Premier Rachel Notley makes Alberta Summer Games announcement during Lethbridge visit

“Games such as this are so essential in supporting and mentoring youth. And we can’t take credit or really celebrate when they go onto nationals or the Olympics unless we’ve been behind them all the way. And so, we have to put our money where our mouth is, and help fund our youth,” said Crowson.

Earlier in the day at a news conference held at Lakeview Elementary School, Premier Notley re-announced $14.3 million dollars in provincial funding to build a new southeast elementary school.

Construction on the school, which will be the first one built in south Lethbridge in more than 50 years, is expected to begin in August.

Notley discussed some of the environmentally friendly initiatives that would be included in the structure, and how the solar panels installed on the outside of the building would help to bring down energy costs in the long term.

And she emphasized the importance of creating a more “community friendly” facility.

“We’ve been talking for a long time about trying to sort of capitalize on these kinds of investments to make sure that these kinds of facilities can be used all the time, and so that everybody in the community can enjoy it, and so that you also have the ability for some wrap around services in addition. And we know that those are important things to build into the design.”

While in Lethbridge, the Premier also touched on the ongoing tensions between Alberta and B.C. and mentioned that she was encouraged by support from Saskatchewan.

Early Thursday, Saskatchewan’s Premier Scott Moe said if B.C. blocks the construction of pipelines for Canadian oil, then his province may also retaliate, including restricting export permits of Saskatchewan oil.

“We’ve had very positive conversations with the government of Saskatchewan as well as with officials in Manitoba as well as other provincial leaders as well,” said Notley. “And you know it does sound like Saskatchewan is adopting a similar approach to what we talked about in our throne speech.

“It is just not a thing that a mayor or even a province can sort of arbitrarily decide that they’re not part of the rest of the country. There is a reason why this pipeline was found to be in the national interest, and we are committed to ensuring that it gets built.”

Notley also thanked Taber emergency officials and expressed her concern for those living in flood affected areas, adding that her government will work with them to potentially provide any additional support.

A SACPA (Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs) luncheon with the Premier was held at Southminster United Church as well. It was the first time the group hosted a sitting Premier.

by Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Premier Rachel Notley makes Alberta Summer Games announcement during Lethbridge visit

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