Kevin Taft visits Northern Alberta

Alberta Liberals will widen Highway 40, commit $81 million for new hospital in Grande Prairie

Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft is in Northern Alberta today, visiting the communities of Grande Cache, Grande Prairie, Wabasca-Desmaris and Fort McMurray.

“People here say that a pipeline goes out and a garden hose comes back. Industrial activity in this area generates massive wealth for the entire province, but Northern Albertans are left holding the bag as they deal with the strains of a booming economy,” Taft said.

“The Tories have done nothing to solve the affordable housing crisis, fix health care or protect the environment. With the same old government, Northern Albertans will keep suffering from the same old problems. It’s time for a change — we need a new government.”

In Grande Cache, Taft said, “You shouldn’t have to risk your life every time you use Highway 40. The Tories’ three-year capital plan does not include Highway 40 improvements. Yet Stelmach said during this campaign that it does — it sounds like typical Tory project management: promise repeatedly, never deliver. An Alberta Liberal government needs to look under the hood to find the government’s estimates, but we will improve and widen Highway 40.”

Taft recommitted today to an additional $81 million towards building a new hospital in Grande Prairie. This funding was included in the Alberta Liberal costing announcement of February 22.

“Accessibility woes have plagued the health care system in Grande Prairie for too long. A new hospital has been needed here for a long time, and we’ll provide the funding to get this vital project completed,” Taft said.

“Our platform has been getting solid reviews all over the province. The Alberta Medical Association gave our health care policies top marks out of all the other parties, and the Conservation Voters of Alberta said our environment platform is the strongest. Protect the environment and you protect the economy. And, we’re the only party to have released a platform on K-12 education,” Taft said.

The Alberta Liberals will improve the quality of life for Northern Albertans by also:

• Increasing the number of affordable housing units and protect renters from exorbitant increases.
• Creating a land-use strategy to balance industrial interests with those of communities and the environment.
• Reinstating a government ministry devoted exclusively to Aboriginal Affairs and doubling provincial funding for Friendship Centres.
• Ensuring adequate funding for rural health services to reflect the higher costs of delivering health care in rural areas.
• Working closely with industry and forest-area communities to make sure forestry remains a vital, thriving part of Alberta.
• Protecting Northern Alberta’s water by requiring watershed management planning and creating a provincial inventory of surface and ground water.
• Super-charging Alberta’s post-secondary institutions, including Grande Prairie Regional College.