Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 30th Legislature First Session Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism Consideration of Main Estimates Wednesday, November 6, 2019 3:30 p.m. Transcript No. 30-1-9 Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 30th Legislature First Session Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future van Dijken, Glenn, Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock (UCP), Chair Goehring, Nicole, Edmonton-Castle Downs (NDP), Deputy Chair Hanson, David B., Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul (UCP), Acting Chair* Allard, Tracy L., Grande Prairie (UCP) Barnes, Drew, Cypress-Medicine Hat (UCP) Bilous, Deron, Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview (NDP) Dang, Thomas, Edmonton-South (NDP) Gray, Christina, Edmonton-Mill Woods (NDP) Horner, Nate S., Drumheller-Stettler (UCP) Irwin, Janis, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood (NDP) Issik, Whitney, Calgary-Glenmore (UCP) Jones, Matt, Calgary-South East (UCP) Reid, Roger W., Livingstone-Macleod (UCP) Rowswell, Garth, Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright (UCP) Stephan, Jason, Red Deer-South (UCP) Toor, Devinder, Calgary-Falconridge (UCP) * substitution for Glenn van Dijken Also in Attendance Shepherd, David, Edmonton-City Centre (NDP) Support Staff Shannon Dean Clerk Stephanie LeBlanc Clerk Assistant and Senior Parliamentary Counsel Teri Cherkewich Law Clerk Trafton Koenig Parliamentary Counsel Philip Massolin Clerk of Committees and Research Services Sarah Amato Research Officer Nancy Robert Research Officer Michael Kulicki Committee Clerk Jody Rempel Committee Clerk Aaron Roth Committee Clerk Karen Sawchuk Committee Clerk Rhonda Sorensen Manager of Corporate Communications Jeanette Dotimas Communications Consultant Tracey Sales Communications Consultant Janet Schwegel Managing Editor of Alberta Hansard Transcript produced by Alberta Hansard Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future Participants Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism Hon. Tanya Fir, Minister Michele Evans, Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic Development Sonya Johnston, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy and Corporate Services Jason Krips, Deputy Minister Maureen Lomas, Vice-president, Finance, Alberta Innovates November 6, 2019 Alberta’s Economic Future EF-161 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 6, 2019 Order 59.01(6) establishes the speaking rotation while the speaking Title: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 ef time limits are set out in Standing Order 59.02(1). In brief, the [Mr. Hanson in the chair] minister or member of Executive Council acting on the minister’s behalf will have 10 minutes to address the committee. At the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism conclusion of her comments we begin a 60-minute speaking block Consideration of Main Estimates for the Official Opposition, followed by a 20-minute speaking block for the government caucus. The Acting Chair: Welcome, everyone. I would like to call the The rotation of speaking time will then alternate between the meeting to order and welcome everyone. The committee has under Official Opposition and the government caucus, with individuals’ consideration the estimates of the Ministry of Economic speaking times being set at five minutes, which, when combined Development, Trade and Tourism for the fiscal year ending March with the minister’s time, make it a 10-minute block. Discussion 31, 2020. should flow through the chair at all times regardless of whether or I’d ask that we go around the table and have all MLAs introduce not the speaking time is combined. Members are asked to advise the themselves for the record. Minister, please introduce the officials chair at the beginning of their rotation if they wish to combine their that are joining you at the table. I am David Hanson, MLA for time with the minister’s time. If members have any questions Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul, and I’m chairing this meeting of regarding the speaking times or the rotation, please feel free to send the committee. We will continue, starting on my right. a note or e-mail to either the chair or the committee clerk. A total of three hours has been scheduled to consider the Ms Goehring: Good afternoon. I’m Nicole Goehring, MLA for estimates of the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Edmonton-Castle Downs and deputy chair of this committee. Tourism. The scheduled end time of this meeting is 6:30 p.m. With Mr. Jones: Matt Jones, MLA for Calgary-South East. the concurrence of the committee I will call a five-minute break near the midpoint of the meeting; however, the three-hour clock Mr. Stephan: Jason Stephan, MLA, Red Deer-South. will continue to run. Does anyone oppose taking a break at midpoint? Seeing none, we will call a break at approximately the Mrs. Allard: Good afternoon. Tracy Allard, MLA, Grande Prairie. midway point. Ministry officials may be present and at the direction of the Mr. Reid: Good afternoon. Roger Reid, MLA for Livingstone- minister may address the committee. Ministry officials seated in the Macleod. gallery, if called upon, have access to a microphone in the gallery area. Pages are available to deliver notes or other materials between Ms Issik: Good afternoon. Whitney Issik, Calgary-Glenmore. the gallery and the table. Attendees in the gallery may not approach Mr. Toor: Good afternoon. Devinder Toor, Calgary-Falconridge. the table. Space permitting, opposition caucus staff may sit at the table to assist their members; however, members have priority to sit Mr. Barnes: Drew Barnes, MLA, Cypress-Medicine Hat. at the table at all times. If debate is exhausted prior to three hours, the ministry’s Mr. Rowswell: Garth Rowswell, Vermilion-Lloydminster- estimates are deemed to have been considered for the time allotted Wainwright. in the schedule, and the committee will adjourn. Points of order will be dealt with as they arise, and the meeting clock will continue to Mr. Horner: Nate Horner, MLA, Drumheller-Stettler. run. However, the timer for the speaking block will be paused. Ms Johnston: Sonya Johnston, EDTT. Any written material provided in response to questions raised during the main estimates should be tabled by the minister in the Ms Fir: Tanya Fir, Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Assembly for the benefit of all members. Tourism. The vote on the estimates and any amendments will occur in Committee of Supply on November 19, 2019. Amendments must Mr. Krips: Jason Krips, Deputy Minister of Economic be in writing and approved by Parliamentary Counsel prior to the Development, Trade and Tourism. meeting at which they are to be moved. The original amendment is to be deposited with the committee clerk, and 20 copies of the Ms Lomas: Maureen Lomas, Alberta Innovates. amendment must be provided at the meeting for the committee Mr. Shepherd: David Shepherd, Edmonton-City Centre. members and staff. I now invite the Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Mr. Bilous: Good afternoon. Deron Bilous, Edmonton-Beverly- Tourism to begin with her opening remarks. You have 10 minutes. Clareview. Ms Fir: Thank you, Mr. Chair, and hello, everyone. I’m pleased to Ms Gray: Hello. Christina Gray, MLA for Edmonton-Mill Woods. be here with my esteemed colleagues and committee members to discuss the budget for the coming year for Alberta Economic The Acting Chair: Okay. Thank you. Development, Trade and Tourism. I’d also like to note the following substitution for the record: Before I begin, I would like to take a moment to introduce my myself, David Hanson, standing in for Mr. Glenn van Dijken as staff: Kris Barker, chief of staff; Ben Brodhead, ministerial chair. assistant; Justin Brattinga, press secretary. Also joining me today Please note that the microphones are operated by Hansard and that here at the table – I know they just introduced themselves, but I’d the committee proceedings are being live streamed on the Internet and like to introduce them again – are Jason Krips, deputy minister, and broadcast on Alberta Assembly TV. Please set your cellphones and Sonya Johnston, assistant deputy minister, strategic policy and other devices to silent for the duration of the meeting. corporate services division. I would also like to acknowledge the Speaking order and time. Hon. members, the standing orders set other members of the Economic Development, Trade and Tourism out the process for consideration of the main estimates. Standing team here in the room today: Chris Heseltine, assistant deputy EF-162 Alberta’s Economic Future November 6, 2019 minister, tourism; Jamie Curran, assistant deputy minister, trade investment, and more business opportunities. We are not cutting and investment; Michele Evans, assistant deputy minister, support for film but maintaining the existing support. We want economic development division and science and innovation Alberta to be a destination that draws talent, investment, and business division; Jeanette Stead, senior financial officer; and Maureen from across Canada and around the globe. Lomas, VP, finance, for Alberta Innovates. I’d also like to introduce Funding for the new film and TV tax credit program will start Royce Chwin, CEO of Travel Alberta. with $15 million next year, $30 million in 2021-22, and $45 million Thank you, all, for joining me here today. I’m pleased to share in 2022-23, for a total of $90 million. This credit, in combination information about the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade with our competitive tax environment, low labour costs, skilled and Tourism’s budget for 2019-20. Budget 2019 delivers on our workforce, and breathtaking landscapes make Alberta an attractive mandate of creating jobs and growing the economy. We are destination for big-budget television and film projects. These working to attract investment in new and innovative ways in a hope projects inject millions into our economy and support jobs for to mitigate the impact of four years of policies under the previous Albertans. I look forward to providing more details about this new government that drove out investment and caused jobs to leave at a program in coming weeks. rate unseen in our province in a long time.