MP Blake Richards attended a series of round tables regarding job loss, unemployment, and how to fix it.

The Alberta Jobs Taskforce was created to listen to constituents thoughts on the current Alberta economy and what improvements could be made. Over the past several months the Taskforce has consulted with Albertans province wide whether in person or through email, taking in feedback and suggestions about the economy.

Richards says doing away with the carbon tax, making small business sustainable, and giving a stamp of approval to energy projects are all a good start, but enough with lip service; Albertans want to see results.

"We are at about 220,000 we think that are unemployed right now, that is a huge number and far, far too many. Especially when you have the ability to see these people get back to work, it's simply get out of the way."

Richards, suggest moving ahead with pipeline projects that have been approved by the National Energy Board, that would put tens of thousands of people back to work, and stop over taxation of businesses.

"It is one thing when there is economic conditions that cause these kinds of things but when governments themselves are causing these kinds of things to happen with completely avoidable situations, that is just unacceptable."

Richards adds that Justin Trudeau needs to live in the real world and it's time to show he cares.

"At the end of the day he is supposed to be the Prime Minister of Canada, and he needs to show concern for the whole country and he needs to pay attention to what's going on when you have people hurting like this. Albertans really have this feeling that he isn't there for us and he doesn't care, and I can't blame anyone for that, because reality shows that."

All the information and suggestions from the Taskforce has been compiled into a report which will be given to Prime Minister Trudeau and the Minister of Finance.

"If they do really want to show some concern and they do really want to do something to help, well....there they are, there's the recommendations. We would be glad if they took them up and stole them and use them. Now the ball is there for them; we have given it, we said here you go this is the playbook, run it. If they choose to run it we will applaud it. If not, you can be sure we will be vocal, vocal critics out there and continue to be, because Albertans need this and expect this."

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