By Jackie Lovely
MLA Camrose
Recently, I was able to give a speech in the Legislature in support of Bill 14, the Appropriation Act, 2024.
The minister of finance has taken the time to listen to Albertans on what matters to them, and our United Conservative Government has worked hard to ensure that this budget continues to strengthen healthcare and education, build safe communities, and manage resources wisely to support a growing province, responsibly. The challenges the Minister faced in delivering this budget were no small hurdles.
Somehow, in the face of these challenges, the minister has crafted a budget which manages to remain fiscally responsible, without jeopardizing the services that Albertans value. The fiscal responsibility portion stands as uniquely important to me as an elected official.
When I first decided to run for public office, it was the thought of saddling future generations with debt they didn’t earn that motivated me to want to make a difference. It is truly unthinkable to burden our children with the consequences of reckless spending.
Now, perhaps the members of the opposition and their friends in Ottawa don’t see this burden as a big deal, but that view could not be further from reality.
The 2024-25 budget will spend over three billion dollars on servicing the debt that they previously created. Every dollar spent repaying previous debt is a dollar that could be better used funding the services that Albertans deserve.
Budget 2024 doesn’t just bring peace of mind, but it also upholds promises that our government has made.
In 2023 our government established a new fiscal framework which required future governments to balance their budgets, pay down their debts and save for the future.
This is why I am so proud of the fiscal responsibility demonstrated in Budget 2024. This budget represents three more years of balanced budgets, with a $367 million surplus in 2024-25, and projected surpluses of over $1 billion for the following years.
I believe the choices made in Budget 2024 don’t only reflect the fiscal responsibility I value so deeply, but also the priorities of Albertans.
This is a responsible plan that puts Albertans and Alberta families first by investing in their health, education, safety, and economic growth and success.
Budget 2024 would make investments into areas my constituents value. It would support our seniors. It would protect Albertans suffering from addiction and mental health challenges. It would bolster the future of Alberta through investments in education.
Additionally, it would invest in a refocused healthcare system, so that every Albertan has access to the care they need, when and where they need it.
This is what my constituents have been asking for and this is what Budget 2024 delivers.
Supporting Budget 2024 means supporting the future of Alberta, which is why I call on all those in this chamber to join me in voting for Bill 14, the Appropriation Act, 2024.
- MLA Jackie Lovely can be contacted at her constituency office located at #104, 4870 51 Street, Camrose AB, T4V 1S1, or by telephone at 780-672-0000.