Development plan unveiled

Premier’s strateg y set to boost development, entrepreneurship

Premier Dave Hancock on Thursday unveiled a set of four priorities to enhance Alberta’s economic development and encourage entrepreneurship.

The Alberta Economic Development Framework was created over the past two years in collaboration with companies and entrepreneurs.

Its four key priorities include expanding market access for Alberta businesses, broadening the province’s economic base, improving resourcebased industries and inspiring more entrepreneurship.

The Alberta government and companies across the province are already working toward the goals outlined in the policy, but the framework will help ensure a “shared vision” for Alberta’s continued economic successes, Hancock said.

While the framework doesn’t set out any tangible strategies or programming, Hancock said the policies included within it will serve as a road map.

“This framework doesn’t give all the strategies, in terms of how you implement it at the ground level, but it does provide that focus,” he said.

And though the Progressive Conservative party is set to elect a new leader in September, Hancock said it was important to unveil the new framework now.

“The work that’s being done isn’t being done in isolation. This isn’t my invention. This is work that government has done ... to move forward,” he said. “And a new leader will embrace that.”

Other provincial strategies, including the small-business strategy, international strategy and the rural economic development action plan, will be contained within the economic development framework.