Premier Jason Kenney toured the site of the new Pearson Home in Hythe, a new seniors residence being built in the hamlet (Photo: Chris Schwarz / Government of Alberta)

By Shaun Penner

Kenney in GP

Skilled labour shortage main hurdle as attention turns to economic recovery: Kenney

Jul 7, 2021 | 1:30 PM

Premier Jason Kenney says he sees the Peace Region in a good position to rebound from the economic downturn created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kenney made that remark during a trip to the Swan City earlier this week, where he had the chance to meet with local business owners and other delegates from the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce.

“I’ve been hearing a lot of good anecdotal news here about new investment, new growth, there is over 100 rigs in the field,” said Kenney in conversation with EverythingGP.

“Just talking to a small construction contractor, who said he has got more new jobs in the past six months than in the past six years. I think we are really starting to take off.”

He says indicators like rising oil prices and hopes of a strong year in agriculture, despite recent weather taking a toll on crops in the province, and continued high lumber prices position the Peace Region well for the near future.

Kenney also pointed to the proposed $2 billion methanol plant from Nauticol south of the city, which he hopes will be able to go ahead in the near future, as a sign of better days ahead.

“We’re (also) very close to putting together a second major west coast LNG project, which will be a big help to the Peace Country natural gas industry.”

He does, however, say the area faces some challenges on its road to recovery, particularly when it comes to shortages of skilled labour.

“We’re already hearing that. A lot of these restaurants opening up say they are having a hard time getting young people back to work. A lot of the construction businesses are saying getting general labourers on the job is increasingly a challenge,” said Kenney. “I think it’s going to be labour challenges emerging as our biggest challenge.

“And that is a really good problem to have.”

Kenney feels one of the biggest assets the region has when it comes to addressing that gap is Grande Prairie Regional College, which will transition to becoming a polytechnic in the near future.

Like Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides and GPRC Interim President and CEO Dr. Glenn Feltham have stated about the transition, Kenney says the move will allow the school to offer the programs needed for the region.

“We need to match, to marry, post-secondary programs with the actual demand in the job market. That’s what a polytechnic allows us to do.”

He adds the degrees GPRC has long wanted to be able to grant will still become a reality.

“It will have degree-granting status for certain programs, and it will have more portability of credits to the larger universities in the province,” said Kenney.

“I think it is great news for GP and the northwest.”

Kenney wrapped up his visit to Grande Prairie on Tuesday as he then travelled to Calgary to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday.