UCP Leader Danielle Smith was in Calgary on May 4 to announce a new plan for the economy and job creation in Alberta, while her rival NDP Leader Rachel Notley was in Edmonton touting her affordability plan.
At a news conference at Calgary business Braeside Auto on May 4, Smith laid out the party’s plans for economic growth, investment, and job creation. She said the UCP would fast-track approval times for internationally trained doctors, nurses, and skilled workers, and streamline the certification of skilled trades and health-care workers.
“We need to eliminate barriers that block professionally trained workers from provinces and countries from applying for the jobs Alberta needs filled,” said Smith.
Smith said if reelected she would introduce an “Alberta is calling” campaign with a $1,200 signing bonus to attract workers in health care, child care, and trades. She said eligible newcomers would receive the payment after their first full year of living in the province.
She said the UCP would also introduce a graduation retention tax credit to help keep new university graduates in the province.
“This program will credit back a significant portion of education costs through a non-refundable tax credit between $3,000 and $10,000 depending on the program in question,” said Smith.
The UCP said it would provide an additional $100 million dollars to the Alberta enterprise corporation to attract more venture capital investments and double the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation’s loan capacity from $1 billion to $2 billion, expanding eligibility to manufacturing, health care, technology, and tourism.
Smith said if re-elected, the UCP will expand the Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit to forestry and other areas, and develop programs similar to the Alberta Petrochemical Incentive Program for more capital-intensive technologies.
‘Affordability Plan’ Coming Says Notley
New Democrat Party (NDP) Leader Notley said on May 3 that the NDP would invest $18 million into union skills and safety training facilities for industrial jobs.Notley held a press conference at the Alberta legislature on May 4, which she addressed to “conservative voters,” but did not make any new campaign promises.
“We will be rolling out an affordability plan in the next few days,” Notley said, adding that the plan “will create almost 50,000 jobs, and it will attract tens of billions of dollars of investment to Alberta.”
Notley said she wants to restore the digital media tax credit and “establish an investment tax credit to help attract emerging and growing building businesses.”
“We propose a regulatory fast pass so we can get projects whose proponents whose proponents have good strong records in terms of paying their taxes, following the rules, respecting environmental laws,” she said.
