Premier Ed Stelmach's government is promising to phase out health care premiums for Alberta families over the next four years.
That commitment was one of the main points of his government's speech from the throne, read by Lt. Gov. Norman Kwong in the legislature Monday afternoon.
The government says the change will save the average family $1,056 a year. "Helping families in our growing economy is a priority," the premier said in a news release Monday.
The speech is usually the government's chance to lay out its legislative priorities for the session. But with an election call expected — perhaps as early as late Monday afternoon — the speech is widely seen as the Conservatives' campaign platform.
Other points included in the speech:
- Increasing the number of health care workers in the province.
- Implementing a 20-year capital plan for roads, bridges, schools, health facilities and other infrastructure.
- Creating more than 11,000 units of affordable housing over five years.
- Allocating significant new funding to implement a crime reduction strategy.
- Beginning work with industry to build a carbon capture and storage infrastructure.
- Implementing a new energy royalty framework.
The speech says the government goal is to "build communities, green our growth and create opportunities for long term prosperity."
There are few specifics in the throne speech. Many of the proposals, including the plan for affordable housing and the move to carbon capture as a way to control greenhouse gases, have been previously announced.
Alberta Votes 2008 »
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- Political observers in Alberta are calling it remarkable and opposition politicians are wondering what hit them after Ed Stelmach guided his Conservative party Monday to one of its biggest majorities ever.
- Low voter turnout in Alberta election being questioned
- As Premier Ed Stelmach and Alberta Conservatives savour their sweeping election victory, some people are raising a nagging concern: why so few people bothered to vote.
- Albertans elect historic 11th straight Tory government
- Voters in Alberta stuck with tried-and-true blue, giving the Progressive Conservative party an unprecedented 11th consecutive majority government in Monday's provincial election.
- Political tide turns in Edmonton
- Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.
- Conservatives' Calgary fortress resists change
- The Progressive Conservatives' fortress in Calgary stood strong as the party took 18 of the city's 23 ridings Monday night.
Riding Profiles
More Alberta Votes Headlines »
- It's 'Ed's Empire' after Alberta election sweep
- Political observers in Alberta are calling it remarkable and opposition politicians are wondering what hit them after Ed Stelmach guided his Conservative party Monday to one of its biggest majorities ever.
- Low voter turnout in Alberta election being questioned
- As Premier Ed Stelmach and Alberta Conservatives savour their sweeping election victory, some people are raising a nagging concern: why so few people bothered to vote.
- Albertans elect historic 11th straight Tory government
- Voters in Alberta stuck with tried-and-true blue, giving the Progressive Conservative party an unprecedented 11th consecutive majority government in Monday's provincial election.
- Political tide turns in Edmonton
- Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.
- Conservatives' Calgary fortress resists change
- The Progressive Conservatives' fortress in Calgary stood strong as the party took 18 of the city's 23 ridings Monday night.
