Helping Albertans find jobs

By Chantelle de Jonge Chestermere-Strathmore MLA

Finding a good job can be hard, especially for young people starting out and families trying to make ends meet. Alberta’s government knows that affordability is a concern right now, which is why we are focused on helping Albertans build the skills and experience they need to succeed.

We recently launched the Alberta Jobs Strategy. It’s a plan to help more people in Alberta find good jobs in their communities. This strategy focuses on four main goals: showing Albertans what kinds of careers are out there, helping them get ready for future jobs, making it easier for people to get hired, and helping businesses grow so they can hire even more workers.

The Alberta Jobs Strategy brings together nearly 50 programs from different parts of the government. These programs help Albertans improve their math and literacy skills, connect people with jobs, get more women into science and technology careers, and make sure we have enough doctors, nurses, and other health care workers for the future.

Our government wants to make life better for Albertans. This plan will make sure young people across the province can train for the trades they’re interested in. It’s about helping hardworking Albertans find jobs that match their skills. The goal is to give families even more confidence so they can build a good life here.

Alberta is growing faster than any other province in Canada. More than five million people live here, and that number could reach 5.5 million by 2030. Investors are choosing to create jobs here because we have the lowest taxes of any Canadian province, the best workers, and a government committed to cutting red tape and creating opportunities. That means more jobs and more choices for Albertans.

The Alberta Jobs Strategy builds on what we’re good at today and prepares us for the economy of tomorrow. By working with schools, businesses, and communities, our government is making sure Alberta stays the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

As we work to grow Alberta’s economy and create new opportunities, we’re also focused on improving the services that matter most to Albertans – especially health care.

Three new provincial health corporations are now operational, focused on delivering efficient and patient-centred care for Albertans in critical health service areas.

As of Sept. 1, Cancer Care Alberta, Give Life Alberta and the emergency health services provincial health corporation are fully operational, marking a significant milestone in the province’s health care refocusing initiative.

Regulatory changes made in the spring established the new corporations as legal entities. These changes enabled cancer care, organ and tissue donation and transplantation, and emergency health services to transition from Alberta Health Services to Acute Care Alberta, ensuring these specialized services have a dedicated focus in the new health care system.

Cancer Care Alberta is now responsible for delivering cancer treatment and services across the province, overseeing workforce planning, capital investments, operational funding and a dedicated complaints process. Give Life Alberta manages all organ and tissue donation and transplantation services, streamlining processes and advancing a unified vision for life-saving care. The emergency health services provincial health corporation oversees all aspects of emergency health services, including response times, workforce recruitment and retention, and coordination of critical services.

As always, please feel free to reach out to my office with your feedback and questions (Chestermere.Strathmore@assembly.ab.ca).

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