The Weekly Roundup - November 21, 2022

There were a series of changes to top health officers in both the Health Ministry and at Alberta Health Services (AHS) last week, following through on campaign commitments made by Premier Danielle Smith during her UCP leadership race. 

Dr. Mark Joffe is now the chief medical officer of health for the province. Dr. Joffe’s interim appointment will continue until the minister of health rescinds the appointment. He will continue in his current contract with AHS, with no additional compensation for the chief medical officer of health role. 

​​In addition, Dr. John Cowell has been appointed as full-time official administrator of AHS and will replace the existing part-time AHS board of directors. Dr. Cowell will report directly to the Premier and minister of health. Dr. Cowell will work directly with interim AHS CEO Mauro Chies to address four priorities:

• Improving EMS response times

• Decreasing ER wait times

• Reducing wait times for surgery

• Developing reforms through consultation with front-line workers

In a speech to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce last week, Premier Smith pledged support for Calgary projects including large-scale improvements to Deerfoot Trail, promoting the oil and gas sector and ensuring the Green Line is completed.

The rest of the provincial cabinet’s ministerial mandate letters were released last week and are publicly accessible:

• Advanced Education

• Agriculture and Irrigation

• Forestry, Parks and Tourism

• Health

• Indigenous Relations

• Infrastructure

• Jobs, Economy and Northern Development

• ​​Mental Health and Addiction

• Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction

• Skilled Trades and Professions

• Technology and Innovation

• Transportation and Economic Corridors

• Treasury Board and Finance

The Legislature will be back next week with the Speech from the Throne on Tuesday, and the Premier attending her first Question Period as leader on Wednesday. Below, you’ll find a recap of other government announcements made and Orders in Council passed since our last edition.

Government of Alberta Announcements

• The Office of the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities is expanding to include a physical office location in Calgary.

• The chief medical officer of health issued a statement about the increase of respiratory viruses in Alberta.

• Alberta Education is doubling previously announced funding to support mental health pilots in K-12 schools to $40 million.

• As a follow-up to initiatives outlined in the above mandate letters, the Premier sent a letter to Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek about exploring the option of expanding Calgary’s LRT system to the Calgary International Airport.

• Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally traveled to Texas last week to promote Alberta as a destination of choice for business investment. 

• School authorities will receive more than $12 million in additional funding to offer language, social and educational supports to newly enrolled students from Ukraine. 

• Announced at COP27, the province is working with Emissions Reduction Alberta to make $50 million from the TIER fund available for a new Industrial Transformation Challenge.

Orders in Council

OC 370/2022: Effective November 18, 2022, reappoints David B. Hanson, MLA, as a member and redesignates him as chair of the Northern Alberta Development Council for a term to expire on November 17, 2024.

OC 371-72/2022: Makes the Demise of the Crown (Statutes) Amendment Regulation, substituting Court of Queen’s Bench for Court of King’s Bench in legislation and regulation.

OC 373/2022: Makes the Designation and Transfer of Responsibility Amendment Regulation.

Upcoming Events Calendar

November 29, 2022: Alberta Legislature Session scheduled to resume at 3 p.m. with a Throne Speech