Province supports EXPO 2017 bid
The Province has thrown its support behind the bid to bring EXPO
2017 to Edmonton. In a speech on Thursday, May 13 in Edmonton,
Premier Ed Stelmach said:
"As Albertans look confidently
toward the future we do so with knowledge that we have the energy,
food and fiber that global markets will need in the 21st Century.
We have a great story to tell of how we care for our environment,
and how we develop our resources responsibly. So let us invite the
world here to Alberta to learn about us and who we are as a people,
our values - and what it means to be Albertan and Canadian.
Let's also show the world how we've
used the proceeds of the blessings of energy, agriculture and
forestry to create a quality of life that's second to none - where
education and health care lead the nation. We should be proud to
show how our investments in health sciences, engineering, life
science research are benefiting Albertans, Canadians and in fact
people around the world.
In seven years Canada will celebrate
our 150th anniversary of the birth of our country. It would be most
fitting if the centre of that celebration reflected the optimism of
the New West Partnership that I mentioned earlier. That's
why my government will support a bid to bring the 2017 EXPO to
Alberta's Capital City - Edmonton.
We saw the profile that Vancouver
and British Columbia, and Canada received through hosting the
Olympics - and it's time that we seize opportunities that present
themselves. Just as Calgary presented itself to the world when that
city seized the opportunity to host the Olympics in '88. There is a
long way to go - and the EXPO Committee has much to do but all of
Alberta stands to benefit and we must support Alberta's visionaries
and leaders when they are prepared to think big."
The EXPO 2017 bid committee will continue its work on the bid,
and looks forward to continuing to partner with various key
stakeholders, including the Government of Alberta, in gaining
support to represent Canada in the bid to host EXPO 2017.