Alberta Premier Danielle Smith pledged “unprecedented and substantial action” after her Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection win to help Albertans with the affordability crisis..Smith said she believes her United Conservative government will bring forward solutions to help bring the cost of living down..During her victory speech in Brooks-Medicine Hat on Wednesday night, Smith put the cost-of-living crisis, patient-focused health care, and the need to push back against the “toxic, divisive parent-child relationship” in Confederation from the Trudeau Liberals as three key priorities for Alberta's government..She pledged “unprecedented and substantial action” to help with the affordability crisis and her United Conservative government will bring forward solutions to help bring the costs of living down..“Every day the federal government fails to act, fails to delay or cancel their taxes and policies makes it more expensive to heat your homes and drive your kids to school,” Smith said..She then promised “help is on the way” from Alberta's government. She insisted the UCP government will lower fuel and electricity costs and take more action in the weeks ahead to support seniors, parents, and vulnerable people..On health care, Smith said she’s heard loud and clear from Albertans that they’ve had enough of the status quo and committed to genuine health care reform saying, “access to a waitlist is not access to health care.”.“Albertans rightfully expect the health care system to be there for them when and where they need it," Smith said.."Too much time, effort, money, and energy are spent on a layer of health care consultants who then spend their days talking to each other instead of working for you,” Smith said..Smith also promised to move quickly to assert Alberta’s sovereignty over provincial jurisdiction..“The paternalistic approach of the Trudeau government has been corrosive to national unity; our country has never been more divided,” Smith said..“The Alberta Sovereignty Act works to restore the ultimate purpose of Confederation. This act will renew Alberta’s place as an equal partner of Confederation, not a child of the federal government.”.Smith said the choice for Albertans in the next election is clear..“You can choose Rachel Notley and an NDP that takes their orders from Jagmeet Singh and Justin Trudeau," Smith said.."Or you can choose a united, confident, and energized UCP that will keep Alberta strong and free with more and better jobs, accessible health care, and a lower cost of living for you and your family.”
