AB Today – Daily Report October 16, 2020

Quotation of the day

“Revenue covers a multitude of sins.” ​

Municipal Affairs Minister hints at changes to municipal revenue streams. ​ ​

Today in AB

Written by Catherine Griwkowsky

On the schedule The house will reconvene Tuesday, October 20, for the fall session.

In the legislature So long, $3.50 mini-breakfast. For the first time in eight years, the legislature cafeteria is raising ​ its prices.

Justice Minister met with ’s Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief ​ ​ Marlene Poitras to discuss on-reserve policing and the review of the Police Act. Madu also ​ ​ ​ hosted a meeting with Police Service Chief Dale McFee. ​ ​

Premier watch UCP political staffers are taking a seven per cent pay cut, a move expected to save the province about $1 million, Premier announced in Airdrie on Thursday. ​ ​

The salary pullbacks follow the 10 per cent pay cut the premier gave himself after taking office, and the five per cent pay cut administered to MLAs.

Kenney told reporters the UCP team is leading by example ahead of pending cuts to the public sector workforce.

“We expect everyone to play a part in helping get our finances back on track,” Kenney said, adding the economy has shrunk 20 per cent in five years, half of it due to the pandemic.

NDP Leader called it a “cheap political tactic” to distract from the fact the ​ ​ government plans to cut 11,000 public sector jobs, which she said are mostly filled by women and people of colour.

Minister plans to repeal Bill 10 in the spring session After months of meetings by a special committee, Health Minister has vowed to ​ ​ repeal the Public Health (Emergency Powers) Amendment Act next spring. ​ ​

The contentious law, commonly known as Bill 10, expanded emergency powers during the ​ ​ province’s state of public health emergency — which ended on June 15.

The government struck the all-party Public Health Act review committee after the Justice Centre ​ ​ ​ for Constitutional Freedoms launched a lawsuit and other groups, including the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, complained the law amounted to an overreach of cabinet authority because it allowed ministers to pass new laws without bringing them forward to the legislature.

In the early days of the pandemic, there was concern the legislature would not be able to sit for a sustained period, which would have hampered funding and legislation efforts, Shandro said.

“Over the last number of months, it has become clear that with the right safety protocols in place and standing orders that allow for the assembly to work quickly in an emergency situation, the power to modify legislation by ministerial order is unnecessary,” he explained.

Last month, NDP members of the special committee put forward a motion to scrap the law, but it was shot down by the committee’s UCP majority.

NDP Health critic David Shepherd also noted there is a policy motion on the docket for the ​ ​ UCP’s upcoming Annual General Meeting that also calls for its recall.

“Today’s announcement is a desperate attempt to spare Kenney and Shandro the embarrassment of being held accountable by their own UCP members,” Shepherd said. “There is no need to delay — repeal Bill 10 immediately.” ​ ​

NDP crafting election platform with an eye to the economy The NDP is starting work on a platform for 2023 that will provide an alternative vision for the province’s economy.

Speaking in the Calgary Tower on Thursday, NDP Leader Rachel Notley acknowledged the ​ ​ UCP won the last election based on economic policy — and said she wished she campaigned more on the economic diversification efforts the NDP employed while in government.

This time around, the New Democrats will take a “genuinely revolutionary” approach to economic diversification, Notley said.

The Opposition’s new economic discussion platform, dubbed “Alberta’s Future,” emphasizes the ​ ​ need to bolster new industries in preparation for the eventual end of oil and gas demand.

“Alberta’s advantage is not underground — it’s walking on top of it,” Notley said.

The NDP’s plan will centre around economic security, equality and diversification, as well as public investment and a strong public sector.

Asked by reporters whether she was worried the UCP government might poach some of the proposed plans, Notley replied, “have at ‘er.”

Many of the proposals are along the same lines as the economic diversification plans recently announced as part of the UCP’s recovery plan, such as hydrogen and geothermal development.

But Notley said the NDP vision for diversification would play out through government investments, not cutting corporate taxes and loosening environmental regulations.

“We cannot grow our economy by engaging in a race to the bottom,” she said.

When it comes to hydrogen development, Notley slammed the UCP’s slow-scale plan and said she will release a more detailed NDP version today.

Other discussion papers will be released over the coming weeks.

Today’s events

October 16 at 10 a.m. — Olds ​ ​ ​ Agriculture and Forestry Minister will make a farmer-led research ​ ​ announcement at Olds College Learning Commons.

October 16 at 3:30 p.m. — Edmonton ​ ​ ​ Chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw will provide a live update on the COVID-19 ​ ​ situation.

October 16 at 4:30 p.m. — Virtual ​ ​ The United Conservative Party will hold a policy debate over Zoom as part of its virtual AGM. ​ ​ Board elections and policy and governance motions can be voted on, also virtually, until 8 p.m. Saturday.

Upcoming events

October 17 at 10:45 a.m. — Virtual ​ ​ Former Conservative Party of Canada leadership candidate Leslyn Lewis will give an address ​ ​ and host a Q&A session at the UCP AGM.

October 17 at noon— Virtual ​ ​ Both Premier Jason Kenney and Conservative Party of Canada Leader Erin O’Toole will give ​ ​ ​ ​ addresses and host Q&A sessions with UCP members. Kenney will give another speech at 2:20 p.m. and participate in a bear pit session at 3 p.m.

October 17 at 1:05 p.m.— Virtual ​ ​ Justice Minister Kaycee Madu will speak at the UCP AGM, followed up by a panel with Energy ​ ​ Minister and Jobs, Economy and Innovation Minister . ​ ​ ​ ​

Topics of conversation

● There were 244 new cases of Covid confirmed yesterday. The increase brings the total number of active cases to 2,783 (up 94). There are now 101 people hospitalized (up one), including 16 in ICU (up three). Another person died, bringing the total to 288. ○ Current hospitalization numbers have exceeded the previous peak of 93 in July. ○ Interim Edmonton city manager Adam Laughlin announced new restrictions at ​ ​ city recreation facilities, including limiting capacity to 25 per cent. The city is also increasing Edmonton Transit Services levels to allow for greater physical distancing on its vehicles and ramping up cleaning protocols and mask enforcement. ○ The city remains under “enhanced” measures due to the number of COVID-19 cases.

● Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard will make an announcement “as early as next ​ ​ week” on the controversial proposed changes to the municipal linear assessment model. ○ The changes would allow struggling oil and gas operations to pay fewer taxes, a move municipalities decried as having a massive impact on their bottom lines. ○ Premier Jason Kenney, who was with Allard in Airdrie, applauded the city for ​ ​ having zero business tax and said he would look at incentives for other municipalities that keep tax rates low.

● Federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan announced Ottawa will unveil a ​ ​ small modular reactor (SMR) strategy this fall, saying nuclear power will be a part of hitting net zero emissions. The feds also pledged $20 million for an Ontario-based upstart. ○ In August, Premier Jason Kenney and Energy Minister Sonya Savage signed a ​ ​ ​ ​ Memorandum of Understanding with Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick to support the development of SMRs.

Funding announcements

Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction fund ● Environment and Parks Minister announced $10 million in TIER funding for ​ ​ the BioRefinex Biorefinery in Lacombe, as part of a $750-million spending spree from the ​ ​ fund. ○ The facility, which will begin construction next year, will cost $45 million and will use 45,000 tonnes of animal and plant waste to create fertilizer, biogas and other products.

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Ministry of Advanced Education ● The government announced $2 million in funding to transition the Alberta Irrigation Technology Centre and the Brooks Greenhouse over to Lethbridge College.

○ For its part, the University of Lethbridge will receive $1.8 million to transfer three agricultural research projects under the university’s umbrella.

Ministry of Transportation ● The government of Alberta and Airdrie are spending $83 million for an interchange at 40th avenue and a bridge at QEII in Airdrie. ○ Airdrie will spend $62 million, with $21.1 million coming from the province.

Lobbyist registrations

Consultants who registered, renewed or amended registrations from October 9 – October 15, 2020

● Dennis Burnside, The Capital Hill Group ​ ○ Clients: Sunchild First Nation ​

● Randy Pettipas, Elan MacDonald, Candice Laws and Glenn Monteith, Global ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Public Affairs ○ Clients: ACT Medical Centres ​

● Brianna Workman and Rob LeForte, Impact Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ ○ Clients: Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors ​

● Trisha Rinneard, Brad Tennant, Peter Csillag and Nick Koolsbergen, Wellington ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Advocacy Inc. ○ Clients: Samba Safety Inc.; CWB Welding Foundation ​

● Elan MacDonald, Yonathan Sumamo and Melissa Carvalho, Global Public Affairs ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ○ Clients: Restaurant Brands International Inc. ​

● Nick Koolsbergen, Brad Tennant and Peter Csillag, Wellington Advocacy Inc. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ○ Clients: Aware360 ​ Organizations that registered in-house lobbyists from October 9, 2020 – October 15, 2020

● Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc. ● Seven Generations Energy Ltd. ● TELUS Corporation ● JUUL Labs Canada Inc. ● Pfizer Canada ULC ● NOAH Water Technologies Inc. ● Canadian Energy Pipeline Association

● Natural Health Practitioners of Canada ● TC Energy Corporation

AB Today is written by Catherine Griwkowsky, reporting from the Alberta Legislative Press Gallery.

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