The best conversations I have are the ones around a kitchen table. Great afternoon recently in Lethbridge County with Minister Nathan Neudorf @neudorf_ab and community leaders from across the region. We talked about affordability, health care, education, safe communities and the investment taking root right across southern Alberta. Southern Alberta’s voice matters in how this province is run. Thank you to Tim and Christine for hosting us.

Spoke at the Canadian Energy Executive Association’s Business Forum in Banff today about what it takes to make Alberta a true energy superpower. The global demand is there. The resources are here. What has been missing is a country willing to build, and that is finally starting to change. Good to share the stage with Premier Tim Houston @TimHoustonNS and thank you to the Honourable Rebecca Schulz @rebeccakschulz for leading the conversation.

Third straight year that Calgary has led North America in tech talent growth. Nearly 29,000 new tech workers added, pushing the city past 80,000. 56% growth— the highest of any market on the continent. People said Alberta was a one industry province. We now have a tech sector growing faster than Toronto, faster than Austin, faster than the Bay Area, and it is built on the same things that built everything else here. Low taxes, cheap power, and a government that trusts people to build. Nobody handed us this. Alberta earned it. See the full story here:

Great turnout in Lethbridge last night with a whole lot of conservatives who understand exactly what is at stake. Alberta is creating jobs at five times the national rate. Nearly 80% of every new job in this country over the past year was created right here. No sales tax, the lowest corporate and personal taxes in Canada and investment pouring in because companies know this government will stand up for them. None of it was luck - we have to keep winning to keep this momentum going! Thank you to MLA Nathan Neudorf @neudorf_ab for hosting, and for the work he does every day for Lethbridge-East.

Lethbridge’s Whoop-up Days is one of the great celebrations in southern Alberta. The frontier spirit has never really left this place. You can still see it in the people of Lethbridge, in the volunteers who put this event on every year, and in the communities that continue to support and celebrate our western heritage. Thank you for having me and Ministers Nate Neudorf @neudorf_ab, and Tanya Fir @tanya_fir, along with MLA Jackie Lovely @JackieLovelyAB and Jennifer Johnson.

Let me be clear: the administration and delivery of health care is an area of provincial jurisdiction, not federal. We expect the federal government to respect Alberta’s jurisdiction and its authority to determine how health care is delivered in this province. We remain committed to building a stronger public system and ensuring Albertans never have to pay out of pocket for medically necessary care - which is a commitment we have made under our Public Health Care Guarantee. Alberta’s dual practice model does not violate the Canada Health Act. The Act does not prohibit private practice outside the publicly insured system. Albertans who choose to pay privately for eligible elective surgery should be able to do so here at home, rather than travelling out of province as they have done for decades. In Alberta, we do things a little differently, and I firmly believe we can do both.

Today marks a clear victory for Albertans. Alberta’s government identified the federal electric vehicle mandate as one of the nine bad federal laws and policies that were hurting our economy, driving up costs and interfering in areas of provincial jurisdiction. We said from the beginning that this policy was bad for Alberta and bad for Canada. Now, the federal government is scrapping it, thanks in large part to our government’s advocacy. From the day this mandate was imposed, Alberta warned it was unrealistic, unaffordable and unworkable. It would have taken choices away from families, imposed unnecessary costs on consumers and businesses, and placed enormous new demands on provincial electricity grids without the infrastructure required to support it. The removal of the EV mandate is the latest example of Ottawa reconsidering policies Alberta has consistently opposed. It builds on the commitment from the federal government not to proceed with a federal oil and gas emissions cap, abeyance of the federal Clean Electricity Regulations, an agreement-in-principle allowing Alberta to continue regulating methane under its existing system, Impact Assessment Agreement to streamline project reviews, and the removal of greenwashing provisions in the Competition Act. I also appreciate the work of our friends from the Conservative Party of Canada under the leadership of @PierrePoilievre for the work they did advocating for the removal of these policies. Albertans should be free to choose the vehicle that works best for their family, their business and their budget. Governments should set achievable environmental outcomes and allow consumers, businesses and innovators to determine the best technologies to meet them, not dictate what Canadians can and cannot drive. Alberta is already delivering real emissions reductions without sacrificing affordability or economic growth. Since 2019, Alberta’s overall emissions have declined 9 per cent, while transportation emissions have fallen 17 per cent. We support reducing transportation emissions and giving Albertans lower-emissions options. But environmental policy must be practical, achievable and technology-neutral. The EV mandate failed that test. While today’s decision is an important step toward resetting the relationship between Alberta and the federal government, there still more work to do. We will also closely analyze Ottawa’s proposed replacement vehicle-emissions regulations to ensure the federal government does not simply recreate the EV mandate under another name. Alberta fought this mandate from the beginning. Today, common sense prevailed.

On September 14, Calgary-Shaw will elect their new MLA in a by-election. The United Conservative Party is working to create jobs, attract investment and get more Alberta energy to world markets. Our incredible candidate Mike Derry @mike_derry is ready to build on this work, listen to his constituents, and make sure Calgary-Shaw has a strong voice at the legislature. Meanwhile, the NDP has repeatedly dismissed a new West Coast pipeline, with Naheed Nenshi calling it a “pipe dream,” and federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis calling it “nation burning.” That’s not the kind of leadership Calgarians expect from their elected officials. You can support and get involved in Mike’s campaign right here:

Our government has zero tolerance for businesses that prey on vulnerable Albertans. Illegal lenders were charging criminal interest rates and using harassment and intimidation to collect. Thanks to the hard work of our Consumer Investigations Unit and law enforcement partners, charges were laid, guilty pleas entered and justice has been served. More here:

Companies that produce more than 40 per cent of Canada's oil have now told Ottawa they are prepared to commit large volumes to the West Coast pipeline. That is a serious signal of confidence from our energy industry. Alberta holds one of the largest and most secure energy reserves in the world and we are ready to deliver for decades to come. This pipeline would carry up to one million barrels a day from Bruderheim to tidewater, supporting jobs on the rigs, in the field, and in every community that depends on this industry. My thanks to EPAC for adding their voice and to Minister Brian Jean @BrianJeanAB for his continued work on this file. Alberta will keep working with the federal government and with our private sector and Indigenous partners to see this pipeline built.

Thank you, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi @takaichi_sanae. Japan 🇯🇵 needs secure, affordable energy from a stable democracy and there is no better supplier in the world than our province. Alberta’s oil is reaching Asian markets and we are prepared to send a great deal more. Every cargo that leaves for places like Japan means jobs here at home and energy security for an ally abroad.

A student visa is a temporary document to study in Canada. That was always understood. Our universities and colleges were built by Alberta taxpayers, first and foremost for Alberta students. Where there is room for international students, the terms are simple. Earn your education, then return home to build a life with it. Rules are what make a fair system fair and our country needs to return to an immigration process that respects the rules.

The car in your driveway is not up for grabs. Not in this province. Auto thefts in Alberta fell 15.1 per cent in the first half of this year. That is the steepest drop in the country. We are building an economy where hard work and determination are the obvious path, so crime is not a lifestyle anyone needs to fall into. And we are giving our police the tools and the backing to protect Albertans and the property they worked hard for. Read the full story here:

Most Albertans have probably seen the headlines about companies wanting to invest in and build AI data centres in Alberta. Many Albertans are excited about that, but others have legitimate questions. Here are the answers to 6 common questions on everything from power to water to land use and how these investments will financially benefit our province now and in the future.

A Calgary Police Service officer was shot this morning while conducting a traffic stop. I am relieved to hear he is in stable condition, and my thoughts are with him, his family, and every member of the Calgary Police Service tonight. These officers put on the uniform knowing a routine call can turn deadly in a moments notice. If you see an officer on your travels, thank them for their service.

Twenty unsafe carriers are gone from Alberta's roads. If your company has severe safety deficiencies, you will face targeted enforcement. If you try to restart under a new name in another jurisdiction, we will find you there. Albertans asked for safer highways. We are delivering. Read the full story here:

Alberta agrees. Paul Brandt @paulbrandt has been putting his heart and soul into this fight and he is asking all of Canada to stand up and protect our children. Alberta’s government will continue fighting for stronger federal laws that put predators in jail. I encourage everyone to take a moment and read Paul’s story here: