PARLIAMENTARY CONTINUITY Annual Report 2019‑2020

Legislative Assembly Office PARLIAMENTARY CONTINUITY Annual Report 2019‑2020 CONTENTS Message from the Speaker 4 Message from the Clerk 6 Our Story 8 Our Team 10 Vision, Mission and Values 12 Our Performance 13 Featured Events 29 By the Numbers 32 Financial Statements 35 Members of the 30th Legislature 50 Conferences 55 APPENDIX Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act 58 Annual Report 2019‑2020 3 MESSAGE FROM THE SPEAKER APRIL 1, 2020 This is the first year I have presided over the operation of the Legislative Assembly has never been Legislative Assembly Office during the entire fiscal more evident. reporting period. I am pleased to present this annual The fiscal year opened with a provincial general report as a record of all that we have achieved election. In the weeks and months that followed, together. the LAO team deftly guided 47 new Members of the As I draft this message, we are in the midst of Legislative Assembly as they navigated the intricacies a global health pandemic. This unprecedented of their vital roles within Alberta’s parliamentary emergency has redirected our attention and caused democracy. us to quickly adapt our operations. During the final Soon after stepping into the role of Speaker, I weeks of the fiscal year the Legislative Assembly met introduced a series of videos that distilled the as required to pass legislation essential to managing legislative process and explained parliamentary the crisis. House proceedings were modified to traditions hundreds of years old. These educational allow Members and staff to conduct business in videos were shared with audiences across social accordance with public health recommendations on media. The LAO’s educational programming was also physical distancing. The dedication of the Legislative bolstered with the launch of the Alberta Teachers Assembly Office (LAO) to support the effective Institute on Parliamentary Democracy. This program 4 Legislative Assembly of Alberta expands the impact of parliamentary learning by While we face an uncertain future, I am confident teaching teachers from across the province. that the capable and dedicated LAO team will support our Legislative Assembly through whatever This past year has tested the responsiveness and challenges arise and ensure that Alberta’s provincial adaptability of the LAO, and our team has met representatives have what they need to effectively each challenge with stalwart professionalism. serve Albertans. Honourable Nathan M. Cooper Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta Annual Report 2019‑2020 5 MESSAGE FROM THE CLERK APRIL 1, 2020 I have been honoured to lead the LAO through what In addition to postelection activities, the LAO created has proved to be an extraordinary year. Managing a three‑year strategic plan to direct our future efforts. the shift from the 29th to the 30th Legislature was All team members participated in a refresh of the the primary focus of the first part of the fiscal year. LAO’s vision, mission and values and contributed to By streamlining the commencement process, the drafting organizational goals. This inclusive approach will ensure that the actions of each member of our LAO oriented Members of the Legislative Assembly team align with our organizational direction going to their new roles and equipped them to serve their forward. I look forward to implementing the plan in constituents more efficiently than ever before. the coming years. The constituency boundaries changed between the We also underwent organizational changes to reflect 29th and 30th legislatures. This change, combined a return to our core business. The creation of the with opportunities in the Alberta real estate market Parliamentary Programs branch demonstrates our to cost‑effectively secure improved spaces, resulted renewed commitment to focus public programming in the need for the LAO to respond to more efforts on educating Albertans about the Legislative constituency office moves with more expeditious Assembly. timelines than had been seen in former legislatures. At the close of the fiscal year our lives were disrupted Thorough planning meant that office set‑ups and by the COVID‑19 pandemic. The operations of the moves were effectively managed. LAO were equally affected. As schools across the 6 Legislative Assembly of Alberta province closed to students, public admittance to The LAO faced many challenges throughout the the Alberta Legislature and the Legislative Assembly fiscal year and successfully navigated each of them. I Visitor Centre was restricted and all events and public am so proud to be a part of such a resilient team. programming were halted. While the majority of As we look to the year ahead, much is uncertain, but staff members began working from home, House we have a clear plan and a staff that is committed services, security and broadcast staff continued to seeing that plan through. Whatever challenges to work on‑site, ensuring essential support to the await, we will face them together. I am certain we Assembly was maintained while it continued to sit. will emerge a stronger and more united organization. Shannon Dean, QC Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta Annual Report 2019‑2020 7 OUR STORY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OFFICE The LAO is a nonpartisan entity dedicated to supporting parliamentary democracy and upholding the democratic process in Alberta. Since 1983 the LAO has provided administrative and procedural expertise and services to all Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in support of their pursuit to effectively represent Albertans in their constituencies and in the Assembly. In periods of transition following a provincial general election the LAO safeguards the continuity and impartiality of Alberta’s legislative process. The LAO also encourages an active and informed public by offering a wide array of educational programming. Our team of dedicated professionals are the beneficiaries of a rich parliamentary tradition, dating back to 14th ‑century England. We work hard to uphold and abide by parliamentary tradition while ensuring the LAO’s operations adapt to the ever‑changing needs of the Members we serve and the best interests of Albertans. 8 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Annual Report 2019‑2020 9 OUR TEAM OFFICE OF THE CLERK HOUSE SERVICES CEREMONIAL AND SECURITY SERVICES The Clerk is the chief executive House Services oversees House officer of the Legislative and committee proceedings, Ceremonial and Security Services Assembly. Under the direction which includes providing research is principal adviser on security of the Speaker, the Clerk has services. The branch also provides matters, managing security for both procedural and managerial procedural advice to the Speaker the Legislature Chamber and responsibilities as well as oversees and Members. In addition, the constituency offices and liaising the delivery of nonpartisan branch is responsible for the with external intelligence, public services to Members and production of various House safety and security organizations. Albertans. This office is also and committee documents and responsible for interparliamentary records, including the Order relations, which involves Paper, Votes and Proceedings and PARLIAMENTARY organizing Alberta’s participation Journals. PROGRAMS in parliamentary associations, Parliamentary Programs helps co ‑ordinating Member CORPORATE SERVICES Albertans learn about and engage participation in conferences, in the parliamentary process. seminars and exchanges and Corporate Services oversees The branch oversees visitor and organizing nonpartisan programs support relating to financial educational programming and for incoming parliamentarians. management, office the use of visitor spaces and administration and property venues, including the interactive PARLIAMENTARY management, technology, Legislative Assembly Visitor telecommunications and COUNSEL Centre. The branch also manages audiovisual and broadcast the production of Alberta Hansard, The office of Parliamentary services. It also provides strategic the official transcript of Legislative Counsel provides legal advice communications, professional Assembly debates. and support on a broad range writing and design services. of issues, including questions LIBRARY SERVICES of procedure, contract law, HUMAN RESOURCE employment law and leases. SERVICES The Legislature Library serves Some members of the office as the parliamentary library serve as table officers, providing Human Resource Services for Members of the Legislative legal and procedural advice in provides customized human Assembly of Alberta. In addition the Assembly. The office also resource management, to providing access to collections offers legislative drafting services compensation and consulting of relevant information in several for private members bills and services to support the Legislative formats the branch also offers amendments tabled in the Assembly of Alberta. confidential and authoritative Assembly. research services. Responsibility for records management also resides within the branch. 10 Legislative Assembly of Alberta VISION, MISSION AND VALUES OUR VISION We strengthen parliamentary democracy for all Albertans. OUR MISSION • We provide nonpartisan support to the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly. • We uphold the values and traditions of the Legislative Assembly. • We manage change in a dynamic parliamentary environment. • We promote public awareness and engagement in the work of the Legislative Assembly. OUR VALUES Our values guide

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