Stopping unconstitutional regulations in Alberta

By Chantelle de Jonge Chestermere-Strathmore MLA

Last week, we learned more about Ottawa’s final regulations to ban all new gas vehicle sales by 2035. Our government is committed to doing everything we can, within our legal jurisdiction, to stop the implementation of these unconstitutional regulations in our province.

We also recently learned that the Trudeau Liberals will appeal a recent Federal Court decision rejecting its single-use plastics ban. We will participate in this appeal and argue that the federal government’s decision to label plastic as a “toxic substance” is an unconstitutional intrusion into our provincial jurisdiction. 

Finally, we also recently learned about the Trudeau Liberals’ newly established methane emissions rules. Using a province-led approach, Alberta has already reduced methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 45 per cent – hitting our target three years early. 

Alberta’s government continues working to improve primary health care across the province and stabilization funding is coming soon. Additional funding of $200 million over two years will improve access to family physicians. This funding is enabled through the new Canada-Alberta Health Funding Agreement with the federal government which represents a total of approximately $1.1 billion in additional health care funding over three years for shared priorities.

Adoption subsidy applications are now open for families who have adopted a child through a licensed agency in AB and can apply for a one-time $6,000 subsidy. This subsidy will be available for families with a household income of less than $180,000 a year who completed a licensed private agency adoption in Alberta on or after April 1, 2023. To learn more, please visit the website (alberta.ca/adoption).

It is exciting to see Alberta’s credit rating upgraded to AA- from A+ by S&P Global Ratings.

Alberta’s second-quarter fiscal update shows the province continues to lead the country in economic growth with a projected surplus of $5.5 billion for 2023-24. This is an increase of $3.2 billion from the Budget 2023 forecast. Despite economic volatility, Alberta’s financial performance is expected to remain stable over the next two years due to oil prices and prudent financial management.

(Chantelle de Jonge is the MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore and the Parliamentary Secretary for Affordability and Utilities)