Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith.
The Prime Minister and the Premier discussed shared priorities related to affordability, housing, and health care. They recognized the importance of governments working together to address the pressing challenges that Canadians, including Albertans, are facing today.
The two leaders discussed affordability, including the significant progress that has been made to reduce child care costs in the province. The Prime Minister raised the recent launch of the Canadian Dental Care Plan, which will provide dental health coverage for up to nine million Canadians by 2025. He highlighted the new Canada Carbon Rebate amounts, which put more money back in the pockets of Albertan families than they pay under the federal backstop. Albertan families will receive up to $1,800 this year, and Albertan families in rural communities will receive up to $2,160. For Albertan families, this is an average net benefit of over $700 a year. The Prime Minister also raised with the Premier the importance of protecting the rights and ensuring the security of 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians in the face of rising hatred and discrimination.
The Prime Minister and the Premier discussed opportunities to encourage clean growth in the province, in partnership with Indigenous communities, and recognized that addressing climate change is a shared responsibility. They touched on a number of important investments the federal and provincial governments are making to grow Alberta's economy, decarbonize key economic sectors, and create jobs for Albertans. They noted how this work can contribute to advancing reconciliation.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Smith agreed to continue working together on these and other important issues.