DOCSLIB.ORG

AB Today – Election Report April 1, 2019

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
AB Today – Election Report April 1, 2019 AB Today – Election Report April 1, 2019 Quotation of the day “We're going to have to maintain some discipline to start paying down debt.” UCP Leader Jason Kenney releases a fully costed platform that relies on a four-year ​ ​ spending cap. Day 14: Today on the campaign trail On the schedule The spring election will be held on April 16. Advanced polling will take place between April 9 and April 13. The campaign’s official leaders’ debate will take place this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and will be carried on TV, radio and online. Notley campaign On Friday, NDP Leader Rachel Notley was in Sherwood Park where she made an ​ ​ announcement about seniors’ prescription costs. Under a re-elected NDP government, the province would cover the copay costs for all seniors bringing in less than $75,000 per year. On Sunday, Notley released her party’s full platform at the Belgravia Community League in the riding of Edmonton—Riverview where NDP incumbent Lori Sigurdson is running against the ​ ​ UCP candidate Karamarie Barker, Alberta Party candidate Katherine O’Neil and Liberal ​ ​ ​ ​ candidate Inderjeet Singh Randhawa. ​ ​ On Monday, Notley will be in Calgary at Workshop Studios. Kenney campaign UCP Leader Jason Kenney released the UCP’s platform on Saturday at a rally at Spruce ​ ​ Meadows equestrian facility just outside of Calgary. On Monday, Kenney will mark the first day of the federal government’s mandatory carbon pricing system at an Edmonton gas station. Mandel campaign Alberta Party Leader Stephen Mandel talked forestry at a private home in Edmonton on Friday, ​ ​ announcing a new campaign promise to create a new forestry technology and research institute. On Saturday, Mandel made an announcement about killing the carbon tax for the middle class, door knocked with Edmonton—Castle Downs candidate Mohamad Rahall, and attended a ​ ​ Métis jamboree dance in the riding of Lac Ste. Anne—Parkland. ​ On Sunday, Mandel stopped in at the Italian Centre in Edmonton and spent the afternoon door knocking in his riding of Edmonton—McClung. Khan campaign Alberta Liberal Party Leader David Khan spent Friday door knocking and meeting with ​ ​ candidates and unveiled an anti-poverty platform that includes instituting a basic income program. In the polls A fresh EKOS poll shows the gap between NDP Leader Rachel Notley and UCP Leader Jason ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Kenney has narrowed by nine points since February. ​ When asked, “If a provincial election were held tomorrow, which party would you vote for?,” 46 per cent of respondents said they would vote for the United Conservative Party, and 42 per cent said they would go NDP. In February, Ekos had the UCP leading with 50 per cent support, compared to 37 per cent for the NDP. The survey also shows the parties nearly tied in the battleground of Calgary (the UCP has a three point lead), while the NDP dominates in Edmonton by 23 points. The UCP is still polling well above the NDP in southern and rural Alberta. Meanwhile, forty-nine per cent of respondents said Notley would make the best premier, compared to 42 per cent who chose Kenney. The leaders have switched places since Ekos’ February poll where 45 per cent said Kenney would make the best premier, compared to 44 per cent for Notley. The Alberta Party gained one point this month, moving up to six per cent support, while the Liberal Party dropped from three points to two. The FCP held steady at three, while the Green Party dropped from two points to one. The poll was commissioned by Unifor and released on Sunday. UCP, NDP drop platform documents, unleash new promises With two weeks left to go in the election campaign, both the United Conservative Party and the NDP unveiled fully costed platforms this weekend. While both platforms centre around job creation, the two leading parties have different ideas on how best to support the economy and finance the province’s future growth. UCP platform calls for four years of austerity The UCP released its 118-page platform Saturday, promising to eliminate the deficit by holding ​ ​ spending for the next four years. The jam-packed document opened with a six-page letter from Leader Jason Kenney ​ bemoaning the “hard time” the NDP government has caused Alberta’s families and job creators, and promising “a vision for something better.” As previously promised, the UCP would cut the corporate tax rate by one-third to eight per cent and would eliminate the carbon tax — measures it is relying on to boost investment and job creation in the province by enough to compensate for billions in lost revenues. The platform relies on fiscal projections from Stokes Economics, which projected a $7.4 billion deficit in 2019-20, higher than the $6.9 billion projected in the NDP’s recent fiscal update. By capping the province’s spending at $48.9 billion per year, the UCP says it can turn that into a $714 million surplus by 2022-23. What’s new: ● A UCP-led government would introduce an Alberta Infrastructure Act to establish an alternative financing system that prioritizes the use of public-private partnerships in infrastructure design and development. It would also table a 20-year Strategic Capital Plan for Alberta. ● It would complete a review of the Alberta Energy Regulator within six months of taking office with an eye to reducing the number of days it takes for energy projects to be approved. ● On the environmental file, it would remove the cap on oilsands emissions, extend the coal plant phase-out and remove incentives for renewable energy projects. ● A new TIER fund will collect taxes from large industrial emitters and funnel them into an innovation fund, general revenues and the UCP’s planned “war room” against anti-oilsands crusaders. ○ The TIER fund will generate $146 million in revenues in 2019-20, increasing to $570 million in 2020-21. The cost of emissions will drop from the current $30 per tonne to $20 per tonne. ● The UCP would spend $1 million annually on an “Security Infrastructure Program” that would provide funds to religious groups and minorities at risk of hate crimes to install fencing, security cameras, alarm systems, gates, lighting and other security measures at their places of worship. ● A proposed Freedom to Care Act would provide red tape exemptions for charitable and non-profit organizations. Kenney would also launch a Premier’s Charities Council that would advise on how to improve civil society groups. A $20 million annual Civil Society Fund would be created via funds from Alberta Lotteries to help achieve the council’s recommendations. ● The need to address abandoned oil wells got a brief mention — with the UCP planning to ask Ottawa for financial support and tax incentives to assist in the cleanup and reclamation of unused wells. It also proposes a pro-industry approach to overhauling the liability management framework for end-of-life wells, to ensure “liabilities are covered without unduly discouraging new investment.” Labour groups were outraged by the UCP’s plan to change overtime laws, which would give employers the option of paying banked hours at a regular rate instead of time-and-a-half pay. NDP Platform NDP Leader Rachel Notley released her party’s platform Sunday, which she says builds on her ​ ​ ​ ​ government’s four-year legacy of creating jobs, defending public services and diversifying the economy. Compared to the UCP’s spending cap, the NDP would allow annual spending to increase to $66.4 billion in four years. At that point, the party projects it would be running at $2.9 billion deficit. In the comparatively brief 52-page document, Notley re-committed to getting the Trans Mountain pipeline built; upping spending for her Made-in-Alberta plan to build the upgrading and refining industry; reducing surgical and emergency room wait times; capping child care fees at $25 per day; building 70 new schools with 1,000 new support staff and teachers; and investing in 2,000 new long-term beds. She says this can all be done while balancing the budget by 2023-24. What’s new: ● A re-elected NDP government would launch a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers to recoup the costs of the opioid addiction crisis while expanding access to addictions treatment centres. ● It would implement a ban on conversion therapy in accordance with the recommendations of the Conversion Therapy Working Group, whose work is already underway. The NDP also promised to create a provincial Hate Crimes Unit. ● It would create a new Ministry of Multiculturalism, which will work on education and the promotion of diversity, inclusion and respect. The NDP also promised to modernize charitable gambling rules to remove barriers faced by multicultural groups looking to access revenue from running casinos and bingos. ● It would found a new small business investment office to streamline regulations and to offer support to new and growing businesses. The party also promised to attract and retain high-tech investment and grow the value-added agriculture, food processing, and film and television production industries. ● On democratic reform, the party vowed to give the Elections Commissioner’s office greater latitude to publicize its investigations, to increase the “cooling off period” for cabinet ministers to two years, to update Freedom of Information and Privacy legislation, and to cap spending limits for party leadership races. ● It would create a “Hometown Alberta” infrastructure fund to replace aging community infrastructure, like hockey rinks. ● It would spend $15 million on an “Attainable Homes” program to provide down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, while also funding 4,000 new affordable housing units. The total cost for the NDP’s promised new initiatives will start at $349 million annually this year, rising to $866 million by 2023-24 — that doesn’t include the $10 billion in costs associated with leasing railcars for oil transport or spending under the Climate Leadership Plan, which were combined as a single line item in the platform’s fiscal plan.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Legislative Assembly of Alberta the 29Th Legislature First Session Special Standing Committee on Members' Services
    Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 29th Legislature First Session Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Wednesday, February 24, 2016 1 p.m. Transcript No. 29-1-2 Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 29th Legislature First Session Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Wanner, Hon. Robert E., Medicine Hat (ND), Chair Schmidt, Marlin, Edmonton-Gold Bar (ND), Deputy Chair Cooper, Nathan, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills (W) Cortes-Vargas, Estefania, Strathcona-Sherwood Park (ND)* Fildebrandt, Derek Gerhard, Strathmore-Brooks (W) Luff, Robyn, Calgary-East (ND) Malkinson, Brian, Calgary-Currie (ND)** McIver, Ric, Calgary-Hays (PC) McLean, Stephanie V., Calgary-Varsity (ND) Nielsen, Christian E., Edmonton-Decore (ND) Nixon, Jason, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre (W) Piquette, Colin, Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater (ND) Schreiner, Kim, Red Deer-North (ND) van Dijken, Glenn, Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock (W)*** * substitution for Marlin Schmidt ** substitution for Stephanie McLean *** substitution for Derek Fildebrandt Also in Attendance Clark, Greg, Calgary-Elbow (AP) Jabbour, Deborah C., Peace River (ND) Support Staff W.J. David McNeil Clerk Allison Quast Executive Assistant to the Clerk Bev Alenius Chief of Staff to the Speaker Robert H. Reynolds, QC Law Clerk/Director of Interparliamentary Relations Shannon Dean Senior Parliamentary Counsel/ Director of House Services Brian G. Hodgson Sergeant-at-Arms Al Chapman Manager, Visitor Services Cheryl Scarlett Director of Human Resources, Information Technology and Broadcast Services Scott Ellis Director and Senior Financial Officer, Financial Management and Administrative Services Jacqueline Breault Manager, Corporate Services, Financial Management and Administrative Services Darren Joy Manager, Financial Services, Financial Management and Administrative Services Janet Schwegel Managing Editor of Alberta Hansard Transcript produced by Alberta Hansard February 24, 2016 Members’ Services MS-17 1 p.m.
    [Show full text]
  • Legislative Assembly of Alberta the 29Th Legislature Second Session
    Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 29th Legislature Second Session Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Friday, November 25, 2016 9:02 a.m. Transcript No. 29-2-3 Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 29th Legislature Second Session Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Wanner, Hon. Robert E., Medicine Hat (ND), Chair Cortes-Vargas, Estefania, Strathcona-Sherwood Park (ND), Deputy Chair Cooper, Nathan, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills (W) Dang, Thomas, Edmonton-South West (ND) Fildebrandt, Derek Gerhard, Strathmore-Brooks (W) Fitzpatrick, Maria M., Lethbridge-East (ND)* Jabbour, Deborah C., Peace River (ND) Luff, Robyn, Calgary-East (ND) McIver, Ric, Calgary-Hays (PC) Nixon, Jason, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre (W) Piquette, Colin, Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater (ND) Schreiner, Kim, Red Deer-North (ND) Yao, Tany, Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo (W)** * substitution for Kim Schreiner ** substitution for Derek Fildebrandt Support Staff Robert H. Reynolds, QC Clerk Jessica Dion Executive Assistant to the Clerk Alex McCuaig Chief of Staff to the Speaker Shannon Dean Law Clerk and Director of House Services Karen Sawchuk Committee Clerk Brian G. Hodgson Sergeant-at-Arms Cheryl Scarlett Director of Human Resources, Information Technology and Broadcast Services Scott Ellis Director and Senior Financial Officer, Financial Management and Administrative Services Janet Schwegel Managing Editor of Alberta Hansard Transcript produced by Alberta Hansard Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Participant Ministry of Treasury Board and Finance Mark Day, Executive Director, Risk Management and Insurance November 25, 2016 Members’ Services MS-87 9:02 a.m. Friday, November 25, 2016 management and insurance, on up-to-date coverage provided under Title: Friday, November 25, 2016 ms the plan.
    [Show full text]
  • REPORT on the Agenda 6 Consultations / Lobbyist Update 7
    JANUARY 18, 2019// VOL.3 ISSUE 2 THE INSIDE THIS ISSUE: News Briefs 2 Who’s Doing Business With Government? 2 2019 Election Candidate Update 3-6 REPORT On the Agenda 6 Consultations / Lobbyist Update 7 THE CLOCK IS SET The Spring Sitting of the Legislature is scheduled to begin March 18th, with a Speech from the Throne. Whether the house will sit beyond that date – and if so, for scheduled for the weekend of February 15 - 17 in Edmonton. how long – or even arrive at that date before an election is Expect both parties to approach the end of February with called remains a matter of much debate. some strong economic messaging, ahead of the government’s According to the newly released legislative calendar, a scheduled third-quarter fiscal update. It’s expected to be less 12-week session would run until the first week of June and rosy than the last. It’s possible the NDP could look to release include three constituency breaks. This will of course be that information sooner than later – ahead of the Family Day interrupted by an election, which must occur between May 1 long weekend perhaps – in the hope that it gets lost by the and March 31. torrent of economic and political news coming at month’s end. Those making election projections have much to consider. If judging by precedent alone, this coming session marks a This includes the National Energy Board’s February 22 later start than normal for the NDP. With the exception of TMX review deadline, key federal by-elections that will its inaugural Throne Speech in June 2015 following their impact the federal election, and the provincial government’s historic election, government has delivered the speech in handling of expressions of interests for oil refinery projects – and around the onset of March, rather than the middle – and the deadline for which is February 8.
    [Show full text]
  • Views with Question Order in the Preceding Report Starting at Page Five Fieldwork/Validation Live Supervision to Validate Work
    Alberta Provincial Election Ballot support as of April 13, 2019 United Conservatives 44.3%, NDP 36.4%, Alberta Party 12.0% > 12.1 Percent Report Likely to Change Vote Survey released April 15, 2019 NANOSNANOS SURVEYSURVEY SUMMARY To follow are the results of a Globe and Mail/Nanos Survey completed on Saturday April 13th with three days In the last left before election day. This should be considered an estimate of opinion for the period up to Saturday. In weekend of the experience of Nanos, election preferences may change in the closing days of the election factoring the momentum of the campaigns and the events of the closing weekend. Likewise, this survey estimates the election popular support within the margin of error and not the number of seats which could be won by the the UCP has respective provincial parties. This study was completed on Saturday and, of note, 12.1 percent of voters the advantage report they are likely to change their vote in the ballot • BALLOT - As of Saturday the UCP has an eight point lead over the NDP among decided voters (UCP 44.3%, NDP 36.4%, Alberta Party 12.0%, Liberal Party 3.2%, Freedom Conservatives 2.2%, Other 1.9%). numbers Undecided voters stood at 15.7% as of Saturday. The UCP leads comfortably among male voters and the UCP and NDP are in a tight race among female voters. Also of note, the NDP lead among voters under 35 years of age while the UCP leads among voters over 35 years of age. • VOTE CHANGE – Sixty four percent (64.0%) of voters report they are unlikely to change their vote while Research 7.0 percent say they are somewhat unlikely, 10.2% are somewhat likely to change their vote and 12.1% suggests report they are likely to change their vote.
    [Show full text]
  • AB Today – Daily Report January 9, 2019
    AB Today – Daily Report January 9, 2019 Quotation of the day “I personally will be devoting more time to advocating for Alberta on the national stage through as many means as I possibly can.” Former Wildrose leader Brian Jean teases plans for his political future during a Facebook Live ​ ​ pregnancy announcement with his wife Kim. Today in AB On the schedule The government has not committed to holding a spring legislative session or to tabling a budget before next year’s election, which must be held between March 1 and May 31, 2019. Should no changes to the parliamentary calendar be made, the House will resume on February 12. Province to release photo radar report this month A long-awaited report on the future of photo radar in the province will be released by the end of this month, according to Transportation Minister Brian Mason’s office. ​ ​ In a statement to AB Today, a spokesperson for the minister confirmed the results of the review ​ ​ — which launched more than two-and-a-half years ago — will be released alongside an announcement about the province’s plans for the file. Minister Mason announced the photo radar study in 2017 to ensure the devices are improving ​ ​ road safety and not just serving as a revenue tool for municipalities. Mason originally claimed the review would be completed by fall of that year, but the province ​ waited until March 2018 to hire a consultant. On Tuesday the minister’s office said the report’s release was delayed while the government continued “to consider how best to operationalize the results of our study.” Also Tuesday, Freedom Conservative Party Derek Fildebrandt held a press conference calling ​ ​ ​ for an immediate end to the use of non-red light cameras and releasing his party’s own policy ​ report on the devices.
    [Show full text]
  • Alberta Counsel Newsletter Issue 99 2020
    THE ISSUE Alberta’s Premier Review of 99 NEWS Politics and Government Vitality JANUARY/2020 from UNPRECEDENTED DECADE IN ALBERTA POLITICS Jim Prentice, although victorious, renounced his seat right after the provincial election, sending Calgary Lougheed voters to the polls for the 3rd time in roughly one year. In the September 3, 2015 by-election they elected Prassad Panda of the COMES TO AN END Wildrose Party. Tragedy struck in the fall of 2015 with the unfortunate death of former Cabinet Minister Manmeet Bhullar. Robert Reynolds, Q.C. He was killed in a traffic accident on Highway 2 around Red Deer when he attempted to help a motorist during a snowstorm and was struck himself. His successor in Calgary-Greenway was Prab Gill who ran as a PC, but would ultimately become an Independent amidst accusations of participating in voter irregularity. How amazing were the 2010s in Alberta politics? The decade saw the demise of the Progressive Conservative Party, which had governed Alberta from 1971 – 2015. It saw the first NDP government in the province’s history, which also turned out to Undoubtedly the biggest political move during the period was the creation of the United Conservative Party (UCP) from the merger of the PC and Wildrose parties. Jason Kenney won the leadership by defeating Wildrose Leader Brian Jean and now Senior Editor: Pascal Ryffel be the only one-term government since Alberta entered Confederation and became a province in 1905. There were 6 Minister of Justice Doug Schweitzer. The resignation of long-time PC and then UCP MLA Dave Rodney led to Kenney Publisher: Alberta Counsel premiers in the decade (Stelmach, Redford, Hancock, Prentice, Notley and Kenney).
    [Show full text]
  • AB Today – Daily Report May 9, 2019
    AB Today – Daily Report May 9, 2019 Quotation of the day “I’ve got a young family, I’ve got a life ahead of me that doesn’t involve the colonoscopy of partisan politics and media.” Ex-Freedom Conservative Party leader Derek Fildebrandt announces his successor David ​ ​ ​ White outside of the legislature. ​ Today in AB On the schedule The province’s NDP caucus will be sworn in next Monday, May 13, in the legislative chamber. Official Opposition Leader Rachel Notley is expected to announced her shadow cabinet by the ​ ​ end of the week. The UCP MLA-elects who are not a part of cabinet will be sworn in on the first day of the upcoming session, May 21. The Speaker election will take place on May 21; the government’s throne speech will be delivered on May 22. Premier Watch Premier Jason Kenney released a statement on the 71st anniversary of the creation of the ​ ​ state of Israel, mourning the continued pervasiveness of anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli sentiments across the world. At the Legislature The Elizabeth Fry Society, an organization that advocates for female inmates, held a peaceful demonstration on the legislature’s grounds Wednesday calling for an end to strip searches in prisons. Dueling protests are planned on the legislature grounds today as the anti-abortion “March for Life” faces off against counterprotestors from the “March for Lies” on the 50th anniversary of legalization of abortion in Canada. New ministers coy during inaugural media scrums Alberta’s new cabinet ministers were met by the media on the way into their first meeting in the legislative building Wednesday afternoon.
    [Show full text]
  • AB Today – Daily Report January 18, 2019
    AB Today – Daily Report January 18, 2019 Quotation of the day “It didn’t get a lot of coverage, but Albertans deserve to know that ‘user fees’ on infrastructure can mean one thing and one thing only: tolls.” Premier Rachel Notley warns UCP Leader Jason Kenney plans to introduce infrastructure tolls ​ ​ ​ ​ on bridges and roads. Today in AB On the schedule The Legislature will reconvene on March 18 for the government’s final throne speech before the spring election. Today’s events January 18 at 10 a.m. – Edmonton ​ Education Minister David Eggen, Indigenous Relations Minister Richard Feehan and ​ ​ ​ ​ Government House Leader Brian Mason will be at Ben Calf Robe school to announce plans to ​ ​ give every junior high and high school in the province a copy of the Canadian Geographic ​ Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. January 18 at 1 p.m. – Edmonton ​ NDP MLA Lorne Dach will speak at the official opening of the Edmonton Veterans Service ​ ​ Centre. Premier Rachel Notley accuses UCP of plotting mass infrastructure tolls Premier Rachel Notley is warning Albertans that UCP Leader Jason Kenney has plans to ​ ​ ​ ​ unleash a spree of road and bridge tolls across the province in order to fund new infrastructure. While addressing an audience of energy industry stakeholders in Edmonton Thursday, Notley pointed to a November speech Kenney made to the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce where he said new infrastructure projects could be paid for via user fees. “It didn’t get a lot of coverage, but Albertans need to know that ‘user fees’ on infrastructure can mean one thing and one thing only: tolls.” “I will say ‘no’ every time to tolls,” Notley said, admonishing the revenue-generation proposal.
    [Show full text]
  • Mla Directory
    MLA DIRECTORY Airdrie Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater Banff-Cochrane Mrs. Angela Pitt (W) Mr. Colin Piquette (ND) Mr. Cameron Westhead (ND) Constituency Office Constituency Office Constituency Office 209 Bowers Street B-4705 49 Avenue 102, 721 Main Street Airdrie, AB T4B 0R6 Athabasca, AB T9S 0B5 PO Box 8650 Phone: 403.948.8741 Phone: 780.675.3232 Canmore, AB T1W 0B9 Toll-Free: 1.888.948.8741 Fax: 780.675.2396 Phone: 403.609.4509 Fax: 403.948.8744 Email:athabasca.sturgeon.redwater@assembl Toll-Free: 1.866.760.8281 Email: [email protected] y.ab.ca Fax: 403.609.4513 Email:[email protected] Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock Battle River-Wainwright Bonnyville-Cold Lake Mr. Glenn van Dijken (W) Mr. Wes Taylor (W) Mr. Scott Cyr (W) Mailing Address Constituency Office Constituency Office Box 4250 123 - 10 Street Box 5160 Barrhead, AB T7N 1A3 Wainwright, AB T9W 1N6 #2, 4428 - 50 Avenue Phone: 780.674.3225 Phone: 780.842.6177 Bonnyville, AB T9N 2G4 Fax: 780.674.6183 Fax: 780.842.3171 Phone: 780.826.5658 Email:barrhead.morinville.westlock@a Email:[email protected] Fax: 780.826.2165 ssembly.ab.ca Email:[email protected] Calgary-Acadia Calgary-Bow Calgary-Buffalo Hon. Brandy Payne (ND) Member Deborah Drever (ND) Hon. Kathleen Ganley (ND) Constituency Office Constituency Office Constituency Office #10, 8318 Fairmount Drive SE 6307 Bowness Rd NW #130, 1177 - 11 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2H 0Y8 Calgary, AB T3B 0E4 Calgary, AB T2R 1K9 Phone: 403.640.1363 Phone: 403.216.5400 Phone: 403.244.7737 Fax: 403.592.8171 Fax: 403.216.5402 Fax: 403.541.9106 Email:[email protected] Email:[email protected] Email:[email protected] Calgary-Cross Calgary-Currie Calgary-East Hon.
    [Show full text]
  • December 13, 2018
    AB Today – Daily Report December 13, 2018 Quotation of the day “A radical overhaul of Confederation is necessary if the political class want to stop an Alberta exit.” Freedom Conservative Party Leader Derek Fildebrandt on growing discontent within certain ​ ​ circles of Alberta that has re-opened conversations about separatism. Today in AB On the schedule The House is now on winter break until February. The government has not committed to holding a spring legislative session or to tabling a budget before next year’s election, which must be held on or before May 31, 2019. The following bills were given royal assent by Lieutenant Governor Lois Mitchell: ​ ​ ● Bill 19, An Act to Improve the Affordability and Accessibility of Post-secondary ​ Education; ● Bill 22, An Act for Strong Families Building Stronger Communities; ​ ● Bill 23, An Act to Renew Local Democracy in Alberta; ​ ● Bill 24, An Act to Recognize AMA Representation Rights; ​ ● Bill 25, Canyon Creek Hydro Development Act; ​ ● Bill 26, An Act to Combat Poverty and Fight for Albertans with Disabilities; ​ ● Bill 27, Joint Governance of Public Sector Pension Plans Act; ​ ● Bill 28, Family Statutes Amendment Act; ​ ● Bill 29, Public Service Employee Relations Amendment Act; ​ ● Bill 30, Mental Health Services Protection Act; ​ ● Bill 31, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act; and ​ ● Bill 32, City Charters Fiscal Framework Act. ​ Alberta’s carbon emissions cap regulations won’t be in place before next election Alberta’s Oil Sands Emissions Limit Act has been law for two years, but regulations to enact the legislation won’t be in place by the time Albertans head to the polls.
    [Show full text]
  • 2018 Election Report Card: Will the Trudeau Government Deliver on Its Raised Expectations?
    2018 ELECTION REPORT CARD: WILL THE TRUDEAU GOVERNMENT DELIVER ON ITS RAISED EXPECTATIONS? By Shane Mackenzie & Jesse Robichaud Three years on from 2015 – campaign strategists are turning their attention to the 2019 federal election. For Prime Minister Trudeau’s incumbent Liberals, the strategic path to re-election will look different than the party’s vault from third place to a resounding pan-Canadian victory last time. The Way Things Were The promise of hope and renewed confidence in government was palpable when voters turned out en masse to elect MPs from Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party. The mere idea that “better is always possible!” gained traction with an electorate whose expectations had been steadily managed downward by the Harper government’s “no nonsense” decade at the helm. A previously struggling Liberal voter base came to life when the party’s candidates and their leader framed their platform of “real change” promises as a return to openness, evidence-based policy, climate action, large-scale investment, reconciliation, equality, support for families, and diversity. The Way Things Are No good deed goes unpunished, and for Trudeau there will undoubtedly be a political price to pay for raising the bar for what voters should expect from their government. Indeed, the success standard set for Trudeau is higher than in some past elections. And he set it himself. Once the bar has been raised, it’s impossible to lower it again – and it’s also harder to clear it consistently, as we have seen with issues like electoral reform, climate policy, pipelines, and relations with provincial governments.
    [Show full text]
  • Legislative Assembly of Alberta the 29Th Legislature Second Session
    Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 29th Legislature Second Session Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Monday, September 26, 2016 9:04 a.m. Transcript No. 29-2-1 Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 29th Legislature Second Session Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Wanner, Hon. Robert E., Medicine Hat (ND), Chair Cortes-Vargas, Estefania, Strathcona-Sherwood Park (ND), Deputy Chair Anderson, Shaye, Leduc-Beaumont (ND)* Cooper, Nathan, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills (W) Dang, Thomas, Edmonton-South West (ND) Fildebrandt, Derek Gerhard, Strathmore-Brooks (W) Horne, Trevor A.R., Spruce Grove-St. Albert (ND)** Jabbour, Deborah C., Peace River (ND) Luff, Robyn, Calgary-East (ND) McIver, Ric, Calgary-Hays (PC) Nixon, Jason, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre (W) Piquette, Colin, Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater (ND) Schreiner, Kim, Red Deer-North (ND) * substitution for Estefania Cortes-Vargas ** substitution for Thomas Dang Also in Attendance Clark, Greg, Calgary-Elbow (AP) Office of the Chief Electoral Officer Participant Glen Resler Chief Electoral Officer Support Staff Robert H. Reynolds, QC Clerk Jessica Dion Executive Assistant to the Clerk Bev Alenius Chief of Staff to the Speaker Shannon Dean Law Clerk and Director of House Services Karen Sawchuk Committee Clerk Brian G. Hodgson Sergeant-at-Arms Cheryl Scarlett Director of Human Resources, Information Technology and Broadcast Services Scott Ellis Director and Senior Financial Officer, Financial Management and Administrative Services Valerie Footz Legislature Librarian Janet Schwegel Managing Editor of Alberta Hansard Transcript produced by Alberta Hansard Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Participant Ministry of Treasury Board and Finance Mark Day, Executive Director, Risk Management and Insurance September 26, 2016 Members’ Services MS-53 9:04 a.m.
    [Show full text]