Canadian Press file photo

By Shaun Penner

PM to GP?

Sen. Black urging Trudeau to hold cabinet meeting in Grande Prairie or Fort McMurray

Jan 8, 2020 | 12:45 PM

Senator Doug Black is urging the Prime Minister to make a visit to Alberta early this year. More specifically, he is hoping he comes to either Grande Prairie or Fort McMurray.

The Alberta Senator has invited Justin Trudeau, in a letter sent to the PMO on Wednesday, asking him to bring his cabinet for a meeting in Alberta in early 2020, to see first-hand what he calls “the devastation caused by federal government policies”.

“I believe the government hasn’t heard from communities such as Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie about their struggles,” said Black. “My recent visits to these communities left no doubt in my mind that they are suffering”

Black’s last visit to Grande Prairie came back in December, where he attended the Fair Deal Panel’s town hall at Teresa Sargent Hall.

“What I hear tonight, is I hear a number of people have spoken about troubles. Lost jobs, declining businesses, friends having to leave the province, families being split up,” said Black, back in December at the town hall event. “This is not good, this is not good at all,”

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“The people are feeling, on balance, that Alberta is not being fairly treated within confederation.”

In the letter, Black says that Ottawa is missing important input and context from the province, because no Liberals were elected in Alberta in fall federal election.

“Acting upon this suggestion will provide an opportunity for you, your colleagues and senior officials to witness firsthand the impacts that federal policies are having on these communities, their residents, and by extension, this Province,” said Black, in the letter.

He says a cabinet meeting would be “a big statement” to Albertans that the federal government will address their concerns.

“If this government is going to work for all Canadians, it should come to see the negative effects of their policies on those very same citizens and, if they come to Alberta they will see not all Canadians have been treated fairly.”