Alberta looks out for its own

For too long, families across Alberta have felt the impact of federal policies that made it harder to grow our economy, build major projects, and create good jobs. Many Albertans watched opportunities slip away because Ottawa kept putting up new roadblocks that created needless uncertainty for investors and held our province back.
But now that’s changing. Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney signed a new agreement to double Alberta’s ability to ship oil to Asian markets, remove federal barriers to new investments, and set our province on a path to remain a global energy leader.
This agreement is a big win for working families. By ending the federal oil and gas production cap and suspending the Clean Electricity Regulations, Alberta will be an even more attractive destination for major energy developments. Those two federal policies threatened thousands of good jobs across Alberta and the livelihoods of the energy workers who power our economy and keep the lights on.
Ottawa has also declared an Indigenous co-owned bitumen pipeline to the West Coast a project of national interest. Along with a planned expansion to the Trans Mountain pipeline, the new pipeline will enable Alberta to grow production to six million barrels per day by 2030 and eight million per day by 2035. For communities in oil country, contractors, trades workers, small businesses, and Indigenous partners, this means good jobs and long-term prosperity.
While Alberta’s government is standing up for our energy sector, we’re also taking action to defend law-abiding firearms owners. This week, our government introduced a motion under the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act to push back against Ottawa’s expensive and ineffective firearms confiscation scheme.
The vast majority of Alberta firearms owners are trained, licensed, and responsible. They’re sport shooters and hunters lawfully enjoying a treasured pastime. They’re farmers and ranchers defending livestock from predators. These Albertans are not the problem, and they don’t deserve to be treated like criminals by their own federal government.
Our motion makes it crystal clear that law enforcement should focus their limited time and resources on violent criminals, not law-abiding Albertans. And it reaffirms that Albertans have the right to acquire, keep, and use firearms in accordance with the Alberta Bill of Rights. It also makes clear that Albertans have the right to use reasonable force to defend themselves, their families, and their homes from intruders.
These actions prove that when we push back and stand firm, we get results. We are strengthening our economy, defending our communities, and protecting the rights of responsible Albertans.
As always, please free to reach out to my office with your feedback and questions at Chestermere.Strathmore@assembly.ab.ca.