The province’s Progressive Conservative government took its road show to Stettler last week.
Municipal Affairs Minister and Battle River-Wainwright MLA Doug Griffiths — the new Bashaw-area representative — was part of a five-man delegation that included Infrastructure Minister Wayne Drysdale and three other MLAs.
Griffiths said the visit was “like coming home” for him.
He was raised in Coronation and taught school in Byemoor for three years before he was elected MLA.
Griffiths delivered news that local municipalities welcomed. He assured them that Municipal Sustainability Initiative funding would be kept intact as the government prepares its budget.
“We will not balance the budget on the backs of municipalities,” Griffiths said.
He also said Premier Alison Redford’s government isn’t considering tax increases in the new budget.
The provincial politicians met with counterparts from the Town of Stettler, County of Stettler, area villages and summer villages for dialogue on sharing concerns the region might have, along with updates from the province.
Stettler Mayor Dick Richards said he was pleased with the visit.
“I think it sends a positive message from the provincial government that they are interested in roundtable discussions,” he said.
County of Stettler Reeve Wayne Nixon, the chairman of last week’s meeting, had a similar view.
“It’s nice to have the ministers come here and bring the MLAs for discussions in an informal setting — and to know the government hasn’t forgotten about us, even though we don’t have any representation in the governing party,” Nixon said.
Drumheller-Stettler is represented by new MLA Rick Strankman of the Wildrose party.
Griffiths said the provincial government puts “high importance” on all parts of Alberta.
“Every community needs to be successful,” he said.
The three Edmonton-area MLAs on the Stettler visit were Deputy Speaker George Rogers of Leduc-Beaumont, Ken Lemke of Stony Plain and Dave Quest of Strathcona-Sherwood Park.
Griffiths said bringing other MLAs on the tour was important for exposure to different areas of the province, each of which might have different needs.
Local politicians raised a variety of questions and issues. Those talks included upgrades to the Stettler hospital, rewriting the Municipal Government Act, municipal reserves, Water for Life grants, the Prairie shelterbelt program, physician funding, recycling, oil royalties, and the four-year cycle of election terms.
The provincial politicians listened as Stettler Coun. Leona Thorogood cited upgrade concerns at the aging Stettler hospital. Drysdale, the infrastructure minister, said more than 100 hospitals are on Alberta’s list for replacement.
He said the health ministry approves the projects and the infrastructure ministry builds them, and suggested keeping in contact with health department officials.
Griffiths offered to help co-ordinate a requested tour of the hospital with provincial health officials.
Thorogood questioned whether rural incentives and grants for physician funding would continue.
Griffiths said the government is working on a plan to pay rural and family doctors more to try to narrow “the spread” between them and specialists.
Griffiths addressed what he called “coffee shop talk” from people advising the PCs to “balance the books.”
“We could balance the budget tomorrow if we cut infrastructure and funding,” Griffiths said. “But that would create bigger problems.
“Kids need schools, seniors need housing and Albertans need hospitals.
“It’s not about the bottom line this year. It is about being smart in a 20-year vision.”
He posed the question, “Do you pay cash for everything and wait 30 years until you have the money, or do you finance it over the life of the infrastructure?”
Alberta’s population is projected to grow by one million people in the next 10 years, Griffiths said.
“Those people do not bring schools, hospitals, recreation facilities, roads and sidewalks with them.”
He reiterated the importance of “smart” long-term investment.
Griffiths clarified “misconceptions” on oil royalties.
He said they aren’t based on the West Texas Intermediate, which is used as a benchmark in oil pricing, and lists oil at $95 a barrel.
Royalties are instead based on the Hardisty price, which is $47.
He said the price is lower because of reduced demand and a glut on the market. Canada’s No. 1 customer, the U.S., is now producing more of its own oil.
Although the reduced royalties pose challenges for the government, Griffiths was optimistic about the future of the oil industry. He said that with the introduction of other important markets — with the Keystone and Gateway pipelines and the conversion of a gas pipeline to Ontario to oil — the longterm outlook is positive.
The infrastructure department still plans to build “lots, just not as much as we hoped for,” Drysdale said.
“Commitments will be honoured. Spending will be more basic — not a grand plan with increases.”
Drysdale also said there’s a need “to keep a steady flow” over the long-term.
“You need to take the dips and peaks out of infrastructure spending and make it more steady. Otherwise, the construction (sector) would be laying off workers one year and faced with a shortage the next. A smart, long-term plan is important. In tough times, you might have to finance.”
Quest boasted Alberta has the lowest taxation in Canada, is the only province with no sales tax and has the lowest unemployment rate.
He said Heritage Trust Fund investments had a favourable return last year, generating more than $1 billion, and the Alberta Sustainability Fund can be tapped in economic downturns.
Locals raised concerns about representation in ridings that don’t have MLAs from the ruling PCs. Quest said the Tories’ “buddy-MLA” system matches PC MLAs with all constituencies without PC members.