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Alberta Was Ignored In Throne Speech: Tory MP

"Now is not the time to raise taxes."
Michael Cooper/Facebook

An Alberta MP is criticizing the Liberal government's first Throne Speech, saying that it's ignoring his province's needs.

Gov. Gen. David Johnston noted the federal government's intent to "work towards putting a price on carbon" in the speech on Friday.

"At a time when 35,700 Canadians lost their jobs last month, including 14,900 Albertans now is not the time to raise taxes," Michael Cooper, Conservative MP for St. Albert-Edmonton, said in a press release on Monday.

Cooper also pointed out there was no mention of Alberta's energy sector, which he says demonstrates that the province's economy is not a federal priority for Ottawa.

"Now is not the time to raise taxes."

"Tens of thousands of Albertans including many working people living in St. Albert-Edmonton rely on the energy sector. The speech was also silent on getting critical pipeline projects completed."

Cooper's remarks echo those by interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose, who expressed concern Friday that the agriculture and energy sectors were entirely absent from the speech.

"Bottom line, no mention of the private sector, which was very concerning when we're thinking about the fact that we need job creation in this country and we have to focus on the economy," Ambrose said.

However, the Throne Speech did touch on the balance of environment and economy.

"Protecting the environment and growing the economy are not incompatible goals; in fact, our future success demands that we do both," said Johnston.

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