Alberta’s Throne Speech focuses on sovereignty, economic growth

Premier Danielle Smith’s government used Thursday’s Speech from the Throne to set a sweeping agenda focused on defending Alberta’s autonomy, reforming healthcare, and more.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Premier Danielle Smith’s government used Thursday’s Speech from the Throne to set a sweeping agenda focused on defending Alberta’s autonomy, reforming healthcare, and positioning the province as both an energy and artificial intelligence superpower.

Delivered by Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani, the speech marked the opening of the second session of the 31st legislature and laid out the government’s priorities under the theme “Moving Alberta forward with results.”

“Albertans have been clear about their priorities, and this government is acting on them,” said Smith in a news release. “Through this legislative session, we are putting those priorities into action with policies that strengthen healthcare, improve classrooms, protect freedoms and advance nation-building projects.”

The speech credited Alberta’s direct diplomacy with the United States for avoiding sweeping tariffs that once threatened “tens of thousands of Alberta jobs and billions in lost provincial revenues,” calling it a “diplomatic victory” that kept most exports tariff-free.

The government reaffirmed its pledge to “defend and exercise its constitutional jurisdiction” against federal overreach, while continuing to expand relations with U.S. counterparts. Alberta plans to partner with First Nations and industry to build new pipelines to Canada’s west coast and southeastern Ontario.

Lakhani also spoke about Alberta’s sovereignty and independence. She reaffirmed that the government believes in “a strong, free and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.”

“Sovereignty does not mean separation. Strength and self-determination do not have to mean national independence.”

However, she did specify that a majority of Albertans understand that the federal-provincial relationship is flawed and that Alberta should be empowered to pursue areas of its jurisdiction. Lakhani confirmed the government was reviewing what it heard and learned from Alberta Next town halls, with recommendations forthcoming.

“Your government is also actively negotiating with the federal government to gain additional pipeline access to Asian, European and U.S. markets, and to remove or overhaul several federal laws and policies that have profoundly damaged Alberta’s economy for the last decade,” she said.

Smith’s government vowed to stabilize provincial finances and safeguard Alberta’s low-tax advantage despite global instability and falling energy prices. The province remains committed to growing the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund to more than $250 billion by 2050, prohibiting the government from spending investment returns until then and ensuring that the province can excel without being reliant on non-renewable resources in the future.

“This government will hold spending increases below inflation plus population growth and invest wisely in health, education, roads, policing and other core services,” said Lakhani.

The government also announced plans to transform Alberta into a global hub for artificial intelligence, leveraging its abundant natural gas supply to power data centres.

“Alberta is already an energy superpower. Alberta will now also become an AI superpower, making our province a world leader in arguably the world’s two most important commodities – energy and computing power,” said Lakhani.

Infrastructure and immigration were also central themes. The speech promised $8.6 billion to open 200,000 new school spaces, thousands of new teaching positions, and major highway expansions, including the Deerfoot Trail, Yellowhead Trail, and Highways 3, 11, and 63.

Smith’s government signalled it will seek greater control over immigration, citing that the province’s “economy and culture has been entirely upended by the last 10 years of federal immigration policies, which have resulted in an unsustainable level of newcomers entering our province.”

The province pledged in its speech to use its constitutionally protected provincial rights to lower the number of immigrants entering Alberta.

Healthcare reform remains at the centre of the UCP’s agenda. The province will complete its transition away from Alberta Health Services to four new health agencies and move toward an activity-based hospital funding model.

The government also intends to expand chartered surgical centres, introduce legislation for private diagnostic testing, and launch mandatory treatment for addicts who pose a danger to themselves or others under its Compassionate Intervention Program.

In terms of public safety, the provincial government pledged to fund, not defund, the police, not enforce the Liberals’ gun confiscation scheme, and oppose any legislation from the federal government that censors free speech..

The address reiterated Alberta’s commitment to protect free expression for regulated professionals, pledging that new legislation, when combined with last year’s Alberta Bill of Rights amendments, would “solidify Alberta’s status as the freest jurisdiction in Canada.”

The government also stood by its ban on pornographic books in schools.

The throne speech sets the stage for a busy fall session, with the Smith government expected to introduce at least 15 bills covering health care, education, public safety, and provincial sovereignty.

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi pledged to stand up against the United Conservative Party’s legislative agenda.