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Catching up with MLA Peter Guthrie:

Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Pete Guthrie returned this week from Edmonton following his maiden speech at the Alberta Legislature – where he kept much of the focus on the growing infrastructure demands stemming from his rapidly growing consitituency.
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Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Pete Guthrie, Mayor Jeff Genung, Minister of Transportation Rick McIver and Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown at the Alberta Legislature last week for the Throne Speech. Guthrie invited Genung to join him last week and to get facetime with McIver, as the pair have committed to continue to push for funding to build the promised interchange project at highways 1A/22.

Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Pete Guthrie returned this week from Edmonton following his maiden speech at the Alberta Legislature – where he kept much of the focus on the growing infrastructure demands in his rapidly growing constituency.

"We have a budget that's not going to be released until fall, so all I can really do is advocate for it every chance I get," said Guthrie, with reference to growing infrastructure needs in the constituency, including pushing for funding of the interchange projects at highways 1A/22 in Cochrane and 40th Ave in Airdrie.

"Transportation, infrastructure is at its limit ... Cochrane, for instance, has no major interchange in a town approaching 30,000 people," Guthrie said, highlighting the safety risks along the major transportation corridor. "The small town, Western motif that residents take pride in can sometimes be lost waiting in long lines. A solution to these traffic woes is desperately needed."

In his speech, Guthrie spoke of his family and professional background – a married father of two with a mixed background in ranching, agriculture, forestry and small business, as well as being an engineer. He also spoke of the tragic loss of his brother-in-law, Arlen, at the age of 25, which left his family at a turning point and launched an "eye-opening and humbling" experience of running the inlaws' family cattle ranch in Consort, Alta. for a number of years. Guthrie campaigned heavily on his diverse background to win the local nomination under the UCP banner.

Guthrie also made mention of the increasing demands for urgent care and 24-hour health care in the region,

The MLA also learned of his appointments to two provincial standing committees – Public Accounts and Families and Communities.

"I was quite interested in (Public Accounts) because it deals with financial reports coming in from each of the portfolios," said Guthrie, who had put his name forward for this committee given his background in small business – as a former successful franchisee of a Mr. Lube in Calgary for eight years, which he sold in 2017 to step into the political realm.

While he was not vying for the Families and Communities Committee, Guthrie said the more he learns about it, the more he is interested in it and feels it will be a great way to liaise with local community groups to get a better breakdown of the needs facing the rising populace in the region.

Both committees have proportional representation from the UCP and Official Opposition NDP.

His speech also gave a nod to Spray Lake Sawmills for its stewardship and the boon the company is to the town as one of the largest employers; the growing craft brewing industry; the long-standing ranching and cattle history; and to his desire to establish positive relationships with nearby Stoney-Nakoda Nation.

With Bill 1: The Carbon Tax Repeal Act which came into effect yesterday (May 30), Guthrie maintains that this, along with the next three bills to be tabled – the Open for Business Act (Bill 2), the Job Creation Tax Cut (Bill 3) and the Red Tape Reduction Act (Bill 4) – will stimulate the economy and increase the availability of "good paying jobs."

Bill 2 includes implementing a student wage at $13 per hour by the end of this month. Bill 3 would cut the corporate tax from its current 12 down to eight per cent by Jan. 1, 2022. Bill 4 would reduce regulations by one-third, as deemed prohibitive to business by the UCP.

"We must create an environment that is positive for investment. By increasing revenue and developing a strong economic base, we can as government look forward to reducing our deficits and putting us on a path to a balanced budget," he added.

The legislature will be sitting until August, which Guthrie said shows that the government is "doing everything we can to lay the ground work so we can change course."

 

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