When Jason Kenney campaigned for premier last spring, he said job creation would be a top priority.
On Thursday, his government’s new budget laid out a plan for getting people back to work — officially, A Blueprint for Jobs. But there’s no escaping the size of the challenge ahead.
Like most governments, Alberta’s United Conservative Party will also have to contend with a mountain of volatility — from China-U.S. trade relations to COVID-19 — that continues to rattle markets.
More than most jurisdictions, Alberta will also have to deal with oil prices’ wild ride, which saw the North American benchmark price slump below $47 US a barrel on Thursday. Alberta is budgeting for $58 US a barrel this year.
Still, Finance Minister Travis Toews told reporters prior to his budget speech he was feeling “optimistic,” and that 2020 “has the potential to be a turnaround year for the economy in this province.”
When it comes to jobs, the government’s goal appears to be an ambitious one.
Image: CBC News
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