OLDS — Don’t expect lots of cash and spending when the provincial government unveils its budget on Feb. 27, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper warns.
“At that budget I anticipate strong headwinds,” Cooper said during a recent appearance before Town of Olds council. “I anticipate that the budget is going to be very tight, extremely tight.”
Cooper suggested that major factors forcing that tight budget include instability in the world and U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs on Canadian products, including energy.
“I know that that those discussions and the brinksmanship that's taken place over the past number of weeks and months has seen a significant impact on both revenue projections and in particular the revenue projections in how that may impact the provincial treasury more broadly,” Cooper said.
“I'll leave it to the finance minister to discuss the real nuts and bolts of it, but suffice to say that there are lots of pressures that the province will face as a result of potentially a contracting economy, and all sorts of challenges that may or may not impact our energy sector.”
Cooper warned that those impacts will likely force the provincial government to be extremely careful with its spending.
“There are certainly challenging times ahead, and I know that the province is focused on those. But of course, that's going to also impact how we interact with municipalities and the challenges that you guys face as well,” he said.
“So I hope that we will continue to work well together, both between my office and your office, but also between the various ministers in Edmonton.”
Cooper noted that he and a few government ministers have met with representatives of council and administrative staff to discuss the town’s concerns on various issues.
“I think that that shows a good, strong, positive working relationship,” he said.
Mayor Judy Dahl said, “I'd like to also, on behalf of council, say that we have been working very well with your staff and yourself and thank you for attending this meeting with us."
Cooper invited a couple of representatives of council or administrative staff to attend the unveiling of the budget.
He said as speaker of the legislature, he has some seats reserved for that purpose.
