AB Today – Daily Report June 4, 2020

Quotation of the day

“Maybe doesn’t want people to see dinosaurs, I don’t know.” ​ ​

NDP Environment and Parks critic questioned the UCP’s rationale for ​ ​ selling off provincially run parks, including UNESCO world heritage site Dinosaur Provincial Park.

Today in AB

On the schedule The house is scheduled to convene at 1:30 p.m. The morning session was scrapped again, as MLAs sat through midnight Wednesday.

The government could introduce Health Minister ’s Bill 17, Mental Health ​ ​ ​ ​ Amendment Act, as well as Bill 21, Provincial Administrative Penalties Act. ​ ​

MLA’s could debate the following pieces of legislation at second reading: ● Bill 15, Choice in Education Act; and ​ ● Bill 16, Victims of Crime (Strengthening Public Safety) Amendment Act; and ​ ● Bill 20, Real Estate Amendment Act. ​

The following bills are at committee stage: ● Bill 2, Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Amendment Act; ​ ● Bill 4, Fiscal Planning and Transparency (Fixed Budget Period) Amendment Act ​ ● Bill 7, Responsible Energy Development Amendment Act; ​

● Bill 18, Corrections ( Parole Board) Amendment Act; and ​ ● Bill 19, Tobacco and Smoking Reduction Amendment Act. ​

Wednesday’s debates and proceedings Service Alberta Minister introduced Bill 20, Real Estate Amendment Act. ​ ​ ​ ​

MLAs debated Bill 15, Choice in Education Act, at second reading. ​ ​

NDP MLA introduced an amendment to suggest that the bill not receive second ​ ​ reading because it does not support the findings of the choice in education review. The majority of respondents said they were happy with the education system.

Bill 4 and Bill 19 both passed second reading. ​ ​ ​

Firearms committee, money for gun test sites announced The UCP is bringing in a new provincial firearms committee and cash to increase the province’s forensic gun testing capacity.

Premier , Justice Minister and UCP MLA ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ made the announcement in Wednesday.

“While some people in far away places like Toronto may not understand the reality, hundreds of thousands of Albertans simply use firearms as part of everyday life,” Kenney said, slamming Ottawa’s recent regulatory changes of weapons.

A new firearms examination unit will use Calgary Police Service’s lab and the Edmonton Police Service’s currently under-construction lab to speed up how quickly police can perform tests on firearms used in crimes.

The province plans to reduce its reliance on the RCMP’s firearms testing laboratory, which Schweitzer blamed for slow turnaround times and a backlog in the court system.

The cost for the new unit will be $500,000, which will come out of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) budget. It is expected to increase testing capacity from 600 to approximately 750 tests per year.

Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee established A new committee, chaired by UCP MLA for Brooks—Medicine Hat Michaela Glasgo, will be the ​ ​ province’s new voice for lawful gun owners.

“Alberta has had enough of Ottawa’s meddling,” Glasgo said Wednesday, noting her firearm-friendly upbringing and passion for private property rights.

Other members of the committee include gun-shop owners, hunting advocates, sport-shooters, and former police officers, but no active-duty police officers.

NDP Leader called the committee “homogenous,” noting it doesn't include ​ ​ people from communities with higher rates of gun violence victimization or domestic violence survivors.

In a nod to Ottawa’s new regulation banning 1,500 firearms, Kenney said treating farmers and duck hunters like criminals won’t stop crime and stated that Alberta believes in targeting actual criminals and drug smugglers.

The premier contended the guns restricted by the feds have always been considered “safe” and are used legally.

“You can put all sorts of Hollywood words on them to characterize them,” Kenney said, when asked by reporters what use farmers have for assault-style weapons.

“Nobody needs to kill 600 moose in 60 seconds,” Notley said.

The premier also said he is “seriously considering” a provincial legal challenge against Ottawa’s new rules.

The Fair Deal panel, whose report is expected in the coming weeks, was tasked with considering the merits of an Alberta firearms officer and a provincial police force.

The decision on a provincial police force has not yet been made, per Kenney.

Real estate regulator overhauled The “dysfunctional” Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) is getting a massive restructuring of its governance.

If passed, a new bill from Service Alberta Minister Nate Glubish will change the structure and ​ ​ scope of the regulatory body.

“The end result will be a new governance structure that will increase transparency, improve accountability and ultimately bring good governance to the real estate regulatory [body],” Glubish said of Bill 20, Real Estate Amendment Act. ​ ​

The largest change is the creation of four industry councils, which will individually regulate residential real estate brokers, commercial real estate brokers and property managers, residential and condominium property managers, and mortgage brokers.

RECA’s board will now be solely focused on industry licensing and enforcement, rather than mandated to enhance and improve the industry.

The legislation also makes it explicit that board members cannot use confidential information for personal gain or break industry rules in their role.

The changes are the latest step in dismantling the dysfunctional board. Last fall, the government amended the Real Estate Act and tossed out the governing council of RECA following a report ​ ​ from KPMG detailing its contentious culture that resulted in the board’s failure to fulfill its mandate, make timely decisions and release financial information by deadline.

As part of the transition, ministerial approval will be required for all bylaws and rules implemented by RECA for the first two years.

Today’s events

June 4 at 8 a.m. – Edmonton ​ The UCP’s Treasury Board committee will meet in the Cabinet Room of the legislature.

June 4 at 7 p.m. – Online ​ NDP Leader Rachel Notley and NDP Arts and Culture critic will attend a ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ virtual version of the Alberta Arts Showcase.

Topics of conversation

● There were 19 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Wednesday. A total of 6,587 people have recovered, and there are 344 active cases. ○ There were two new deaths since the province’s last update. A total of 145 Albertans have died from the virus. ○ There are currently 48 people in hospital, six of whom are in the ICU. ○ At a news conference, Premier Jason Kenney said he expects to make an ​ ​ announcement on Phase 2 of the province’s relaunch strategy mid-month.

● Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan, who has been the frequent target ​ ​ of attacks in the house after saying Bill 15, Choice in Education Act, would open the ​ ​ door to “religious nutbars,” shot back on Twitter Wednesday. ○ McGowan shared a video of UCP MLA Dan Williams (Peace River) defending ​ ​ private and charter schools by highlighting Alberta’s other privatization successes. ○ “This is a province that has privatized liquor stores and government telephone communications because we believe we’re not as good at running those as

[businesses are],” Williams said in the chamber on Monday evening. “But somehow we think the state should be nationalizing the family and education and the relationship between parents and children? It’s inanity. It makes no sense. It’s absolutely backwards.” ○ McGowan responded: “The UCP’s spin doctors lost their collective crap when I ​ ​ said public money shouldn’t be used to fund ‘nutbar’ fringe religious schools. Well, now we have a UCP MLA suggesting ALL public schools should be privatized. It’s clear now my warning was not misplaced.” ○ Meanwhile, ChurchMilitant.com praised the government for “dismantling a former ​ ​ ​ ​ politician's anti-Christian education policies.”

● The agriculture ministry has removed Fusarium graminearum, a fungus that attacks cereal crops, from the Pest and Nuisance Control Regulation. ○ Agriculture Minister said the regulation has failed to stop the ​ ​ spread of the fungus and hopes that removing it will allow for modern approaches to managing the disease.

News briefs

NDP asks for virtual consultation on parks changes ● Environment and Parks critic Marlin Schmidt called for open, virtual public consultations ​ ​ on the sale of public park land to private operators. ○ Schmidt said the pandemic ended planned in-person protests, but since then multiple online petitions have circulated with “tens of thousands” of signatures. ○ In February, the UCP announced it was considering the sale or transfer of 164 provincial parks and recreation areas to municipalities, non-profits, First Nations or other entities, with 20 others to be closed or partially closed. ○ At the time, the government said the 164 sites represent 0.3 per cent of the Alberta Parks landbase. ○ Asked about the closure of comfort camping — often used by people with disabilities or people who are new to camping — at Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, Schmidt said he didn’t understand the rationale. “Maybe Jason Nixon doesn’t want people to see dinosaurs, I don’t know.” ​ ​ ○ In the February news release, Nixon said Albertans have expressed a desire to take a more active role in the operation of parks and that some parts were under-utlized.

Funding announcements

Ministry of Environment and Parks ● The province announced an additional $9.4 million for Rocky View County to increase a flood barrier, replace the Bracken Road Bridge, and stabilize more of its riverbank. The

money is in addition to a previously announced $27.2 million for flood protection for Bragg Creek.

Appointments and Employments

Alberta Firearms Advisory Committee ● Michaela Glasgo, chair, UCP MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat; ​ ● , UCP MLA for Central Peace-Notley; ​ ● , UCP MLA for Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland; ​ ● Rick Hanson, former Calgary police chief and Progressive Conservative candidate, ​ ● Teri Bryant, associate professor, University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business; ​ ● Bob Gruszecki, president, Alberta Hunter Education Instructors’ Association; ​ ● Phil Harnois, gun shop owner (P & D Enterprises) and 25-year Edmonton police ​ veteran; ● Gail Garrett, vice-president, Alberta Federation of Shooting Sports; ​ ● Lynda Kiejko, member of 2016 Canadian Olympic shooting team; ​ ● Andrew Blundell, vice-president, Canadian Historical Arms Society/Genesee Range; ​ ● Linley Coward, co-owner, Bullets and Broadheads Range in Grande Prairie; and ​ ● Nicholas Lui, competitive shooter and Canadian Armed Forces veteran. ​

Automobile Insurance Rate Board ● Joshua Gogo and Jamie Hotte were appointed to the board, and Jay Jeworski was ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ reappointed for a three-year term.

Telus and McMillan LLP ● Former Conservative Party of Alberta cabinet minister and Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day resigned from the board of Telus corporation following comments made ​ ​ ​ on CBC’s Power and Politics. ​ ​ ○ In his Tuesday night appearance, Day denied the existence of systemic racism in Canada and compared racism to the bullying he experienced in junior high for wearing glasses. ○ On Wednesday, CBC said Day has stepped away from his punditry role. ○ McMillan LLP also dropped Day from his strategic advisor position. ​ ​ ○ On Twitter, Day said he realized his remarks were “insensitive and hurtful” and asked for forgiveness.

Question period

NDP pushes for more business support

● Once again, NDP Leader Rachel Notley led off by asking about commercial rent ​ ​ relief, PPE for businesses and a commercial eviction ban.

○ “Why is the premier abandoning Alberta’s entrepreneurs when they need him the most?” Notley asked.

● Premier Jason Kenney responded that the government is not abandoning businesses ​ ​ and once again dragged the AFL president into the fray. ○ “Prominent NDP spokesman Gil McGowan has called for all businesses to be ​ ​ shut down for another month. We won’t listen to that NDP spokesman, nor, by the way, to his bigotry against people of faith.” ○ McGowan’s name has come up repeatedly during question period and members’ statement in the six days since he warned Bill 15, Choice in Education Act, ​ ​ would open the door for religious “nutbars.” ○ McGowan is the president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, not an NDP spokesperson, but the AFL does have two seats on the Alberta NDP’s provincial council.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women On the anniversary of the release of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, a convoy led by the Stolen Sisters and Brothers Awareness Movement drove from Borden Park to the Alberta legislature.

● During question period, Indigenous Relations critic — the NDP’s former ​ ​ minister on the file — referred to a red dress given to the government to commemorate MMIWG as “pretty,” drawing strong objections from the Status of Women Minister Leela ​ Aheer. ​

● Aheer said it showed “such disrespect” and demanded Feehan “stand up [and] apologize to every single Indigenous woman in this country right now.” ○ The dress was handmade by a social worker at a healing lodge whose family member was murdered.

● Feehan apologized for appearing to mock the dress, stating his intention was to criticize government inaction.

● Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson also delivered a statement marking the ​ ​ anniversary of the inquiry’s report.

Other NDP questions NDP MLAs also asked about changes to the Victims of Crime Fund, actions taken since the release of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls report, the sale of provincial parks, the fate of public sector pensions, cuts to arts funding, consultations on the post-secondary free speech policy, the government’s relationship with rural obstetricians, vaping changes and driver testing.

UCP friendly questions UCP backbenchers asked about the plan for infrastructure projects, whether the NDP should denounce Gil McGowan, economic recovery and support for agricultural producers. ​ ​