Premier Danielle Smith discusses her meetings with federal officials and her fellow premiers in Ottawa this week, February 9, 2023. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Premier Smith calls meetings with PM and premiers constructive

Feb 9, 2023 | 3:49 PM

EDMONTON, AB – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she has had a “very constructive” set of meetings with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and her fellow Canadian premiers.

Provincial officials are in Ottawa to discuss a potential increase in healthcare funding from the federal government, among other key issues.

On the healthcare front, the federal government is offering provinces $46 billion in new spending, which includes an immediate and unconditional $2 billion top-up to the Canada Health Transfer, as well as health transfer increases of $17 billion over the next decade.

Approximately $25 billion will also be spent over 10 years through one-on-one agreements with each province for priority areas including family medicine, surgical backlogs, mental health and modernizing data-collection systems.

Smith told media that the additional funding is welcomed by herself and other premiers, but that many were disappointed that the amount was not larger.

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The good part, Smith says, is that health transfers can be used for any health-related initiatives that provincial governments see fit.

She says she has been told that Alberta’s share of the new federal health funding is $518 million, and that she has already met with Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping to determine how it could be spent.

“Alberta will use its new dollars to accelerate the health reforms that we’ve already commenced here to decrease ER wait times, to decrease ambulance response times, to decrease surgery backlogs, as well as to recruit more front-line workers, especially in primary care,” says Smith.

The premier says she plans to meet with her caucus on Monday, February 13, 2023, to discuss the proposed federal healthcare funding.

Another key matter Smith wanted to address is the proposed ‘Just Transition’ legislation. The federal government aims to create what it calls a “net zero economy” and help oil and gas workers move into green energy jobs.

She asked Trudeau to abandon the ‘Just Transition’ program and any other terminology or policies that seek to harm Alberta’s energy sector.

“I made it very clear that [Trudeau’s] government must halt the introduction of its proposed ‘Just Transition’ legislation, its emissions reduction cap, and its ban on electricity from natural gas,” says Smith, “And to immediately come to the table to work collaboratively with Alberta on a joint plan to attract energy investment and workers into Alberta’s conventional, non-conventional, and emerging energy sectors, while simultaneously reducing Canada’s and Alberta’s net emissions.”

Smith says she also wants to see the prime minister invest in workforce training in the energy sector, and demands that Ottawa consult with Alberta on all future initiatives that could impact the industry before making any announcements or introducing legislation.

She says she believes that Trudeau has “not shown himself to be a friend of Alberta,” adding that many of the prime minister’s policies have had negative consequences on the provincial economy.

Smith says “the ball is now in the prime minister’s court” on the ‘Just Transition’ legislation, and she hopes that Trudeau’s response will be “the right one.”

READ MORE: Premier Smith presses PM on ‘Just Transition’ plan

READ MORE: Trudeau lays out $196-billion, 10-year health-care increase to premiers