Justin Trudeau went to a province in distress to tell Albertans that Ottawa is prepared to ante up nearly $1 billion to help – a $250-million fiscal lifeline and the promise to fast-track up to $700 million in infrastructure funding.
A meeting in the provincial capital on Wednesday between the prime minister and Premier Rachel Notley was a test for both leaders as Alberta, the long-time spark in Canada’s economic engine, shows few signs it will recover in 2016.
While Trudeau’s party made inroads in Alberta during last fall’s election, tension remains as Albertans wait to see whether he is serious about building a relationship and expending political capital to help the province that is traditionally most suspicious of Liberal power in Ottawa.
One possible landmine for Trudeau is how much enthusiasm he shows for the Energy East pipeline plan, which raised protests in Quebec in recent weeks. A proposal to expand an existing pipeline to the Vancouver area has met similar objections in British Columbia.
While Trudeau did not make any promises on either pipeline on Wednesday, he said after an hour-long sit-down with Notley that he came with the intent of listening to her priorities for a federal infrastructure plan, reforms to employment insurance, and the province’s commitment to tackling climate change.
Trudeau also said he is committed to rapid changes to EI that would benefit Albertans.
In a statement released by both leaders, the prime minister committed the federal government to providing $250 million to the province from a seldom-used fiscal stabilization program.
Notley’s plan for Wednesday was to promote the efficacy of government’s climate change plan, highlight efforts to diversify the economy and drive home Alberta’s dire fiscal condition and need for a pipeline to access global oil markets.
