The Weekly Roundup- February 7, 2022
The old adage of if you don’t like the weather to wait five minutes could also be applied to politics this week; since our last edition, federal conservative leader Erin O’Toole has been ousted from his post by his CPC caucus and the UCP government is set to wind-down COVID-19 restrictions amid unrest on display in the form of convoys and within Premier Kenney’s caucus.
The Reform Act (which O’Toole voted in favour of in 2014) gave the Conservative caucus the power to dismiss their leader. Candice Bergen has been named as interim leader of the party, and Pierre Pollievre is an early front runner for the permanent position. You can listen to analysis from New West executives about the change in leadership here.
Premier Kenney has surely been keeping a close eye on the defeat of O’Toole in Ottawa that is tied in large part to his response to the trucker convoy and discontent among his caucus. Interestingly, Premier Kenney also voted in favour of the Reform Act at Second Reading in 2014, but missed the Third Reading vote. A similar mechanism for caucus to conduct a leadership review does not exist in Alberta; instead the Premier will need to wait until April 9 at the Special General Meeting for party members to decide his fate.
Read New West CEO Monte Solberg’s take on the moves Premier Kenney is making to COVID restrictions and how they are tied to his political future here.
While positive case counts no longer reflect how many Albertans have COVID-19 due to testing capacity, as of February 3 there are 1,584 in hospital with 118 in intensive care and 3,634 deaths.
Below, you’ll find a recap of other government announcements made and Orders in Council passed since our last edition.
Government of Alberta Announcements
Minister of Jobs Doug Schweitzer issued a statement about the January 2022 Labour Force Survey that once again saw Alberta lead the country with its employment rate.
The government has expanded Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland Provincial Park to almost double in size in northeastern Alberta.
Applications are open for a program that will provide $2 million to 20 new family physicians in each of the next three years that choose to practice in specific rural and remote communities.
Alberta Innovates has made an investment of more than $6 million through Stage 2 of Alberta Innovates’ Health Innovation Platform Partnerships program to support three projects.
Alberta has signed a MOU with Alaska, highlighting economic benefits in areas including energy and investment.
Orders in Council
OC 16-17/2022: Makes the Procedures (Traffic Safety Act) Amendment Regulation pushing back the implementation of the new program to June 1, 2022 as mentioned in last week’s roundup from the scheduled February 1 date.
Upcoming Events Calendar
February 22, 2022: Speech from the Throne
February 24, 2022: Alberta Budget Day
April 9, 2022: United Conservative Party Special General Meeting (Leadership Review)