It is no secret that many Western Canadians have been in the fight for their future and their lives over the last half a decade.
With wavering oil prices, challenge after challenge surrounding pipeline builds and now COVID-19, it has been blow upon blow for the western economy -- and surveys are reflecting the impact of the economic devastation.
In late 2019, a University of Calgary study revealed that that for every 1% increase in unemployment, there's was a 2.8% increase in the province's suicide rate - the survey outcome surprised mental health experts and, I point out, these stats were recorded before COVID-19.
Turning the corner into 2020, Alberta had lost 5.4% of its work force and suffered the second-highest amount of job losses in the nation between December 2019 & 2020 -- almost 133,000 jobs or a 5.7% increase in unemployment.
The impact has not only been felt in the province of Alberta however.
Agriculture workers across the prairie provinces who depend on employment in the resource sector to supplement their annual income and provide for their families have also been hit hard.
The people of the prairies are resilient and determined - they are survivors - but with the recent cancellation of the Keystone pipeline, some are asking: how much more can western Canada take?
Here with us this week have been Members of Parliament Glen Motz from Alberta and Rosemarie Falk from Saskatchewan. In this week's interview they shed some light on how the whole situation is impacting the residents that they serve, give insights and talk solutions.
This is more than an important conversation for our nation, it is a critical one. We need to find solutions.
Please join me for this important conversation.
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