With the 2019 provincial election campaign right around the corner, key challenges facing the province are starting to come into focus.
Both Premier Rachel Notley and United Conservative Party (UCP) Leader Jason Kenney have already started making campaign-style speeches, outlining promises and pledges.
Although it’s much too early to predict a winner at this point, one thing that is certain is that whoever wins this spring will have his or her hands full with pressing issues.
And perhaps the most challenging task facing the next premier will be moving the vital oil and gas industry forward.
For her part, Premier Notley says she plans to support the oil and gas industry going forward in several ways, including increasing support for petrochemical upgrading, increasing oil exports by rail, and working with private industry to explore the possible building of a new oil refinery in Alberta.
“For decades, Albertans have been talking about getting more value for our oil here at home. It’s time to stop settling for less,” said Notley.
“We’re grabbing the bull by the horns with a made-in-Alberta strategy to create more jobs, open new markets for our oil and gas, and make more of the energy products the world needs.”
Jason Kenney says the UCP – and not the NDP or federal Liberals – has the willingness to wholeheartedly champion the industry.
“Watching the NDP act like champions of the oil industry is like watching a vegan try to run a steakhouse,” Kenney said. “They don’t know what they’re doing or why they’re doing it but they finally figured out somehow they have to pretend.”
“Now for them to get up every morning and pretend to masquerade as the great champions of oilfield workers, I almost feel sorry for them. It’s slightly pathetic. And, try as they might, no one’s buying it.”
The next premier of Alberta will have many important tasks on his or her hands – and one of the most important will be championing the province's vital oil and gas industry.
Dan Singleton is the Mountain View Gazette editor.
