Alison Redford used her first day in the legislature as premier to chart her vision for the province's future, outlining plans on education, healthcare and the province's finances.
Redford criss-crossed over a variety of topics in a speech that was supposed to be about the economy. She asked for the legislature to suspend normal business so she could give an update on the province's economy and the challenges it might face in a global downturn.
The legislature opened for the session on Monday and then rose again Tuesday. It will now reconvene on Nov. 21.
Redford touched on the economy noting the province would have to expand to other customers beyond the United States if it wanted to stay competitive.
"We must search for new partners in foreign markets. Our prosperity depends on our ability to promote Alberta on the world stage."
She said European countries now struggling under massive debt loads were being faced with unenviable choices because they hadn't managed their economies well in the past.
Redford spent much of the speech talking about other issues, however. After restoring $107 million in education funding earlier this month, she said school boards will be given more stable funding in the future.
"We will put the entire education system on a three-year funding plan, ending uncertainty over budgets and providing schools with the resources they need."
She also pledged to move quickly to open the family care clinics she promised during the Tory leadership race, as a way to alleviate pressure on the system and make healthcare more accessible.
"No matter what your schedule is like, no matter how busy your kids are, your family will get the care it needs."
St. Albert MLA Ken Allred said he expected to hear more from the premier on the economy, but said it was an important underlying part of her message.
"I was probably expecting a little bit more on the global economy, but that was kind of in the background of it all that Alberta was in really good shape, but we do have to be concerned."
Allred said while people inside the political process knew what Redford pledged to do during the campaign the legislature speech allows her the opportunity to make it clear to everyone.
"A lot of people who are more attuned to the political process were probably aware of her promises, but this sort of solidifies it."
Opposition disappointed
Opposition leaders said they were disappointed in Redford's speech.
"They were very nice words that she spoke today in the legislature, but I think she is going to be judged on action," said Wildrose leader Danielle Smith.
Redford pledged the budget would be balanced in the 2013 to 2014 fiscal year, but Smith said it should be balanced today.
"There should be no budget in the world easier to balance than Alberta's budget, when you look at the amount of resource revenue we have."
Liberal deputy leader Kent Hehr said the speech sounded more like a series of pre-election promises than a discussion on the economy.
"That sounded more to me like a prayer than actually a plan. It sounded to me like a premier listing off things that she is going to do for an election."
NDP leader Brian Mason was also disappointed in the speech that seemed not to drift far away from the economy. On the province's fiscal situation he said Alberta could be in the black today if they Tories hadn't given corporate tax breaks or introduced a flat income tax in the past.
"When they were getting in massive amounts of royalty revenues for natural gas a number of years ago they gave their friends some presents."
