Weekly Roundup-Jan 31, 2022
Premier Jason Kenney is currently attending the National Governors Association annual meeting in Washington, D.C., to advance Alberta’s economic interests and discuss energy security, key bilateral trade issues and urgent cross-border supply chain issues.
While in D.C. the Premier has been kept busy responding to a cross-border supply chain issue taking place at the border crossing in Coutts, where a truck blockade has closed the border. The Premier issued a statement Sunday afternoon stating the blockade must end, saying that it violates the Alberta Traffic Safety Act and that the Alberta Critical Infrastructure Defence Act gives law enforcement additional tools to address the blockade. Taber-Warner UCP MLA Grant Hunter posted in support of the blockade.
Last week, Ottawa’s Parliamentary Budget Officer released a report on the estimated cost of cleaning orphan oil and gas wells with the report stating that the number in Alberta has increased from 700 to more than 8,600 over the last 10 years. The report estimates that the cost of orphan well clean-up in Canada will reach $1.1 billion by 2025, up from $361 million in 2020.
While positive case counts no longer reflect how many Albertans have COVID-19 due to testing capacity, as of January 28 there are 1496 in hospital with 105 in intensive care and 3,531 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 Transportation Rajan Sawhney and Acting Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Sonya Savage issued a joint statement on Phase 2 of SafeRoads Alberta, stating that they are hitting pause on the intended February implementation date and are instead taking the next 90 to 120 days to consult with Albertans on the plan.
Regional online engagement sessions are being held between January 31 and February 28 to provide feedback on the draft K-6 curriculum.
The renovation of a Calgary office tower will provide shelter spaces, transitional and affordable housing and includes funding of $2 million from the provincial government towards the total $30 million project cost.
A new provincial report shows Alberta is on track to hit its methane emissions reduction target by 2025. The first shipments of at-home treatment for COVID-19 Paxlovid will be available to Albertans starting January 31 in limited quantities.
An investment of $31.2 million from the Alberta Enterprise Corporation (AEC) will go to three venture capital funds – Builders VC Fund II, Yaletown Partners’ Innovation Growth Fund II and Amplitude Venture Capital to help Alberta technology and health innovation companies grow.
The government is launching a provincial emergency medical services advisory committee to provide immediate and long-term recommendations that will inform a new provincial EMS service plan will also adding immediate capacity to EMS.
Retired Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta Justice Adèle Kent will investigate the phone call from Justice Minister Kaycee Madu to the chief of the Edmonton Police Service and will report her findings to the deputy minister of Executive Council by February 15, with her findings to be made public.
Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board Travis Toews issued a statement on the most recent federal-provincial-territorial ministers of finance meeting.
Orders in Council
OC 1/2022: Effective February 1, 2022, appoints Zoe Addington as Deputy Chief, Policy Coordination.
OC 2/2022: Annexes land from the County of Vermilion River to The City of Lloydminster.
OC 3/2022: Approves the amendments to City of Edmonton Bylaw 16521, City of Edmonton Capital City Downtown Community Revitalization Levy Bylaw, as made by City of Edmonton Bylaw 19820, City of Edmonton Capital City Downtown Community Revitalization Levy Bylaw Amendment No. 1, passed on August 31, 2021.
OC 4/2022: Reappoints Nancy Foster as a member of the board of The Governors of The University of Calgary for a term to expire on January 25, 2025.
OC 5/2022: Appoints Dean Fahselt and Sean Lessard as members of The Board of Governors of Lakeland College, each for a term to expire on January 25, 2025.
OC 6/2022: Amends Order in Council numbered O.C. 79/2019 to amend the legal land description of Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland.
OC 7/2022: Effective November 4, 2022, reappoints Yasmin Jivraj as a member of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for a term to expire on January 25, 2023; appoints Paul R. Baay as a member and redesignates him as a vice-chair of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for a further term to expire on January 25, 2024; appoints Dr. Aleem Bharwani and Nabil Malik as members of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, each for a further term to expire on January 25, 2023.
OC 8/2022: Makes the Seniors Benefit Act General Amendment Regulation creating a new definition for total income among other changes that come into effect on July 1, 2022.
OC 9/2022: Makes the Seniors’ Home Adaptation and Repair Amendment Regulation to align with updated federa legislation.
OC 10/2022: Makes the Human Rights Education and Multiculturalism Fund Grant (Expiry Date Extension) Amendment Regulation extending the expiry to March 31, 2025.
OC 11/2022: Makes the Youth Justice Designation Amendment Regulation.
OC 12/2022: Reappoints Sharilee Fossum, Neil Sadaranganey and Tracey Scarlett as members of the board of directors of the Alberta Enterprise Corporation, each for a term to expire on January 25, 2025; appoints Justin Ferrara as a member of the board of directors of the Alberta Enterprise Corporation for a term to expire on January 25, 2025.
OC 13/2022: Effective March 4, 2022, reappoints Neil Yeates as a director and redesignates him as vice-chair of the board of Travel Alberta for a term to expire on March 3, 2025.
OC 14/2022: Effective February 12, 2022 reappoints Ayla Akgungor as a member and redesignates her as a vice-chair of the Labour Relations Board for a term to expire on February 11, 2025; effective February 27, 2022, reappoints Geoffrey Eustergerling, Raelene Fitz, Corinne Galway and Darren Leclair as members of the Labour Relations Board, each for a term to expire on February 26, 2025.
OC 15/2022: Reappoints Phyllis Clark as a member of the board of directors of the Alberta Investment Management Corporation for a term to expire on December 31, 2024; effective April 1, 2022, appoints Theresa Whitmarsh as a member of the board of directors of the Alberta Investment Management Corporation for a term to expire on March 31, 2025.
Upcoming Legislative Committee Meetings
Select Special Child and Youth Advocate Search Committee
February 1, 2022, 8-11 am
As the name of this committee suggests, the committee will meet to invite applications for the position of Child and Youth Advocate and recommend to the Assembly the applicant it considers most suitable to this position.
Select Special Committee to Examine Safe Supply
February 3, 2022, 9-12 pm
This committee was newly formed in December of 2021 and will examine safe supply of pharmaceutical opioids, heroin, crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, or other substances to people who are addicted to or dependent on these substances. The full mandate of the committee can be found here. Parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Community and Social Services for Civil Society Jeremy Nixon is the chair of the committee.
Select Special Committee on Real Property Rights
February 16, 2022, 6-8:30 pm
Standing Committee on Alberta's Economic Future
Feb 23, 2022, 9-12 pm
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)