EDMONTON – The Alberta government is racking up a lot of frequent flyer miles, but Premier Alison Redford stresses trips to market the province and its resources are ‘incredibly important.’
The Alberta government is has spent close to $2 million on international travel since Premier Alison Redford was sworn in.
“We are the province with the resources that are in demand around the world, and the best possible way for us to continue to develop those markets is to go where people want to talk to decision makers about what’s happening,” she said on Jan. 7, before travelling to India.
“There are two large Asian markets that we have to concentrate on as Albertans, and that’s certainly China and India.”
Redford, along with Human Services Minister Manmeet Bhullar, signed a new agriculture deal while in India. They also opened a new trade office in New Delhi.
“That’s important because it signals to decision makers in India, both in government and in industry, that we’re committed to building that relationship further,” she said.
Meanwhile, Minister Thomas Lukaszuk and International and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Cal Dallas were in China and Singapore.
The trips are part of six missions in January – which also include stops in the U.S. and Switzerland – costing an estimated $218,160.
READ MORE: International travel expenses of Alberta government ministries posted online
In 2013, international travel cost Alberta taxpayers $621,286 for 32 missions.
In 2012, 24 missions totalled $905,082. More than half of that year’s travel expenses came from a London trip during the Olympic Games.
In 2011, 21 missions cost $337,968.
To compare, in 2010, when Ed Stelmach was premier, $529,436 was spent on 36 trips.
“I think Alberta is taking its own future in its hands in terms of foreign engagement,” said MacEwan University Political Scientist Chaldeans Mensah.
“I think Alberta – especially this premier – is so interested in international affairs,” he added. “It seems she’s going to every length she can to project Alberta’s interests overseas.”
However, members of the Opposition feel the province could accomplish these international missions on a smaller budget.
“We think it’s getting absurd,” said Wildrose MLA Shayne Saskiw. “Of course we want the premier and our government to travel abroad and promote Alberta and meet these objectives, but – with the modest objectives that they’ve put forward, we think they can do that at half the cost.”
“Obviously we support going abroad and reaching agreements,” he added, “but we think they can do that with spending less taxpayer dollars and having less of an entourage for the premier.”
READ MORE: Alberta government discloses members’ expenses
Redford stressed the trips were incredibly important and that the province would continue to invest in them, adding it is crucial to send the appropriate decision makers on these missions.
“We have to remember that Alberta’s economy is an export based economy; we export to other places in the world, and we need to make sure that we’re telling our story and providing the support to Alberta companies that need us to be there, as well as attracting foreign investment here.”
“The Canadian Chamber of Commerce estimates the cost of failing to access world markets for energy products at $50 million a day in lost opportunities,” explained Derek Cummings, press secretary in the International and Intergovernmental Relations ministry. “Opening new markets will help us get higher prices for our resources and create more economic opportunity and revenues to support the programs and services Albertans rely on.”
“We also know that while the U.S. will continue to be our most important market, and we need to aggressively tell Alberta’s story and promote our interests in the US, relying too heavily on one customer puts our economy at risk.”
In 2013, Alberta exported $95 billion worth of goods outside its borders. The vast majority went to the U.S.
Mensah believes these international missions are worth the price tag as long as they result in clear benefits for the province.
“If the premier is spending $600,000 plus to open new markets, I think – in the scheme of things – I think it’s reasonable,” he said.
“She’s spending a lot of money doing so, but if the benefits are tangible, in terms of specific agreements and markets are opened, I think people are going to give her positive marks.”
The government’s annual reports show 198 memorandums were signed in 2011-2012 and another 226 in 2012-2013.
Redford has said the success of these government missions “will be measured by commercial agreements,” and Mensah agrees.
“I think it could pay off,” he said. “Right now, there’s no political cost to the premier. People expect her to produce tangible results from these trips; they expect that measurable outcomes are provided for the province.”
With files from Tom Vernon, Global News
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