EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Alison Redford's government has opened the pre-election spring sitting of the legislature with a throne speech that promises smarter spending and more jobs.
The speech says the departments of education, post-secondary education and municipal affairs will be put on three-year budget cycles to allow for better planning.
It also says there will be a plan to train more highly skilled workers to feed the province's resource-based economy.
And a new northern strategy is to help that region's programs and infrastructure keep pace with booming oilsands development.
As well, three pilot projects are expected this spring to deliver better front-line medical treatment in family-care clinics.
The 2012-13 budget is to be released on Thursday, with an election expected to be called in mid to late March.
© The Canadian Press, 2012