I am looking forward to coffee and treats (on me) with Battle River-Crowfoot constituents during my Satellite Constituency Office Days on the following dates: Friday, Aug. 11, 9:30 a.m. in Provost (4904-51 Avenue) then at 1 p.m. at the Hardisty Seniors Centre (on Main Street); Tuesday, Aug. 15, 9 to 11 a.m. in Viking at the Carena Complex (5120-45 Street) then at 1 to 3 p.m. in Tofield at the Nature Center/Museum (5020-48 Avenue); Wednesday, Aug. 16, 10 a.m. at the Consort Town Office (4901-50 Avenue) then at 1:30 p.m. at the Oyen Town Office (306-1 Ave East) then at 6:30-8 p.m. in Drumheller at the Jurassic Inn (1103 Hwy 9 S); and, Thursday, Aug. 17 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in Stettler at the Town Office 5031-50 Street.
Bring your federal political input, observations, constructive criticisms and suggestions and help me prepare for the Conservative Party of Canada National Caucus in September in Winnipeg, and the Fall Session of Parliament.
Good news this week includes construction beginning on the multi-billion-dollar Line 3 pipeline replacement between Hardisty and Wisconsin. 1,600 workers will be involved in the initial phase. Locally, we’re building about 405 km of the total and these jobs will last until the spring or summer of 2018.
This kind of work provides much needed economic stimulus for small communities all along the pipeline route. For example, Hardisty’s Chief Administrative Officer Sandy Otto is quoted in the media saying the town will have about 300 temporary residents connected to the project and up to 800 workers.
Albertans understand the importance of this local energy-pipeline news out of Hardisty. Former Finance Minister Joe Oliver wrote last week about the abandonment of the $36-billion Petronas LNG project and how this is further “sad” news concerning the Trudeau government’s failure to export Canada’s energy abroad. The tragedy unfolds as lack of employment opportunities, economic growth, funding for social services, and revenues for First Nations. Oliver warns about the troubles and potential losses involved with the $6.8–billion Kinder Morgan pipeline and the $12-billion Energy East pipeline.
The University of Calgary’s Jack Mintz wrote the very next day about the U.S., Australia, Norway and others building lucrative LNG capacities focused on export markets. World demand for oil and gas will continue for decades. Professor Mintz lists the companies, “…bailing out of Canada, where tax and regulatory policies are increasingly hostile to business.”
The loss of investment in Canada, indeed, the chasing away of investment by the Alberta NDP government and the federal Liberal government, is already hurting Canadian workers and their families. These governments preside over taxes, fees and costs (including home energy and food prices) that continue to rise while opportunities decline for Canada’s labour force linked to Canada’s energy sector – links too numerous to list and country-wide.
Canadian Conservatives have always said that we can meet our global commitments and not hurt our workers, their families and our economy. I believe that more and more Canadians will be seriously looking at the political alternative to the political ideologies that are currently squandering Canada’s competitiveness, curtailing our growth, and failing to work for future prosperity.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this or previous columns you may write me at 4945-50th Street, Camrose, Alberta, T4V 1P9, call 780-608-4600, toll-free 1-800-665-4358, fax 780-608-4603 or e-mail Kevin.Sorenson.c1@parl.gc.ca.