Alberta’s United Conservative government concluded the spring sitting of the legislature, passing 19 pieces of legislation that included significant measures affecting citizen engagement and public health.
Key Legislation Passed
- Citizen-Initiated Referendums: The government lowered the bar for citizens to initiate referendums.
- Addiction Treatment: New laws were introduced to mandate treatment for individuals struggling with addiction, even without their consent.
- Provincial Police Force: The groundwork was laid for establishing a provincial police force.
- Online Gambling Regulation: Laws regulating online gambling were enacted.
- Auto Insurance Overhaul: The provincial auto insurance scheme was revamped to resemble a no-fault system.
- Municipal Council Codes of Conduct: Municipal councils were stripped of their codes of conduct.
Financial Outlook
Premier Danielle Smith’s budget includes a long-promised tax cut while forecasting a $5.2 billion deficit. This deficit may increase further due to expected declines in oil prices below initial projections.
Political Changes
During the sitting, three caucus members departed from Smith’s team:
- Two left due to criticism of government actions.
- Speaker Nathan Cooper resigned after six years, transitioning to an ambassadorial role in Washington D.C. This marks another loss for the United Conservatives within four months.
Interim Appointments
- Tourism Minister Joseph Schow has taken on the role of Municipal Affairs on an interim basis until further notice.
Opposition Developments
The opposition NDP faced its own challenges with the resignation of MLA Rod Loyola, who stepped down last month ahead of the federal election but was subsequently dropped as a Liberal candidate.
Cabinet Changes
Former Infrastructure Minister Peter Guthrie resigned from cabinet amid allegations related to a health-care contract scandal and was later expelled from caucus due to ongoing criticism. He joined two other former ministers, including Deputy Education Minister Mike Ellis, who are now independent MLAs outside UCP ranks.
Controversial Amendments
Justice Minister Mickey Amery tabled amendments regarding Bill 54 at the end of the sitting. These amendments reintroduced corporate and union donations and reduced the investigation timeframe from one year. This has sparked controversy, particularly concerning its potential impact on Indigenous communities. Additionally, recent developments have led some separatists to call for an Alberta secession referendum next year if enough signatures are collected under the lowered threshold set by the bill.
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