Legislative Reports Ric McIver (Calgary-Hays) and Premier Prentice holds both Thomas Lukaszuk (Edmonton- the Aboriginal Relations Castle Downs). Although and the International and not elected to the Legislative Intergovernmental Relations Assembly at the time, as the portfolios. Robin Campbell leader of the governing party (West Yellowhead), previously in the province, Mr. Prentice the Minister of Sustainable was sworn in as Alberta’s 16th Resource Development, was Premier on September 15, 2014. appointed the Minister of Finance On October 18, 2014, the and President of Treasury Board. Alberta New Democratic Party Diana McQueen (Drayton (NDP) leadership race saw over Valley-Devon) moved from 3,500 votes cast to select the Energy to Municipal Affairs, Alberta 8th leader of the party. Having while Frank Oberle (Peace River) received approximately 70 per went from Aboriginal Relations to Energy, and Manmeet Prorogation of the 2nd Session cent of the votes cast, Rachel Bhullar (Calgary-Greenway) of the 28th Legislature Notley (Edmonton-Strathcona) won a majority over competitors moved from Human Services to In a departure from the David Eggen (Edmonton-Calder) Infrastructure. Other ministers practice of proroguing on the and Rod Loyola. Ms. Notley’s changing portfolios include day prior to the commencement father, Grant Notley, was a Heather Klimchuk (Edmonton- of a new session, the 2nd Session former MLA and also the leader Glenora), going from Culture to of the 28th Legislature was of the Alberta NDP from 1968 Human Services and Jeff Johnson prorogued on September 18, until his death in a plane crash in (Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater) 2014, and a Proclamation was 1984. leaving Education to take on issued for the commencement of the Seniors’ portfolio. Kyle a new session on November 17, Changes to Cabinet Fawcett (Calgary-Klein) changed 2014. Prorogation in Alberta has On September 15, 2014, ministries to Environment not lasted for more than one day Premier Prentice announced his and Sustainable Resource since March of 1984. Cabinet. In addition to reducing Development leaving a vacancy in the Jobs, Skills, Training Leadership Contests the size of Cabinet, the Premier appointed unelected individuals and Labour portfolio, to which On September 6, 2014, the to lead two government the Premier appointed fellow leadership contestant . Progressive Conservative (PC) ministries. Stephen Mandel Ric McIver Association of Alberta held (former Mayor of Edmonton) Ministers maintaining their its leadership vote. Although became the Minister of Health previous portfolios include technical glitches and access and Gordon Dirks (former Verlyn Olson (Wetaskiwin- challenges with the online voting MLA for Regina Rosemont, Camrose) with Agriculture and system used by the PC Party were Saskatchewan, and former Rural Development, Jonathan reported, the majority victory for Chair of the Calgary Board of Denis (Calgary-Acadia) as Jim Prentice (former Member Education) was appointed the Minister of Justice and Solicitor of Parliament for Calgary North Minister of Education. General, and Wayne Drysdale Centre), with over 75 per cent of (Grande Prairie-Wapiti) the vote, went unchallenged by In addition to being President of Executive Council, with Transportation. Private the other leadership contenders, Members Maureen Kubinec CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/WINTER 2014 47 (Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock) Four by-elections were held former Premier Redford used and Stephen Khan (St. Albert) in Alberta on October 27, 2014, government aircraft for partisan were appointed to Cabinet, in three of which were contested or personal travel. Ultimately the the Culture and Tourism and by the unelected members of report concluded that in 2012 the the Service Alberta portfolios, Cabinet. With a voter turnout government fleet travel cost $3.9 respectively. Don Scott (Fort of approximately 40 per cent, million more than what the travel McMurray-Conklin), a former the governing PCs won in all would have cost if driving and Associate Minister, will now four electoral districts. Premier comparable commercial air travel lead the Ministry of Innovation Prentice won with a majority in alternatives had been used. and Advanced Education. Three Calgary-Foothills, Mr. Mandel In addition to evaluating the associate ministers are also won Edmonton-Whitemud by a use of government aircraft, the included in the new Cabinet, large margin of approximately Auditor General’s report also with Teresa Woo-Paw (Calgary- 40 per cent of the vote, while confirmed information on plans Northern Hills) responsible for Mr. Dirks (Calgary-Elbow) and to construct a personal apartment Asia Pacific Relations,Naresh Calgary police officerMike Ellis for the Premier and her daughter. Bhardwaj (Edmonton-Ellerslie) (Calgary-West) each won their Often referred to as the “Sky continuing in his role for Persons respective constituencies by Palace”, the suite was to be built with Disabilities, and David smaller margins of fewer than 800 on the Legislature grounds in Dorward (Edmonton-Gold Bar) and 400 votes respectively. the building that is currently assigned to Aboriginal Relations. Caucus Change undergoing renovations to October 2014 By-Elections supply offices and other facilities After citing concerns about to MLAs, their support staff as Vacancies were created the party’s leadership and well as some government staff. in the Assembly resulting resigning from both Cabinet from the resignation of four and the PC caucus in March, Committee Activity Members, including two former Donna Kennedy-Glans (Calgary- On August 5, 2014, the Premiers. On August 6, 2014, Varsity) rejoined the PC caucus Standing Committee on Resource Alison Redford announced on September 17, 2014. Stewardship released its report her immediate resignation as Investigation into Government on Bill 201, Agricultural Pests a Member of the Legislative (Fusarium Head Blight) Amendment Assembly, leaving a vacancy Use of Aircraft and Government Offices Act, 2014, which was filed with in the constituency of Calgary- the Assembly as an intersessional Elbow. Then on September On August 7, 2014, the Auditor deposit. The report recommends 12, 2014, outgoing Premier General of Alberta released the against the Bill receiving second Dave Hancock (Edmonton- results of his investigation into reading but also suggests that Whitemud) announced he would the Government’s use of aircraft the Ministry of Agriculture and be retiring as Premier and as an including the Government’s fleet Rural Development consider a MLA. His resignation became of airplanes. The investigation review of the Agricultural Pests effective September 25, 2014. was initiated in March of 2014 Act as it pertains to Fusarium The next day another member at the request of then-Premier graminearum (FHB). Due to of the government caucus, Ken Redford. prorogation, the Bill has been Hughes (Calgary-West), resigned The Auditor General’s report removed from the Order Paper. from the Legislative Assembly. indicated the former Premier had Three days later, Independent The Standing Committee derived a personal benefit on on Alberta’s Economic Future Member Len Webber (Calgary- several occasions by bringing her Foothills), formerly a member continued working on its daughter with her on government review of Bill 9, Public Sector of the government caucus, aircraft flights and that instances resigned. Mr. Webber will be Pension Plans Amendment Act, had been found in which false running in the next national 2014, and Bill 10, Employment passengers were booked on Pension (Private Sector) Plans election representing the government flights to ensure federal Conservative party in Amendment Act, 2014. In addition the Premier and her entourage to the stakeholder presentations the Calgary-Confederation would travel alone. The report constituency. and public meetings held in also identified times in which the spring, the Committee 48 CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW/WINTER 2014 also received over 450 written participate, the meeting was provides for the continuation of submissions from members held on the University of Alberta Halifax’s IWK Health Centre as a of the public, unions, and campus with an afternoon start separate entity and the collapsing other organizations. Following time. In addition, the meeting of all other existing health prorogation, work on the review featured a special presentation authorities into one provincial ceased on September 18. The on sovereign wealth funds from health authority. The contentious government has announced it Randall Morck, a professor with portions of the bill that caused will not reintroduce either of the the School of Business at the much debate in the House of Bills in the next session. University of Alberta. Interested Assembly were labour provisions During the spring sitting members of the public were regarding employees affected by the Assembly passed the Child, encouraged to submit their the merger. Youth and Family Enhancement comments and questions about Second reading debate Amendment Act, 2014, which the Fund to the Committee in commenced at 7:00 a.m. on repealed the publication ban person, by phone, or online via September 30, and the second regarding the identity of email or Twitter. A live broadcast reading vote took place at children who die while receiving of the meeting was also available approximately 5:20 p.m. that provincial intervention services online and on television, with evening. The Bill was then and requires that any related the television broadcast