Economic experts look towards Alberta’s future and upcoming election
With eight weeks to go until election day, over 100 members of the southern Alberta business community gathered to listen as fellow professionals, including some of Alberta’s top economists, spoke on key issues facing the province, both internally and externally.
It was all part of the SouthGrow Southern Alberta Economic Development Forum, which took place Thursday at Lethbridge's Sandman Hotel on Mayor Magrath Drive.
"I think it's important to focus on southern Alberta, but then to see what's happening outside of southern Alberta so then we can strengthen southern Alberta and that's a lot of what the messages are today," said Cyndi Bester, CEO for the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce.
Keynote speakers for the event were Jack Mintz and Todd Hirsch who've both spent time working as economic advisors in Alberta and across the country.
FUTURE OF ALBERTA ECONOMY
Mintz spoke to the future of Alberta’s economy and major trends that will affect growth.
"We sometimes need to get out of our own climate or locality we live and to think about what are the trends that are happening, not just in Canada but around the world, that can impact on the economy," Mintz told CTV News.
When asked about the upcoming election and the main topics of debate, Mintz touched on one issue affecting all Albertans.
"There'll be a tremendous discussion around health care and trying to fix health care, but the challenges there I think go beyond just management of the system, I think management is part of the issue, but I think it goes well beyond that."
Jack Mintz speaking at the SouthGrow Southern Alberta Economic Development Forum on Thursday, March 30, 2023
GLOBAL ISSUES
While Mintz spoke in the morning, Hirsch gave his keynote in the afternoon, directing it towards global issues such as spiking interest rates and price volatility that could toss a stick in the spokes of the provincial economy.
"I think Alberta's in good shape, but there are a lot of things going on around the world that could interrupt that and we need to be prepared for some economic disruptions," Hirsch said.
When speaking about the coming election, Hirsch brought up the major industries that need to be addressed to keep Alberta moving.
"Food security, energy security, the technology industry, tourism. Growing these industries," Hirsch said, "I think that's what we should be focusing on.
"I'm looking for our political leaders as we move into this election campaign to really be explaining to Albertans how we are going to grow our economy," he added.
With just under two months until the coming provincial election, all eyes will be on party leaders and the issues they base their campaigns on.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.