The Weekly Roundup- May 30, 2022
The legislature is adjourned until October 31, where it’s presumed that a new Premier will take the front seat on the government benches. In total, 22 government bills were introduced and passed during the spring sitting. During an end of session news conference, Government House Leader Jason Nixon touted the fact that the government has implemented more than 90 per cent of their 375 platform commitments and passed 137 bills in the past three years.
The UCP Board has appointed a Leadership Election Committee and tightened the rules surrounding membership sales with cash no longer being an allowable form of payment for a membership as of June 1. All signs point to a late September date for the new leader to be announced.
Premier Jason Kenney was in Regina on Friday for the first Western Premiers’ Conference held in person in over two years. It wouldn’t be a Western Premier’s gathering without complaints regarding federal health care funding, with the Premiers stating that they want the feds portion of the Canada Health Transfer to increase from 22 per cent to 35 per cent. Other topics of focus included the economy, supply chains, infrastructure, energy, food security and arctic sovereignty.
Rumours are swirling about which members of the Premier’s front bench may take their own stab at the leadership, with Finance Minister Travis Toews, Environment Minister Jason Nixon, Minister of Transportation Rajan Sawhney and Minister of Children’s Services Rebecca Schulz all potentially mulling bids. Minister of Jobs Doug Schweitzer announced last week that he would not be running for the leadership or again for his MLA seat. You can read New West Partner Michael Solberg’s oped on the need for party unity here.
The French leader’s debate occurred last week for the CPC and was the last of the party sanctioned debates. The cutoff for new members is on June 3. You can watch a breakdown of the debate from Michael Solberg here.
Below, you’ll find a recap of government legislation and government announcements made since our last edition.
Government Legislation Recap
The following bills did not pass all stages, and will be reintroduced in the fall:
Bill 19: Condominium Property Amendment Act, 2022
Bill 23: Professional Governance Act
The following government bills were introduced during the spring session and passed all stages in the Legislature:
Royal Assent received:
Bill 1: Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Recognition Act
Bill 2: Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2022
Bill 3: Special Days Act
Bill 4: Municipal Government (Face Mask and Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination Bylaws) Amendment Act, 2022
Bill 5: Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2022
Bill 6: Emblems of Alberta Amendment Act, 2022
Bill 7: Appropriation Act, 2022
Bill 8: Appropriation (Supplementary Supply) Act, 2022
Bill 9: Public’s Right to Know Act
Bill 12: Trustee Act
Bill 13: Financial Innovation Act
Bill 18: Utility Commodity Rebate Act
Bills awaiting Royal Assent:
Bill 10: Health Professions (Protecting Women and Girls) Amendment Act, 2022
Bill 11: Continuing Care Act
Bill 14: Provincial Court (Sexual Awareness Training) Amendment Act, 2022
Bill 15: Education (Reforming Teacher Profession Discipline) Amendment Act, 2022
Bill 16: Insurance Amendment Act, 2022
Bill 17: Labour Statutes Amendment Act, 2022
Bill 20: Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2022
Bill 21: Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2022
Bill 22: Electricity Statutes (Modernizing Alberta’s Electricity Grid) Amendment Act, 2022
Bill 24: Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2022
Government of Alberta Announcements
Energy Minister Sonya Savage issued a statement on recent comments made by United States Ambassador to Canada David Cohen, calling them ill-informed and unproductive.
Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Tyler Shandro has directed Edmonton’s mayor to develop a public safety plan and increase policing to address violence in downtown Edmonton.
It was a big week for shovels and hard hats at announcements, with Minister of Infrastructure Prasad Panda highlighting the P3 approach for 5 new schools in the province, Transportation Minister Rajan Sawhney launching the year’s construction season and golden shovels breaking ground at the beginning of the Valley Line West LRT in Edmonton.
Restaurants, bars and coffee shops can now welcome customers’ dogs on their patios without approval from Alberta Health Services.
Collin May has been appointed as chief of the Alberta Human Rights Commission and Tribunals.
For the first time the Alberta government is funding Crime Stoppers with $850,000 over the next three years.
Health Minister Jason Copping highlighted the creation of 100 new EMS positions and extension of 70 temporary positions that will put 19 new ambulances and five support vehicles on the streets. The UCP also held a news conference to focus on how they are taking action to address EMS pressures.
Upcoming Events Calendar
June 28, 2022: New West Public Affairs presents Alberta Relaunch
September 10, 2022: New CPC Leader announced