City residents and all Albertans are key players in Canada
By Lethbridge Herald on July 9, 2022.
AT THE LEGISLATURE
Nathan Neudorf – UCP MLA for Lethbridge East
Canada. Around the world it’s a country known for its stunning landscapes, generous people and of course, ice hockey and poutine.
155 years ago, on March 29, 1867, the British North America Act (BNA Act) was passed by British Parliament, creating the Dominion of Canada.
While it took time for all the provinces to unify and create the Canada we see today, the basic structure of how our country operates from one side to the other has remained relatively stable. Incredibly, our methods of governance still fundamentally reflect the structure from a document born in the 1860s.
Since our humble beginnings, we’ve grown from three million people, to over 38 million. As a nation, we’ve traversed through conflict and difficulty, through tragedies and triumphs.
As a result, we’ve built strength, resiliency and identity.
Between 1939 and 1945, more than one million Canadian men and women served full-time in the armed services, according to Historica Canada, with more than 43,000 people killed.
Canada’s sacrifice during the war was embodied in heroic campaigns from Dieppe to Ortona and Normandy.
Having set the scene with the magnificence of the great Country we live in, let’s bring it a little closer to home and talk about Alberta; a province whose people are innovative, industrious and generous to others; a province that’s hospitable, a world-class tourist destination; and a province that serves as both a national breadwinner and agricultural producer and exporter.
Not only is Alberta one of the breadbaskets of the world, we’re amongst the biggest breadwinners in Canada.
At 15.27 per cent of the total GDP, we are truly the economic engine of Canada.
Allow me to prove my point…
Our film industry is set to eclipse $1 billion dollars in annual net production values, with an anticipated and corresponding $482 million in related spending, generating 9,000 jobs per year.
Our tourism industry is another brightly shining Alberta star. Thanks to the combination of breathtaking scenery, a rich, diverse and well-documented history, scores of accommodations, culinary delights, and outdoor and indoor adventures and events, Alberta brings in over $10 billion dollars of tourism-related expenditures — and more than 30 million visitors — per annum.
Although these numbers took a hit in 2020 and 2021, there are encouraging signs that production will come roaring back. As devastating as the pandemic was on the tourist sector, Alberta responded with innovation, business redevelopment and expansion.
With the number of movies set to be filmed in Alberta, visitor interest in our great province will only increase.
Another strong economic driver, our energy sector traces its roots back to 1875, when Canada’s Geological Survey discovered the presence of a black, gooey substance in Alberta. The oilsands have since proved to have a dramatic impact on the country’s economy and political landscape.
Alberta’s oil sands contain the fourth-largest oil reserves in the world after Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Our proven reserves equal about 165.4 billion barrels, production totaling 17.3 million cubic meters in April 2022, up 9.9 per cent compared to April 2021.
Last year, the value of all crude oil, bitumen, natural gas and natural gas liquids produced in Alberta topped $107 billion.
With higher prices and output, it’s projected to climb to $163.5 billion this year. Through Alberta resource – Alberta taxpayers made a $272 billion net contribution to federal government finances between 2007 and 2019.
Alberta is proud to be home to the largest Indian reservation in Canada, spanning 352,600 acres and boasting a population of 4,713 in 2018.
Blood Indian Reserve No. 148 is a part of the Blackfoot Confederacy and is based in southern Alberta on 557.2 square miles of reserve land bordered by the Old Man River, the St. Mary River, and the Belly River. Our First Nations are strong and proud.
We have the opportunity to again be leaders in Canada through our work on truth and reconciliation, as well as meaningful collaboration with the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation to address economic development and stability.
Not only are Albertans hardworking and industrious, but they are also generous and welcoming. According to Statistics Canada, Albertans often rank highest when it comes to donations and philanthropic giving.
We also have the lowest income tax in Canada, a provincial ministry dedicated to the reduction of red tape and significant investment in core, revenue-generating infrastructure.
Canada’s most popular national park (as well as the very first national park in the country) just so happens to be Banff – located, of course, in Alberta. Not that I’m bragging – but we do host an iconic national park that is on almost every world traveler’s bucket list — and for good reason.
Not to be left out, Alberta Agriculture continues stand above the crowd. Our province is a leading producer of canola, wheat, dry peas, barley, potatoes, and sugar beets as well as Canada’s largest producer and exporter of beef.
The province’s growable acres, abundance of sunshine and innovative and efficient irrigation systems make Alberta ideally suited to produce and export agricultural products. Based on the steady growth of these sectors, there’s no reason to believe this upward trend won’t continue. Above all, I believe Albertan ingenuity drives this production.
And now to bring it even closer to home, Lethbridge is experiencing growth and diversity like never before. While we are generally known for our agriculture and agri-food products which employs almost 20 per cent of the region’s population, it is also home to an incredible manufacturing sector.
In fact, manufacturing exports totaled $1.23 billion last year, up 49 per cent from 2020 and 77 per cent compared to 2019.
This makes up approximately 70 per cent of our total exports from Lethbridge which were $1.76 billion in 2021 up 43 per cent from 2019.
Lethbridge embodies much of the spirit and grit that exemplifies our province and our country. We are a key player in Alberta, just as Alberta is a key player in Canada. Each of us has something to offer and when we all give our best – the effects are far-reaching.
As we’ve recently celebrated our nations 155th birthday, I’m reminded once again of the blessing it is to live in Canada. Let’s not take it for granted, as we continue to move forward.
35-34
Oh, oh. Another election on the horizon.
Is Nathan still the provincial Secretary of Water? He forgot to mention the government giving the irrigation districts a quarter billion dollars to expand irrigation without considering diminishing summer flows in a basin closed to new water licenses. Or his support for using the same water to open-pit mine coal in these iconic mountain vistas. Or, more generally, government ineptitude in addressing the destabilization of a climate we rely on for an agricultural-based economy. In southern Alberta it’s about the water, Nathan. This is your file. Let’s hear about it.
Thank you MLA Neudorf for all the positives of and about Alberta. So refreshing to be reminded what a great Province we have. Don’t let anyone “dampen” your approach.
Any comment on water and lithium mining.
https://youtu.be/09maaUaRT4M
All is not cake and pie with this, obvious, attempt at distraction of some of the really dark things going on with the UCP. We should not lose sight of what is really happening. This, is only one, of many:
“Danielle Smith takes UCP leadership campaign down a dark, Trumpian road with her conspiracy theory about AHS”
http://www.albertapolitics.ca/2022/07/danielle-smith-takes-ucp-leadership-campaign-down-a-dark-trumpian-road-with-her-conspiracy-theory-about-ahs/
How many of the other UCP leadership candidates are going to also adopt this sort of dark, “dangerous, paranoid stuff worthy of a Qanon meeting?”
Well put. I cannot understand how how anyone of these so -called leaders could have the audacity to believe the people would/could be fooled into thinking they can fix this train wreck they have created in Alberta, when in fact it was them and them alone (well in addition to 40 years on PC rule) who created it.
How can “they” the leaders and MLA’s be “trusted” ever again?
I don’t know what the solution is or a reasonable alternative. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
I know there swill always be the party faithful who believe the part and ideology and do no wrong, like a well greased machine. Therein lies the danger.
The machine is broke, the systems are broke. These are not the people creative enough or capable enough of fixing the machine. It is working just fine, cause it’s the way it’s always be done. Deny, deny, deny, deflect, deflect, deflect, never admit a mistake. Always be right, because everyone else is wrong and after all; We all the government, the enlightened few don’t you know.
I wonder what the quota is each MLA is require to meet over the summer months for new members and donations for the up coming election?
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing, repetitively over and over again and expecting a different result. I wonder who is more crazy us,… or them?
Perhaps as some are suggesting a mass psychosis really is subtly formulating as my previous comment suggests.
If nothing else I hope people consider taking the time like over 5 million other people did to view this Academy of Ideas website; video found on You Tube
MASS PSYCHOSIS – How an Entire Population Becomes MENTALLY ILL
The Academy of Ideas is really an impressive; website. not shabby for a couple of Canadian brothers who have developed a a world wide viewership in the millions.
Some of the comments made to the relevance of this video;
“This hits harder now that Robert Malone has made, “mass formation psychosis” a catch-phrase”.
“This was the most educational and informative video I have watched in a while and explains a lot about why the masses are not waking up.”
“Can’t tell you how much I needed this video. After seeing so much corruption in so many events and areas of society over my lifetime and being labelled a mentally ill conspiracy theorist for stating documented facts, it’s vital to know that I’m the sane one and they’re the ones that are crazy”.
“this is really accurate and well-explained. I’m gonna share this with a lot of people, thanks guys, illuminating as always.”
“In school during the 1970’s we learned about WWII and I used to think “How did the whole world lose its mind?” Now I see, like other people have commented, it’s happening right before our eyes.”
Wow that was one negative response FAST. Couldn’t have taken the time to view the video clip, or absorb it.
Is the UCP aware of this? Has the UCP made some kind of statement or taken a stand as to what the Federal Liberals are proposing to decimate the agricultural industry?
Why is the Federal government attacking Farmers?
Why is the Federal government considering attacking Southern Alberta farmers; the bread basket of the country and cattle producers?
The Government of Holland has done it . Resulting in Farmer protests. (Farmer Convoy) . Could the Federal government be planning on doing something similar in Canada? Some believe the government is subtly and quietly planning on restricting fertilizer usage for farmers by 30 %. complicated
Farming is a big expensive complicated, scientific business and industry. It is the life blood of many Southern Alberta communities, including Lethbridge. Farmers know and understand environmental conditions. They are the best stewards of the land you can find.
If so what kind of economic impact would that have on Southern Alberta, and the remainder pf the country?
Most people are feeling the effect of food inflation.. I suspect the real inflation numbers are much higher, than those reported
Government sanctioned inflation reporting, never reflects the true street level price increases to everyday necessities.
Please consider the following video become informed, and supportive of the agricultural industry.
https://youtu.be/BTipea_Aa6s