Fall session has been a productive one in legislature

By Lethbridge Herald on December 10, 2021.

Nathan Neudorf
MLA – Lethbridge East

Merry Christmas, everyone!

To say 2021 was an exciting year with twists and turns is a little too cliché and a vast understatement. 

All I can say is that I feel incredibly blessed, yet again, to represent the great people of Lethbridge as we navigate the excitement together. The fall session has finally wrapped up at the legislature, and there are so many significant bills to be excited about.

The Labour Mobility Act, Bill 49: We are reducing red tape and administrative barriers for out-of-province certified workers who can help fill Alberta’s labour market needs. 

These changes will affect professions like engineers, veterinarians, optometrists, and dentists. In Alberta, these trained professionals will be back at work within one month of applying to work here — a huge win for our job sector and professional recruitment for our province. 

As a red-seal journeyman carpenter and gold-seal project manager, I understand how important it is to have your credentials recognized in a timely manner so that you can get back to work.

Bill 73, the Infrastructure Accountability Act, helps Alberta’s Government make important capital project investment decisions that provide Albertans with needed public infrastructure. It demonstrates our commitment to being transparent, accountable, and unbiased when making Capital Plan decisions. As part of this legislation, the government will develop a 20-year Strategic Capital Plan that will outlast government changes after election years — essentially ensuring that the projects that matter the most are prioritized regardless of politics.

The Trails Act, Bill 79: Trails are an essential part of Alberta’s history and identity, offering Albertans and visitors to experience the ways of the past while contributing to conservation, tourism, and well-being.

 Our government is using more “tools in our toolbox” to manage and conserve our trails through methods like a sustainable trail management system. Conserving our beautiful trail system is of utmost importance, and I am excited to see us working with community members around these trails to conserve and protect our natural beauty.

Alberta families should have a choice when deciding what type of licensed and regulated childcare best meets their needs. That’s why the provincial government fought so hard for a made-in-Alberta plan that respects our mixed-market system while meeting the unique needs of Alberta families. The Federal-Provincial Child Care Agreement we announced this fall will reduce fees by an average of half by early 2022 and provide an average of $10/day childcare by 2026. Outside of government business, there is so much to look forward to here in Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. 

Exhibition Park is proceeding as planned. I don’t know if it’s the project manager in me, but I find it incredibly exciting to see the progress on it every day!

The Lethbridge Airport is reopening after $23 million in provincial and federal grant funding was given for a variety of critical infrastructure projects. 

The upgrades focused on increasing passenger traffic, fire safety, and more — positioning the airport for pandemic recovery and future growth.

Last year, you may remember that our government announced a historic $815 million investment to modernize irrigation infrastructure and increase water storage in southern Alberta. 

This year we announced that a further $117.7 million is being invested into this project in partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank and 10 irrigation districts, making the total investment nearly $933 million. 

The largest of its kind in Alberta’s history, this enhanced investment has the potential to create 7,300 permanent jobs and 1,400 construction jobs and contribute up to $477 million to the province’s GDP every year.

In closing, I would also like to give a big congratulations to the Lethbridge Bulls for winning the WCB League Championship this year! Lethbridge had a great 2021, and I cannot wait to see what 2022 has in store for us. Merry Christmas, everyone; Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year.