Weekly Roundup - Dec 20, 2021
The Omicron variant has once again pushed the COVID-19 pandemic to the forefront in our province, with the government adjusting plans and moving to expand booster dose access and distributing rapid tests to Albertans. As of December 17, there are 4,431 active cases of COVID-19 in Alberta, with 553 new cases announced. There are 344 Albertans in hospital and 68 in intensive care. There have been 3,286 COVID-19 deaths in the province. As of December 8, 89.4% of Albertans age 12+ are vaccinated with at least one dose and 85.1% of Albertans age 12+ are fully vaccinated. Of Albertans aged 5-11, 25.1% have received at least one dose.
The fall session of the Alberta Legislature adjourned with the provincial government claiming progress in moving their Recovery Plan forward. Budget 2022 will be tabled in the Legislature next February. The Legislature sitting calendar will be confirmed on or before January 15.
The Premier’s spring will also include a leadership review to be held in Red Deer April 9 at a Special General Meeting of the United Conservative party. A by-election must be called prior to February 15th in Fort McMurray - Lac La Biche where former Wildrose Leader Brian Jean will run for the UCP.
Below you’ll find a summary of government legislation, announcements made and Orders in Council passed since our last edition.
Government Legislation Recap
The following government bills were introduced during the fall session and passed all stages in the Legislature, receiving Royal Assent:
Bill 73: Infrastructure Accountability Act
Bill 74: Advanced Education Statutes Amendment Act, 2021
Bill 75: Arts Professions Recognition Act
Bill 76: Captive Insurance Companies Act
Bill 77: Municipal Government (Restoring Tax Accountability) Amendment Act, 2021
Bill 78: Alberta Housing Amendment Act, 2021
Bill 79: Trails Act
Bill 80: Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act, 2021 (No. 2)
Bill 81: Election Statutes Amendment Act, 2021 (No. 2)
Bill 82: Mineral Resource Development Act
Bill 83: Environmental Protection and Enhancement Amendment Act, 2021
Bill 84: Business Corporations Amendment Act, 2021
Bill 85: Education Statutes (Students First) Amendment Act, 2021
Bill 87: Electoral Divisions (Calgary-Bhullar-McCall) Amendment Act, 2021
The following bill did not pass all stages, and is likely to die on the Order Paper:
Government of Alberta Announcements
Minister of Agriculture Nate Horner released a statement on a case of atypical BSE identified in the province.
The Child and Youth Well-being Review panel has submitted recommendations to the government about the impacts of the pandemic on children.
The recently agreed to Canada-Alberta Broadband Partnership sets the framework for collaboration between the two governments to expand connectivity with $150 million committed from both parties.
A new long-term strategic capital plan will guide Alberta’s government as it builds infrastructure.
The Premier and Finance Minister held virtual meetings promoting investment in the province with business and bank leaders from Ontario.
A new four year collective agreement has been reached with AUPE, with Finance Minister Travis Toews issuing a statement.
The introduction of Alberta’s draft K-6 curriculum is being delayed in four subjects following feedback from parents and teachers.
Gregory George Turnbull, QC, is the new chair of the Alberta Health Services board for a three-year term effective December 8.
Minister of Energy Sonya Savage issued a statement on the upcoming expiration of the curtailment policy, calling it good news for Alberta’s oil producers and the economy.
Education Minister Adriana LaGrange issued a statement on next steps to improve oversight of the teacher discipline process including an Order in Council and legislation to be
Alberta’s government is the first in Canada to fully cover the cost of the injectable opioid treatment drug Sublocade.
Non-profit organizations supporting newcomers building a new life in Alberta can apply for Alberta’s Supports for Newcomer Integration grants.
An investment of more than $22 million through the Alberta government’s Research Capacity Program will support research infrastructure and technology development at the University of Calgary and leverages close to $170 million allocated for these projects across partner institutions.
The government is honouring its $2-million platform commitment to help more students with developmental disabilities pursue post-secondary education.
The government is now accepting budget submissions with an online survey available until January 15. Telephone town halls will also take place in January.
Orders in Council
OC 335/2021: Proclaiming sections 1 to 10, 12 to 15, 19(a), (b) and (c)(ii), 20, 21(a)(ii), 24 to 30, 31(a)(i) and (iii) to (ix), (b) and (c) and 32 to 35 of the Public Health Amendment Act, 2021 in force on December 15, 2021.
OC 336-37/2021: Makes the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped General Amendment Regulation and Income Support, Training and Health Benefits Amendment Regulation extending the expiry and clarifying the funeral benefit.
OC 338/2021: Makes the Procedures (Traffic Safety Act) Amendment Regulation.
OC 339/2021: Makes the Judgment Interest Amendment Regulation prescribing the interest rate at 0.2% per year.
OC 340/2021: Makes the Fees and Expenses for Witnesses and Interpreters Regulation coming into force January 1, 2022.
OC 341/2021: Makes the Police Service (Expiry Date Extension) Amendment Regulation extending the expiry to January 31, 2025.
OC 342/2021: Makes the Transmission (Expiry Date Extension) Amendment Regulation extending the expiry to December 31, 2024.
OC 343/2021: Makes the Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery Royalty Amendment Regulation.
OC 344/2021: Makes the Oil Sands Royalty Regulation, 2009 Amendment Regulation.
OC 345/2021: Makes the Use of Highway and Rules of the Road Amendment Regulation.
OC 346/2021: Makes the Demerit Point Program and Service of Documents Amendment Regulation making changes to refer to demerit contraventions.
OC 347/2021: Makes the Transportation Network Companies Amendment Regulation.
OC 348/2021: Makes the Alberta Enterprise Corporation (Expiry Date Extension) Amendment Regulation.
OC 349/2021: Makes the Labour Relations Code Transitional Regulation.
OC 350/2021: Orders that the transaction under which Lehigh Hanson Materials Limited or any affiliate of Lehigh Hanson Materials Limited acquires the fee simple interest in certain land for the purpose of securing its supply of aggregates for future mining is excluded from the operation of the Foreign Ownership of Land Regulations, except for sections 22 and 25.
OC 351/2021: Orders that the transaction under which Bunge Canada Holdings I Inc or any affiliate of Bunge Canada Holdings I Inc acquires the fee simple interest in certain land for the purpose of constructing a canola oil extraction and processing facility and railway loop track is excluded from the operation of the Foreign Ownership of Land Regulations, except for sections 22 and 25.
OC 352/2021: Makes the Agriculture Financial Services Amendment Regulation to change language from big game and upland game birds to big game and wild boar where it is at large in Alberta or upland game birds.
OC 353/2021: Effective January 1, 2022, appoints Gary Mar as a member and designates him as chair of the Council of the Alberta Order of Excellence for a term to expire on December 31, 2024; effective January 1, 2022, appoints Jim Boucher as a member of the Council of the Alberta Order of Excellence for a term to expire on December 31, 2024.
OC 354-55/2021: Appoints Greg McMeekin as the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities for a term to expire on December 31, 2024 and rescinds his appointment as a member and chair of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
OC 356/2021: Makes the Surrogate Rules Amendment Regulation making housekeeping changes and creating an electronic system.
OC 357/2021: Designates Catherine Ann Workun, Q.C., as a full-time justice of the peace.
OC 358/2021: Makes the Peace Officer Amendment Regulation repealing section 2 on non-application, making a change to the authorized weapons and equipment section by removing the ability to discharge a spray on an animal, and extending the expiry to March 31, 2027.
OC 359/2021: Appoints Usman Mahmood and David McKenzie as members of the Law Enforcement Review Board, each for a term to expire on December 7, 2024.
OC 360/2021: Proclaiming the Municipal Government (Restoring Tax Accountability) Amendment Act, 2021 in force on the date of issue of the Proclamation.
OC 361/2021: Makes the Order Annexing Land from Mountain View County to the Town of Olds.
OC 362/2021: Makes the Order Annexing Land from Sturgeon County to the City of St. Albert.
OC 363/2021: Makes the Order Annexing Land from Strathcona County to the City of Fort Saskatchewan.
OC 364/2021: Makes the Order Annexing Land from Rocky View County to The City of Calgary.
OC 365/2021: Proclaiming section 1(1), (2), (6), (8), (9) and (19) of the Advanced Education Statutes Amendment Act, 2021 in force on December 8, 2021.
OC 366/2021: Establishes Grande Prairie Regional College as a polytechnic institution and designates the name of the polytechnic institution as Northwestern Polytechnic; designates the name of the board of governors of the polytechnic institution as The Board of Governors of Northwestern Polytechnic; changes the name of the Grande Prairie Regional College Academic Staff Association to the Northwestern Polytechnic Academic Staff Association and changes the name of The Students’ Association of Grande Prairie Regional College to The Students’ Association of Northwestern Polytechnic.
OC 367/2021: Makes the Athabasca University Amendment Regulation.
OC 368/2021: Appoints Joshua Day Chief, to succeed Brenda Brindle, as a member of The Board of Governors of Lethbridge College for a term to expire on December 7, 2024.
OC 369/2021: Makes the Independent Academic Institutions Sector Repeal Regulation.
OC 370/2021: Makes the Programs of Study Amendment Regulation.
OC 371/2021: Makes the Tuition and Fees Amendment Regulation outlining parameters for tuition fee increases.
OC 372-73/2021: Amends the Schedule to the Reform of Agencies, Boards and Commissions Compensation Act by removing references to The Board of Governors of Grande Prairie Regional College and The Board of Governors of Red Deer College as public agencies and adding references to The Board of Governors of Northwestern Polytechnic and The Board of Governors of Red Deer Polytechnic as public agencies.
OC 374/2021: Makes the Mercury Emissions from Coal-fired Power Plants (Expiry Date Extension) Amendment Regulation extending the expiry to December 31, 2030.
OC 375/2021: Proclaiming the Geothermal Resource Development Act in force on December 8, 2021.
OC 376/2021: Makes the Geothermal Resource Development Regulation defining excluded prescribed facilities and the coming into force date of January 1, 2022.
OC 377/2021: Makes the Geothermal Resource Tenure Regulation.
OC 378/2021: Appoints Brian Frank as a member of the board of directors of The Workers’ Compensation Board for a term to expire on December 7, 2024.
OC 379/2021: Effective January 1, 2022, appoints Lorraine Mitchelmore as a member of the board of directors of the Alberta Investment Management Corporation for a term to expire on December 31, 2024.
OC 380/2021: Makes the Employment Pension Plans Amendment Regulation making changes to the section regarding application to publicly funded plans.
OC 381/2021: Reappoints 7 persons as members of the board of the directors of the LAPP Corporation for various terms; appoints 4 persons as members of the board of directors of the LAPP Corporation for various terms.
OC 382/2021: Appoints Jan Goodwin as a member of the board of directors of the PSPP Corporation for a term to expire on December 7, 2024.
OC 383/2021: Reappoints Michael Baker as a member of the board of directors of the SFPP Corporation for a term to expire on December 31, 2022; reappoints Jason Elliott as a member of the board of directors of the SFPP Corporation for a term to expire on December 31, 2024; appoints Leon Borbandy as a member of the board of directors of the SFPP Corporation for a term to expire on December 31, 2023.
OC 384/2021: Reappoints Paul Haggis as a member of the Teachers’ Pension Plans Board of Trustees for a term to expire on December 31, 2022.
OC 385/2021: Makes the Conservation and Reclamation Amendment Regulation.
OC 386/2021: Makes the Specified Enactments (Jurisdiction) Amendment Regulation regarding thermal electric power.
OC 387/2021: Makes the Responsible Energy Development Act General Amendment Regulation.
OC 388/2021: Approves the Deputy Ministers and Senior Officials Salary Schedules Order increasing salaries for some positions within the public service.
OC 389/2021: Makes the Meat Inspection Amendment Regulation.
OC 390/2021: Proclaiming section 3(1), (7)(b), to the extent that it enacts section 24(3.1)(a) of the Teaching Profession Act, (10)(c) and (23), to the extent that it enacts section 57.1(1)(a), (c) and (d) of the Teaching Profession Act, of the Education Statutes (Students First) Amendment Act, 2021 in force on December 15, 2021.
OC 391/2021: Makes the Waste Control Amendment Regulation to include hydrovac facilities and extend the expiry to December 31, 2031.
OC 392/2021: Effective December 15, 2021, appoints Chidinma Thompson as a member and as chair of the Environmental Appeals Board for a term to expire on December 14, 2024.
OC 393/2021: Proclaiming certain provisions of the Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act, 2020 in force on February 1, 2022 and August 1, 2022.
OC 394/2021: Proclaiming the date of the application of certain provisions of the Labour Relations Code to academic staff associations, graduate students associations and postdoctoral fellows associations for February and August of next year.
OC 395/2021: Makes the Election of Union Dues Regulation.
OC 396/2021: Makes the Procedures (Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis) Amendment Regulation outlining updated penalties.