By Shaun Penner

UCP leader Jason Kenney speaking across the Peace Region

Jan 24, 2019 | 7:06 PM

The “Alberta Strong and Free” northern Alberta tour continued Thursday, with United Conservative Party leader Jason Kenney speaking in 12 communities around the Peace Region.

On Thursday, Kenney made stops in Valleyview, Beaverlodge and Grande Prairie. He also made a stop at Trican Well Services in Clairmont, speaking to staff in anticipation of a provincial election coming this spring.

“I may not be able to get to smaller communities like Fairview and Sexsmith and La Crete (when the election is called) …” said Kenney, “… so we wanted to say hello before then.”

In his speech, Kenney touched on the issues he is hearing from constituents in the Peace Region, which centre heavily around the economic downturn.

“The downturn has not effected the Peace Region as much as other areas of the province, but it has still been effected.”

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The City of Grande Prairie has seen a decrease in its unemployment rate over the last two years. In 2016, unemployment sat at 9.7% in the Swan City. As of August of 2018, though, that number was down to 5.9%. Kenney notes that is still up from 2006, when it sat at 3.6% in Grande Prairie.

The UCP leader also made mention of the decrease in average annual household income across the province, while the cost of living in the region had increased.  He blames the latter on the carbon tax.

“Scrapping the carbon tax would be a big help in putting money back into people’s pockets.” Stated Kenney. “We (the UCP) would be looking at other tax relief overtime. But the focus is our plan to reignite the economy right across the Peace.”

Something that may spark the economy, according to Kenney, was looking beyond pipelines such as Trans Mountain, and taking the “all of the above” option when looking at all options when it comes to getting Alberta oil to either the Pacific or Atlantic coast. He says he would like to work with the government of New Brunswick about potentially building a “sequel” to Energy East, as well as exploring options with Eagle Spirit Energy Holdings to try and take another look at the failed Northern Gateway Pipeline.

“I’m also very interested in working with companies developing new technologies for the solidification of bitumen, to move it by pellets or bricks.” Explained Kenney.

He does see the Peace Region playing a key role in turning the provincial economy around too, noting the plethora of resources and industry the area provides. Those being oil and gas, forestry, agriculture (livestock and grain) and tourism, to name a few.

“I think in many ways; the Northwest is a symbol of Alberta’s economy.”

Kenney will continue his tour of the Peace on Friday, with a breakfast in Sexsmith, a “Rally for the Peace” in Spirit River, and town halls in Fairview and Peace River.

He will also visit High Level and La Crete on Saturday morning.