Local politicians are questioning the value of an economic report created for a premier whose time in office is drawing to a close.
On Wednesday, members of the Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy met with business leaders in Red Deer to discuss their findings, published in a 112-page report entitled Shaping Alberta’s Future.
The panel had been asked to examine what will happen with the global economy over next 30 years and then develop a strategy to help Albertans identify challenges and capture opportunities, said council chairman David Emerson.
“We’ve gone through a whole series of recommendations in a variety of areas to do with our infrastructure, our people, our fossil fuel resources and . . . looking at economic diversification, where we’ve got opportunities to diversify,” said Emerson.
The report divides into five themes, identifying specific steps that would help Alberta get ready for the day when the economics of carbon fuel are not as good as today, he said.
“We’ve got a province that’s 30 per cent dependent on monetizing natural resource assets to pay for the operating expenses of government,” said Emerson.
While Red Deer Mayor Morris Flewwelling and Mountain View County Councillor Al Kemmere both found merit in the report, they questioned where it will go once Premier Ed Stelmach leaves office.
People need to understand that it’s a guide in principle and not in legislation, said Kemmere after the meeting.
“A lot is going to depend on how much or who of the future government members are going to pick up and go with it,” he said.
While he likes the report overall, Kemmere said it doesn’t look closely enough at agriculture and adding value to agriculture products.
“Fifty years from now, agriculture is what I believe the economy is going to hang on quite heavily, and yet none of the themes in the report identified agriculture.”
Flewwelling also questioned whether the next government would adopt the report or if it would survive after the next election.
“Too often, when exercises like this get done, they tend to get limited by political term,” he said.
“We know there’s going to be an election. We already have enduring policies on land and water. What I think we need is for us to have enduring policies on trade and economic development, how we’re going to treat our natural resources . . . and making it value added,” he said.
“Let’s not just talk about this stuff, let’s get down to some action.
“That may be odious to a new government or it may be a great help to a new government, depending how they view it. So, I applaud the idea, I’m a little skeptical about the timing.”
Council members have been visiting Chambers of Commerce throughout the province to deliver the results of their work and collect feedback, said Tim Creedon, executive director of the Red Deer Chamber.
“This is the opportunity for the (council) members here today to talk about what’s in the report and to take feedback from Albertans,” said Creedon.
bkossowan@www.reddeeradvocate.com