The Weekly Roundup- August 8, 2022
The latest fundraising numbers are in, and they show a very strong Official Opposition in the NDP, having raised nearly $2.5 million to date in 2022 with $1.4 million coming in the second quarter. So far in 2022 the central UCP has raised $1.4 million with a little over $520,000 coming in Q2. The UCP’s numbers don’t reflect their full fundraising capacity as it doesn’t include money raised by constituency associations. Q3 is sure to be stronger for the UCP with the influx of cash coming from the leadership race.
One of Alberta’s most capable cabinet ministers, Doug Schweitzer, has resigned from cabinet and will step down from his seat sooner than anticipated (he had previously announced he would not run in the next general election). With Schweitzer set to step down by the end of the month, his riding of Calgary-Elbow could be the site of a byelection and serving as a bellwether for next spring’s UCP-NDP matchup.
The province opened COVID-19 vaccinations for Albertans five years old and younger last week, for the first time making all Albertans now eligible to receive the vaccination.
UCP Leadership Race Tracker
We’ll be using this section to apprise you of any major platform announcements, endorsements or other items of note related to leadership contestants. You can click through to their websites using the hyperlinks below.
You can expect a final push from all candidates to sell memberships, as the deadline for UCP supporters to join or renew their membership and vote in the leadership race is this Friday, August 12.
The hot topic for leadership contestants in the past week has been the six figure pandemic cash bonus of $228,000 given to Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Deena Hinshaw in 2021 on top of her $363,000 salary, and who knew what, when.
Leela Aheer: Aheer said that instinct kicked in when she helped to save a rodeo attendee from a rampaging bull.
Brian Jean: Aside from continuing to travel the province to meet with Albertans, there are no updates from Jean this week.
Todd Loewen: Loewen focused on attacking Justin Trudeau, saying that he is coming for farmers with plans to force a 30 per cent reduction in fertilizer usage.
Rajan Sawhney: Sawhney faced a blow to her campaign this weekend with her campaign chair, Airdrie MLA Angela Pitt, announcing that she is stepping away from the role.
Danielle Smith: The Smith camp commissioned a poll of current UCP members that shows her campaign to this point has been a runaway success, with Smith's poll showing she would receive more than 46 per cent of the vote on the first ballot.
Rebecca Schulz: Schulz has released more substantive policy, including a new funding model for IVF, surrogacy and adoption, improving access to healthcare, affordability for families and small business owners, a rural EMS action plan and saying that if Premier she wouldn’t move forward with an Alberta provincial police force.
Travis Toews: Toews released a three-point plan for Alberta’s healthcare system, a five-point plan for supporting farmers and used some of the tried and true education buzzwords about parental choice in his “excellence in education” policy release.
Government of Alberta Announcements
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development Nate Horner issued a statement on the results of the softwood lumber third administrative review.
Temporary rent assistance is expanding to more than 80 communities across Alberta.
Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation Doug Schweitzer issued a statement about the July 2022 Labour Force Survey.
Government MLAs Tracy Allard, Richard Gotfreid and Miranda Rosin are currently in Washington participating in the Legislative Energy Horizon Institute with other legislators from across North America.
The government has released a website on the future of policing in Alberta that outlines what their perceived benefits of a provincial police force would be.
Upcoming Events Calendar
August 30, 2022: Official UCP Leadership Debate (Edmonton)
September 10, 2022: New CPC Leader announced
September 25, 2022: New Alberta Liberal Leader announced
October 6, 2022: New UCP Leader announced
October 21-23, 2022: UCP AGM at River Cree Resort
October 31, 2022: Alberta Legislature Session resumes