AB Today – Daily Report March 3, 2020
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AB Today – Daily Report March 3, 2020 Quotation of the day “Chocolate almonds are not going to fix the $121-million hole that this premier has just left.” During question period, NDP Leader Rachel Notley slams the government’s plan to use an additional $100 million in own-source funding, such as vending machines and fundraisers, to pay for a gap in the education budget. Today in AB On the schedule The house will convene at 10 a.m. The following government bills could be debated at second reading: ● Bill 1, Critical Infrastructure Defence Act; ● Bill 2, Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Amendment Act; ● Bill 3, Mobile Home Sites Tenancies Amendment Act; and ● Bill 4, Fiscal Planning and Transparency (Fixed Budget Period) Amendment Act. Finance Minister Travis Toews could also introduce Bill 5, Fiscal Measures and Taxation Act, which is related to budget implementation. Monday’s votes and proceedings MLAs debated private members’ motions, with no new private members bills introduced. UCP MLA Shane Getson’s motion, urging the government to establish transportation and utility corridors, was passed (Ayes 35; Nays 10). Getson rejected an amendment from NDP MLA for St. Alberta Marie Renaud that would have required consultation with Indigenous people and a climate assessment for such corridors. MLAs also passed Government Motion 8 without debate, which recommends that Del Graff be reappointed for another term as child and youth advocate. MLAs then resumed debate on the consideration of the throne speech. In the legislature Family members of Jack Ady, a former three-term Progressive Conservative MLA and former advanced education minister who died in November, were in the gallery as the legislative assembly remembered him. Alberta firefighters who went to Australia to fight wildfires were also recognized in the gallery. Committees this week UCP MLA for Calgary—Fish Creek Richard Gotfried’s private member’s Bill 201, Strategic Aviation Advisory Council Act, will be discussed at the Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members’ Public Bills in the Rocky Mountain Room of the Federal Building today at 7:15 p.m. Budget estimates will be heard at committee this week in the Rocky Mountain Room and Parkland Room on the second floor of the Federal Building until Thursday. Premier watch Premier Jason Kenney was in Leduc for a funding announcement on orphan well cleanup. At the announcement, he expressed frustration at the impact coronavirus has had on global energy demand. “I won’t hide it: it frustrates me that I think we’re doing everything that we reasonably can to get this economy moving again,” Kenney said. “And yet we’re being sideswiped by global events that are beyond our control.” Kenney confirmed he and Energy Minister Sonya Savage cancelled a planned trip to Houston, Texas, next week for CERAWeek, the world’s largest energy conference. The conference was cancelled due to concerns over the coronavirus. Kenney told reporters to stay tuned in the next few weeks for an announcement on pipeline ownership. Premier announces $100 million in loans for orphan well cleanup Premier Jason Kenney announced Alberta will extend its loans to the Orphan Well Association (OWA) by $100 million, a move the government says it expected to create 500 direct and indirect jobs. The loan extension is expected to allow the OWA to decommission 1,000 wells and start environmental site assessments for reclamation of another 1,000 wells. “This taxpayer investment will create good-paying jobs while improving the environment,” Kenney said, speaking at Savanna Well Servicing in Leduc on Monday morning. “Actions like this will help to get Alberta back to work.” The Association previously received an interest-free $235-million loan from the province in May 2017, when the NDP were in power. It began repaying in 2019 through the orphan fund levy. The government and the OWA are still finalizing specific loan terms and conditions for the new funds, including a repayment schedule. The government and OWA say the investment will be completed before April 1, 2021. Lars De Pauw, executive director of the OWA, told reporters Monday that last year the organization reclaimed about 800 wells and is on track to reclaim 1,000 this year. With the additional funding, the OWA expects to reclaim 2,000 next year. De Pauw said the focus for well cleanup will be on private land in the southern area of the province. He said there are currently approximately 6,500 sites in the OWA’s inventory. The OWA is an industry-funded organization that collects levies through the Alberta Energy Regulator. In November 2019, Finance Minister Travis Toews wrote to his federal counterpart Bill Morneau asking for funding and tax instruments to help with the growing problem of orphan well cleanup. In January, the CBC estimated the total liabilities of orphan wells in Alberta to be $30.1 billion. At that time the Alberta Energy Regulator only held $227 million in securities. Meanwhile, Energy Minister Sonya Savage said the government will have an announcement in the coming weeks about a restructuring across the lifeline of oil and gas well projects from regulatory approval to reclamation. Kenney made the announcement as part of his “blueprint for jobs” plan that the UCP government is rolling out through five “pillars.” The pillars generally include support of business, red tape reduction, building infrastructure, skill development and “selling Alberta to the world.” NDP Opposition leader Rachel Notley told reporters in the legislature that the continuation of her government’s loans for the OWA is a good move, but said the government’s blueprint has “no new ideas.” “It’s a doubling down on a series of plans that have been associated with a loss of 50,000 full-time jobs,” Notley said. Today’s events March 3 at 8:30 a.m. — Edmonton The UCP cabinet will meet in the cabinet room of the legislature. March 3 at 11 a.m. — Stand Off Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer and Mental Health and Addictions Associate Minister Jason Luan will make an announcement for funding for the Bringing the Spirit Home Safe Withdrawal Management Site. March 3 at 11:45 a.m. — Edmonton Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women Minister Leela Aheer will kick off Alberta Francophonie Month at the Federal Building. Upcoming events March 7 at 5 p.m. — Edmonton Black Canadian Women in Action is hosting a Black Girls Leadership celebration, which will be attended by NDP MLA David Shepherd and NDP women’s issues critic Janis Irwin at the Evergreen Ballroom of the Holiday Inn conference centre Edmonton South. Topics of conversation ● The UCP government, once against decriminalizing impaired driving, is considering the move, the Toronto Star reports. ○ In 2018, the previous NDP government considered a move to adopt policies similar to British Columbia and Manitoba that allow officers greater discretion in laying charges, particularly for first-time offenders. ○ Instead, officers can give administrative penalties or focus on rehabilitation over punishment in the justice system. ○ While in opposition, the UCP MLA Mike Ellis told representatives with Mothers Against Drunk Driving at the time he was “outraged” at the thought of decriminalizing impaired driving, the Star reports. ● The head of Red Deer-based oil company X-Site Energy Services is apologizing and recalling stickers made of a cartoon version of Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg being sexually assaulted. ○ Previously, X-Site Energy Services general manager Doug Sparrow denied the decals came from his company and defended the stickers by saying Thunberg is 17 and “not a child.” ○ The RCMP said the decals do not constitute child pornography and charges will not be laid. ● Following an announcement from the Southern Alberta Institute for Technology that it would lay off 10 per cent of its staff, or 230 people, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) said in an internal blog that it will cut between 190 and 240 positions. ○ Advanced Education critic David Eggen told reporters ahead of question period students will “vote with their feet” by choosing not to go to post-secondary institutions in the province. ● The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada is taking feedback on a proposal by Suncor to extend its base mine project three kilometres north of Fort McMurray. ○ Suncor CEO Mark Little said the current base is expected to be depleted by 2035 and they are filing the expansion application more than a decade before it is needed. ● MEG Energy is asking the Alberta Energy Regulator for a three-year delay in the regulatory approval process for its May River project, which would have added 164,000 barrels per day when fully constructed, the Globe and Mail reports. ○ The energy company sent a letter to the provincial regulator late last year, citing economic challenges in the province. ● Children’s Services Minister Rebecca Schulz confirmed eliminating the early childhood education accreditation process as a red tape reduction measure. ○ The province will still license child care centres and dayhomes, which includes licensing officers enforcing safety rules and regulations. ○ “Eliminating accreditation lets child care providers spend more time with kids and families,” Schulz said in a written statement. ○ Under the early childhood education program, child care workers received wage top ups tied to their accreditation. ○ She told reporters on Monday that all licensed workers will qualify for wage increases, which was the highest priority for child care workers. ○ NDP Leader Rachel Notley said people understand the assurance of quality is the priority for people looking for child care. ○ “We do not want to move back to a ‘buyer beware’ model of child care,” Notley said. “Our kids deserve better.” ● The Alberta Fire Chiefs Association says the ministry of Municipal Affairs is cutting a $500,000 grant used for training.