AB Today – Daily Report October 19, 2020 Quotation of the day “We have got to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time when it comes to the energy and environment dynamic.” Premier Jason Kenney acknowledges the influence of environmental performance on ​ ​ capital investment decisions while speaking to the UCP AGM. Today in AB Written by Catherine Griwkowsky ​ On the schedule The house will reconvene Tuesday. The fall sitting will be a continuation of the summer session, carrying over bills and motions from the last time lawmakers met. Committees this week The Select Special Democratic Accountability Committee will meet this evening to continue its review of citizens’ initiatives and recall legislation and hear presentations from members of the public. Premier watch During a Q&A session during the first weekend of the UCP’s virtual Annual General Meeting, Premier Jason Kenney said securing new capital investments in oil and gas projects will ​ ​ require government and industry action on greenhouse gas emissions. This marks a reversal for the premier, who, in a spring 2019 editorial board meeting with the Globe and Mail, dismissed investors’ concerns about climate risk as the “flavour of the month.” ​ ​ ​ ​ The premier also told delegates the energy war room, a.k.a the Canadian Energy Centre, would resume ad spending after a temporary budget reduction. Conservative Party of Canada Leader Erin O’Toole joined the premier for a Q&A session on ​ ​ Saturday afternoon. O’Toole, who recently recovered from Covid, joked he is the “easiest guy to hang out with” because he cannot give or contract the virus for four months. Alberta Health department spokesman Tom McMillan told the Canadian Press evidence is still ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ emerging about re-infection and reiterated the province’s health advice is to wear masks when physical distancing is not possible (neither Kenney or O’Toole wore masks during their chat despite being seated close together). UCP members vote in favour of private health care The majority of UCP members voted in favour of a policy resolution urging the government to give Albertans the option to access a privately funded and privately managed health-care system. The motion passed with 52.71 per cent of the vote. Ahead of the vote, Service Alberta Minister Nate Glubish and Garth Rowswell, UCP MLA for ​ ​ ​ ​ Vermilion—Lloydminster—Wainwright, appeared in video messages pleading with members to vote against the resolution “If we approve this policy, it is going to cause a ton of grief for all MLAs who are working hard to deliver you results,” Glubish said, noting the resolution goes against the public-health guarantee the UCP signed during the 2019 election campaign. Resolutions are non-binding, but, as noted by Matt Wolf, Premier Jason Kenney’s issues ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ manager and the former head of the UCP’s campaign war room, they will “help inform platform ​ ​ development for 2023. NDP Health critic David Shepherd slammed Premier Kenney for not speaking out against the ​ ​ resolution. “It’s telling that the only worry the UCP cabinet has about this horrific policy is the grief they will get from Albertans who overwhelmingly oppose the ideological games that the UCP are playing with our health system,” Shepherd said. All 30 policy motions at the convention passed. Members also voted in favour of resolutions on ​ ​ contracting ancillary services to the private sector, monitoring and enforcing quality standards in seniors care homes, and removing provincial caps on publicly funded surgeries. The next weekend of the UCP AGM will include guest speakers and breakout sessions. Today’s events October 19 at 11:30 a.m. — Virtual ​ ​ ​ Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard will be joined by Rural Municipalities of Alberta president ​ ​ Al Kemmere, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers president and CEO Tim McMillan, ​ ​ and Explorers and Producers Association of Canada president Tristan Goodman for an ​ ​ announcement on economic recovery for oil and gas producers. October 19 at 1 p.m. — Edmonton ​ ​ ​ The UCP Treasury Board committee will meet in the Windsor Room of the Federal Building. Topics of conversation ● On Friday, the province reported 322 new cases of Covid. The increase brings the total number of active cases to 2,836 (up 53). There are now 117 people hospitalized (up 16), including 11 in ICU (down five). There were no new deaths reported Friday, keeping the total at 288. ● The government is forging ahead with plans to consolidate EMS dispatch despite objections from municipal lawmakers. ○ According to CBC, Health Minister Tyler Shandro sent a letter to municipalities ​ ​ ​ ​ informing them he would not stop Alberta Health Services’ takeover of Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge and Wood Buffalo’s EMS dispatch systems. ○ When health authorities had proposed takeovers in the past, both NDP and PC health ministers intervened to stop the change. ○ ​In 2009, AHS centralized dispatch in all but those four communities. ● Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu is asking the UCP to reconsider its decision to end ​ ​ funding for the injectable opioid agonist treatment program, CBC reports. ​ ​ ○ “We are disappointed by this decision from the Alberta government, and we urge them to reconsider,” Hajdu’s spokesperson said. ○ ​Twelve iOAT patients launched a lawsuit against the province for discontinuing the program, which is aimed at treatment-resistant patients. ● Stanley Schumacher, Alberta’s first elected Speaker, has died. Schumacher served for ​ three terms as the MLA for Drumheller, including four years as Speaker. News briefs NDP releases hydrogen plan ● NDP Leader Rachel Notley released her party’s hydrogen plan. The document is the ​ ​ first of several planned discussion papers under the Opposition’s new “Alberta’s Future” project. ○ The proposal includes six initiatives, including studying a hydrogen pipeline and export ties with places like Japan, South Korea and California, and creating refuelling stations and hydrogen hubs. Notley also wants to offer royalty incentives to producers. ○ “We will not only grow a new market and create jobs here at home,” Notley said, “but establish Alberta as a leader in hydrogen production and innovation ready to compete on the world stage.” ○ “Like Peter Lougheed did 40 years ago, we can act today to give our economy ​ ​ the shot-in-the-arm it needs to create new jobs, grow new opportunities and set our energy industry on a path forward for the next 40 years,” Notley said in a news release. ○ The NDP’s discussion paper follows the UCP government’s announcement earlier this month on a natural gas vision and strategy. Government renames hospital after reactionary politician ● Premier Jason Kenney announced the renaming of the Sundre Hospital after a vocal ​ ​ opponent of same-sex marriage, Myron Thompson. ​ ​ ○ Thompson was mayor of Sundre in the mid 70s. He then joined federal politics, serving as an MP for the Wildrose riding from 1993 to 2008. ○ During a 1994 debate on legalizing same-sex marriage, Thompson said, “I do not hate homosexuals — I hate homosexuality.” ○ He was known for wearing a cowboy hat and argued unsuccessfully that it was part of his culture and he should be allowed to wear it on the floor of the House of Commons like MPs who can wear turbans or Indigenous feathers. Funding announcement Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry ● Non-profit Results Driven Agriculture Research and the government of Alberta signed a $37-million annual agreement as part of a farmer-led research initiative. ● The government announced a $10.5-million grant to Olds College as it takes over the Agriculture and Forestry ministry’s barley breeding program. Appointments and employments United Conservative Party ● United Conservative Party members elected new board members to open positions on the party’s executive during this weekend’s AGM. ○ Maxwell DeGroat was elected chief financial officer. ​ ○ Dave Guenter was elected vice-president of membership. ​ ○ Cynthia Moore was elected Calgary director. ​ ○ Joe Friesenhan was elected northern director. ​ ○ There were four acclamations: Jason Bischoff as Edmonton director, Jim ​ ​ ​ Bredeson as southern Alberta director, Jennifer Johnson as central Alberta ​ ​ ​ director and Joel Mullan as vice-president of Bylaw and Policy. ​ ​ ○ Party president Ryan Becker, who was elected in 2019, maintains his post. ​ ​ AB Today is written by Catherine Griwkowsky, reporting from the Alberta Legislative Press Gallery. What did you think of this Daily Report? What else would you like to see here? ​ Email [email protected] and let us know. ​ ​ Copyright © 2020 Queen’s Park Today. 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