. We have also been working hard on controlling costs and bringing down the deficit by reaching practical agreements with labour unions, keeping the size of the Alberta Public Service flat, cutting salaries and eliminating bonuses for some of the highest paid executives of Alberta’s agencies, boards and commissions, and keeping health spending growth below population growth plus inflation.
Recently our government announced $6 million in funding for the Bishop O’Byrne Housing Association to help build more than 100 affordable housing units for seniors and families with low income. It’s anticipated that the facility will accommodate around 250 vulnerable Calgarians and include one-, two- and three-bedroom units, a lounge, library and fitness facility.
Our office serves all the people of Varsity, Dalhousie, Brentwood, Banff Trail, University Heights, Montgomery, and Charleswood. Our team is available to talk to constituents about provincial government departments, programs, scrolls, and services. To find out more drop in, call, email, or check out my Facebook page @stephanie.mclean.127
