Celebrating Albertans – MP Thomas

Posted on August 8, 2024 by Sunny South News

On Monday our province celebrated Alberta Heritage Day. This special day gives us the opportunity to reflect on our history and culture with gratefulness and pride. From being a leader in energy production to functioning as an agricultural powerhouse, Alberta has much to be proud of!

What is the key to this success? 

Some may think it is our natural resources, but to me, the answer could not be clearer. It is the people.

The spirit of the Alberta people is strong and enduring. 

There is an understanding that we are constantly building for a more secure and prosperous future for the generations that will come after us. Though we are living in the present, we are dreamers and creators; we restore and invent. We say no to complacency. 

Our province is globally known for its natural beauty with mighty mountains, glacier lakes, bountiful energy reserves, and expansive prairies. Though we face hardships like wildfires that ravage through beautiful towns like Jasper, the strength of our province shines through adversity as we come together to defeat the flames, support our neighbours, and rebuild our communities. Resilience is a hallmark of Albertans that has carried throughout generations. 

This province is home to the Famous Five, who fought for women to be recognized as “persons” under the law. But Alberta’s significant impacts extend beyond extraordinary historic moments like this. Our perseverance powers Canada’s wealth and success daily. 

Agriculture is a crucial part of our heritage in Lethbridge. Generations of farmers in the region have displayed incredible grit, determination, and creativity, turning what was once was the desert-like Palliser Triangle into some of the most prosperous farmland in the world. Today, our producers are responsible for much of the grain, meat, and produce that feed our nation and  those in other countries. 

Our community is home to early ground-breaking innovations like the Noble Blade, invented in Nobleford, which tills the soil with minimal disturbance, or Andrew Briosi’s sugar beet lifter, which modernized the harvesting of sugar beets. Today, the people of Lethbridge continue pursuing innovation in food production and processing by forging paths toward sustainability and increased production. 

The key to Alberta’s prosperity lies in the hands of the people. Unfortunately, this potential is under threat by an Ottawa-knows-best federal government that is doing its best to erode our province’s resolute spirit. 

Punitive policies like the carbon tax punish workers and retirees alike.  

The Liberal government’s inflationary spending has made life increasingly unaffordable for many. My office continues to hear heart-breaking stories of families making the difficult decision to visit the food bank for the first time, young people giving up on homeownership, and seniors choosing between medication and food.

But it doesn’t need to be this way. We desperately need a common-sense government that empower Canadians to innovate and create without these burdens. It is time for a small government that will exhort the people and make big citizens. 

Under a common-sense Conservative government, people will be empowered to dream, take risks, invest capital, and generate wealth without layers of red tape obstructing them. This promising future will finally allow their hard work to pay off, filling us all with hope and optimism.

Ottawa will no longer destructively leach from its citizens. Instead, it will let Canadians receive the powerful paycheques that they have so rightfully earned. 

This future is not just a possibility; it is a promise we can all look forward to—a future where Canadians are unleashed to lead the way forward, a future where the hard work of regular citizens is our true strength. 

The key to prosperity lies in you—the people— who have consistently risen amid challenging times by stewarding their gifts and talents, while demonstrating incredible fortitude to achieve great things.

Our rich heritage is not a product of government. It is the collective legacy of those who call this place home. 

As we celebrated Alberta Heritage Day, let us reflect with gratitude on the past, commit to stewarding the present, and build toward a vibrant future. 

What kind of inheritance will we leave for those to come? 

Rachael Thomas, 

MP forLethbridge