My fellow Albertans, welcome to the First Session of the Twenty-Seventh Alberta Legislature. It is my honour today to deliver the Speech from the Throne.

Today begins a new chapter in the history of Alberta, and in this Legislative Assembly that serves its people. This is a place of tradition, a place of ideas, and a place of honour.

It’s an honour shared by everyone elected to do the business of this house. Theirs is important work, to be conducted diligently and respectfully, and in recognition that public service is a privilege bestowed by the people of Alberta on only a few.

Since this house was last assembled, Albertans have chosen 83 members of this Assembly to lead the province forward into Alberta’s second century. I offer my congratulations to each of you.

Yours is a responsibility both solemn and exhilarating, for Albertans have entrusted you with the task of building a strong and stable future for their province. They have put their faith in the men and women elected to serve in this Legislature — and I know each of you will honour that faith with action.

Your government’s work begins with a clear, realistic and positive plan of action to fulfill the commitments we’ve made. It’s a plan that reflects today’s Alberta, and the province’s place as a leader in Canada.

Albertans set the stage for this era of economic growth and vitality by pioneering new standards of fiscal discipline, responsibility and accountability. Thanks to their foresight and hard work, the province is now the engine of prosperity for all of Canada. This role becomes all the more vital in the face of turbulent economic times in the United States, our nation’s largest trading partner.

Now, more than ever, Alberta’s economy is the rising tide that lifts all boats across the country. It generates billions of dollars a year in investment, tax revenues for all levels of government, and one-quarter of all new jobs across the country. It is also the positive force that fuels your government’s ability to make its plan into a reality that benefits the lives of all Albertans.

Albertans know that such leadership brings responsibilities — responsibilities we accept with pride. I speak not only of Alberta’s responsibility to show economic leadership — which remains imperative — but also leadership in the equally crucial areas of sustainable resource development, environmental protection and inter-provincial trade.

Your government recognizes the need for Alberta to catch up in some areas, to close the gap in others, and in all cases to ensure that no one is left behind as the province moves forward.

Your government’s actions to secure Alberta’s future are rooted in five priorities that reflect what it has heard from Albertans. They are:

• broadening Alberta’s economy;
• improving the efficiency and effectiveness of health care delivery;
• providing roads, schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing province;
• developing our energy resources in a responsible and sustainable way;
• and ensuring that strong and safe communities remain at the heart of our quality of life as our province grows.

To your government, these aren’t just words on a page. They are priorities that will underpin a broad, thoughtful series of actions we will take in the coming years.