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Alberta's Industrial Heartland Promotes Renewed Focus12th Annual Stakeholder Luncheon and Update
 January 27, 2011 - A region once dubbed upgrader alley may soon be better known for innovative value-added processing and the production of alternative energy. The new outlook and renewed focus for Alberta's Industrial Heartland was shared with a crowd of over three hundred and fifty at the annual Stakeholder Luncheon and Update."While bitumen upgrading and oil refinery will be an important component of growth in the Heartland, the recent 'unconventional' natural gas revolution we are in the midst of has many consequences our Association must understand and pursue," stated Don Rigney, Chair of Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association and Mayor of Sturgeon County. Alberta's competitiveness plays a key role in attracting major new players to Alberta's Industrial Heartland. The Alberta Competitiveness Council recently released their Report on Competitiveness - Alberta 2010, which compared Alberta to other provincial and international jurisdictions. Justin Riemer (seen above at far right, with MC Ed Gibbons and fellow presenters), Assistant Deputy Minister, Enterprise Division, Alberta Finance and Enterprise presented highlights of the report. Riemer also discussed the challenges of shale gas developments and declining levels of ethane feedstock for Alberta's petrochemical industry, including how the Competitiveness Initiative has tasked industry and government to address these and other issues.  The region's renewed focus and the province's commitment to improving competitiveness will help Alberta's Industrial Heartland carve its niche among North America's petrochemical and processing leaders. Jason Brisbois (seen at left), Acting Director for the Western Centre for Economic Research at the University of Alberta added to the optimism by reporting GDP growth of Canada and the United States is projected at 2.5% and 3%, respectively, based on Canadian charter banks consensus forecast."A couple months ago, 2011 was forecast to be another transition year for North America as we recover gradually from the 2009 recession, but recent signs suggest growth will be more rigorous than expected," commented Brisbois. For more information about Alberta's Industrial Heartland, visit www.industrialheartland.com. Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association (AIHA) is a cooperative effort of the Counties of Lamont, Strathcona, Sturgeon, and the Cities of Edmonton and Fort Saskatchewan. AIHA is dedicated to coordinating, advocating, and promoting long-term sustainable development of the Heartland. |
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