Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Two hundred very large production modules for Imperial Oil’s Kearl oil sands project will be built in South Korea. 

Substantial job losses here in Alberta will result from this deal. My first question is to the Minister of Employment and Immigration. Is exporting construction jobs offshore the cheapest way for Imperial Oil to construct its Kearl oil sands project here in Alberta?

Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, I should start by saying that not only creating jobs but keeping Albertans employed and creating an environment in which businesses can stimulate employment is this ministry’s and this government’s number one priority. However, individual companies within this province make business decisions based on cost models or availability of production skills or other variables that this government does not monitor. One of the differences between this government and perhaps governments in different parts of the world is that we don’t tell people how to run businesses.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again to the minister of unemployment: what is the total value of the work being done in South Korea, and how many person-hours of work have been lost here in Alberta in the construction and steel-fabricating industries?

Mr. Lukaszuk: Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure if this question is appropriately addressed to me. He should contact the employer and find out. This government is not in the business of business. We don’t tell businesses how to run businesses in Alberta. However, we are in the role of making sure that there are workers available in the province, and we always make sure to hire Albertans first, the rest of Canadians second, and then, when you can’t find them, export abroad.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Mr. MacDonald: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again to the minister of unemployment: how can steel fabricators here in Alberta compete fairly and on a level economic playing field against South Korean manufacturers who have access to cheap, subsidized steel and steel products? How can industries here compete? How can you allow that?

Mr. Lukaszuk: Well, Mr. Speaker, I guess welcome to the real world would be my answer to this question. The fact is that he identifies a very good point. Alberta is immersed in a global economy. We compete not only against other provinces and states but also against the world, and our job is to make sure that our employers have well-trained and skilled workers in this province. However, that doesn’t mean that they will not export some jobs or import workers to this province. It’s a world economy, we’re functioning in it, and it is our role as government to make us as competitive as possible.

Alberta Hansard, March 16, 2010

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