Our strategy has paid off. By cutting taxes and welcoming new investment, our United Conservative team has driven Alberta’s economy towards lasting prosperity. This year, economic indicators expect Alberta’s economy to continue to recover, and grow in multiple key sectors. This is great news, and we’ll continue to build on that momentum.
What does this mean for Albertans? It means more people are working and saving their own money than even before the pandemic hit. Alberta has the highest employment rate in the country, including the highest employment rate for women. Our province has not only gained back all the jobs lost due to the pandemic, but we have gained even more. For example, in the past year, we gained 145,000 jobs. Our employment rate is the lowest we have seen since late 2018, and job opportunities continue to grow at a staggering pace. More companies are choosing to put down roots in Alberta, and we are seeing record investments in industries like technology and innovation, petrochemicals, film and television, and much more.
While the pandemic was a hard bump in the road for many, Alberta is seeing a big comeback. But rural Albertans have a lot to celebrate, too.
This year, the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) and Alberta Health Services voted in favour of a four-year agreement that would benefit countless Albertans. By ratifying this agreement, UNA and AHS were voting in favour of an arrangement that would promote stability and fairness, but also address key issues in rural areas.
The agreement, which runs until March 2024, ensures a healthy balance between keeping health care spending similar to other regions, while still making sure Alberta’s registered nurses receive fair compensation for their important work. To ensure competitive wages for Alberta nurses, the agreement ensures 4.25 per cent pay increases until its termination. It also implements the Rural Capacity Investment Fund, which will allocate $5 million a year to recruitment and retention strategies in rural and remote areas of the province, as well as $2.5 million a year for relocation assistance.
This will bring a host of benefits for rural Albertans. Often, rural areas struggle with recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals to work in their communities. This funding will help attract the critical support healthcare workers offer, while supporting those workers as they take that first step to build a career in a new community. All across Alberta, we have healthcare professionals to thank every day for their tireless efforts to save lives and keep people healthy. Rural Albertans deserve the same high-quality treatment from our healthcare as the people living in urban centres. This agreement benefits everyone, and I’m pleased to help spread the good news.
We had a plan, and we’re sticking to it. Even in spite of a worldwide pandemic, economic challenges, and a drop in oil prices, we have successfully launched Alberta forward not only through recovery, but to become a leader in our nation.