Alberta is mourning alongside the Canadian Armed Forces and the families, friends and colleagues of those affected by the tragic incident at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright yesterday. The loss of life and injuries are heartbreaking. On behalf of the Government of Alberta, I extend my deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones and wish those who have been injured a full recovery. Our thoughts are also with the military personnel, families and colleagues facing uncertainty and grief during this incredibly difficult time. We are deeply grateful to the first responders, paramedics, physicians, nurses and hospital teams across Alberta who have mobilized to provide care to those injured. Albertans should all be incredibly proud of their frontline health care workers and our acute care system that has managed this mass casualty event. We’re also thankful to our neighbours in Saskatchewan who did not hesitate to support our response with additional air ambulance capacity, and to other provinces who have reached out offering their support and condolences. I will be traveling to Edmonton today to meet with provincial ministers and federal officials. The Government of Alberta continues to work closely with the federal government and local authorities. We have convened our Emergency Management Cabinet Coordination Committee and the Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre (PECC) has been activated to a level 3. As a mark of respect for those who have lost their lives and in solidarity with the military community and their families, flags at provincial government buildings across Alberta will be lowered to half-mast. In the days ahead, our thoughts will remain with everyone affected by this tragedy. Alberta stands with the Canadian Armed Forces, the people of Wainwright and all those grieving during this difficult time.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the many blessings we share and the people who make Alberta such a special place to call home. From the Rocky Mountains to our vast prairies, we are fortunate to live in a province blessed with natural beauty, abundant resources and opportunities. But what makes Alberta truly special is its people. Albertans are hardworking, generous and always willing to lend a hand to a neighbour in need. That spirit of kindness and community is something we can all be thankful for. This Thanksgiving, I also want to recognize the farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers whose hard work puts food on our tables and helps feed families around the world. The abundance of natural resources in our province is also something to be thankful for. From precious metals and rich soil that helps us grow our food, to our abundant natural gas and petroleum reserves that help drive our economy and keep us warm in the winter, these blessings should not be overlooked. We should be grateful to live in a place that provides us with everything from food on our tables to the energy that powers our homes, vehicles and economy. Whether gathering around the table with family and friends volunteering in your community, or simply taking a moment for reflection, I hope this weekend brings you joy, gratitude and connection. From my family to yours, I wish all Albertans a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Excellent news for Alberta in the monthly Labour Force Survey today. Not only did Alberta add over 23,000 jobs, our unemployment rate has fallen below the national average. The province’s youth unemployment rate is now below the national average, and our work force participation rate remains the highest in the country. This is all because job creators, investors, and workers are betting on Alberta.

Part of re-setting Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa after the Trudeau years is seeing a return of military investment in the Alberta based Canadian Armed Forces. Today’s announcement is a massive victory for our province and the country as we become a national defence hub. $8 Billion in federal investment is modernizing and expanding the bases at Edmonton, Cold Lake, Suffield and Wainwright. Today, the federal government also announced that Alberta will be home to the Western Main Operating Base for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CC-330 Husky Fleet, putting our province at the centre of how this country defends itself. What follows is just as important. Up to 38,000 Alberta jobs. Contracts for the companies that build, maintain and supply these projects. A domestic defence industry taking root in a province that already leads in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, logistics and technology. The men and women serving on these bases are proud Canadians and proud Albertans. They deserve facilities that match what this country asks of them. When Canada needs the space, the expertise and the capacity to defend itself, Alberta delivers.

Alberta’s government has removed the fuel tax, saving Albertans 13 cents a litre at the pumps. Visit websites like GasBuddy @GasBuddy to track prices across the province. There are gas stations in Calgary under $1.40 today, and travelling a few blocks can mean real savings for your family, especially if you’re filling up a truck or minivan! 🛻🚙

Alberta’s Pacific Link pipeline is officially a project of national interest. This means the permitting process is fast tracked and we can reach our goal to get final construction permits approved by September of next year! One million barrels a day from Alberta to the west coast, and from there to the Asia Pacific and beyond. This means greater energy sovereignty for Canada and a better price for every barrel that leaves this province. That is more than $20 billion a year added to Canada's economy and up to 140,000 jobs in Alberta, British Columbia and across the country. Here is what it means at your kitchen table. Stronger paycheques. Tens of billions in new revenue for the hospitals, schools and roads Albertans use every day.

Today, on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we remember the painful legacy of residential schools and their lasting impact on Indigenous families and communities. Reconciliation invites us to listen, to learn from the past and continue building stronger relationships with First Nations and Métis people based on respect, partnership and understanding. Reconciliation must be backed by action. We remain committed to working alongside First Nations and Métis communities to support their priorities, from creating new economic opportunities through the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation to supporting Indigenous-led recovery communities that provide culturally appropriate care closer to home. We will continue building these partnerships, strengthening communities and advancing reconciliation together.

Alberta already had the lowest fuel prices in the country. Now they are even lower. Affordability is top of mind for families right now. We have their backs. Starting October 1 we are suspending Alberta's fuel tax in full. That is 13 cents off every litre of gasoline and diesel, every single time you fill up. Business owners feel it too. Every fleet, every delivery van and every work truck in this province fills up cheaper.

Alberta is open for business and we can’t wait to see what the future brings. What an incredible couple days meeting with current partners and potential future investors at the first ever Canada Investment Summit. I look forward to continuing to engage with all of them as we work to get major projects built across our province.

Look at this face. 🐶❤️ MLA for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo, Tany Yao @TanyYao and I stopped into the Fort McMurray SPCA, and I’m not sure who was happier to see who. A couple of weeks ago, the SPCA took in 98 dogs rescued from a home in Fort McMurray, nearly doubling the number of animals in its care overnight. The team has been working incredibly hard to get these animals settled, examined, vaccinated and cared for. It’s an enormous undertaking. Thank you to Melanie Schneider, Katie Walker and everyone at the SPCA for the work you do every single day. These animals are lucky to have you, and so is this city. If you’re looking for a new friend, please consider adopting from your local SPCA. And right now, there are other ways to help too. Volunteering, fostering or making a donation can make a real difference. Let’s show these animals what a community can do when it comes together. 🐾❤️