The Weekly Roundup - 2023 Year in Review

As another year draws to a close, it’s time for New West Public Affairs’ Year in Review edition of the Roundup. Thank you, dear reader, for subscribing and for your interest in our insights and analysis on top political stories both in Alberta and federally.

You know the drill; press play on some Bing Crosby or Darlene Love, light a fire (or put the fireplace channel on your TV), and join us as we dive into some of the top stories in Alberta and federal politics in 2023.  

Top Federal Stories of 2023

Affordability crisis
Affordability and inflation consistently polled as top issues for Canadians in 2023. Whether it was the lack of affordable housing, rising grocery prices, or the threat of impending rate hikes from the Bank of Canada, Canadians were looking to the Liberal government to offer solutions to their pocketbook concerns. Some steps were taken by the Trudeau government to address the affordability crisis, including tasking the skillful Atlantic MP Sean Fraser with the housing file and introducing legislation on stabilizing grocery store prices. However, it was the ability of Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party of Canada to capitalize on the affordability crisis and make the issue their own as they soared in the polls that will be remembered as the year ends. Poilievre has consistently tapped into the very real concerns of everyday Canadians about affordability, and the middle-class dream of home ownership that feels out of reach for so many. To keep riding their popularity wave, the CPC will be expected to continue offering tangible solutions to affordability concerns in 2024.
 
Carbon tax carve-out
The surprise carve-out from the Liberal government’s carbon tax for home heating oil in late October showed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blinking on the universality of his signature climate policy. The carve-out was excoriated by both the opposition Conservatives and NDP, as well as from a unified front of Canada’s Premiers criticizing the unfair discrepancy of current carbon pricing measures. While the Prime Minister has repeatedly stated that there will be no additional carve-outs, you can expect provincial and federal politicians alike to continue pushing for further carbon tax suspensions in 2024.
 
Foreign interference
The issue of foreign interference in Canada’s electoral system is a story that has spanned the entirety of the 2023 calendar year. The saga has taken place through explosive stories in the Globe and Mail, at the Parliamentary Committee level, through the appointment and resignation of Special Rapporteur David Johnston, and with the launch of a public inquiry into foreign interference this fall. The Commission will hold public hearings in early 2024, with an interim report due by the end of February that will keep the story in the headlines into the new year.
 
Speaker spotlight
The role of Speaker of the House of Commons is steeped in tradition and upholding the rights and privileges of the members of the chamber. A Speaker is typically associated with their traditional robes and refereeing between politicians. Outside of the Ottawa bubble or in their home constituency, many Canadians would be more likely to identify the Assistant Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs than the current Speaker. That changed this fall when Speaker Anthony Rota resigned following his invitation and honouring of a 98-year-old constituent who fought with the Nazi Waffen-SS Galicia Division during the official visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the House of Commons. In turn, Greg Fergus was elected as the first Person of Colour to hold the position in Parliament, but has also faced a bumpy road during his first months in the role, being forced to apologize for filming a video for the outgoing leader of the Ontario Liberal Party in his traditional Speaker’s robes.

Top Alberta Stories of 2023
 
Danielle Smith forms majority government
In a hotly contested provincial election between United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith and NDP Leader Rachel Notley, the race was won by the incumbent UCP with the party holding onto enough seats in battleground Calgary and demonstrating a strong showing outside of Alberta’s two major cities. It’s been a whirlwind two years for Danielle Smith, going from political commentator to launching a formidable leadership campaign to take the top seat within the party, guiding a previously fractured caucus through a General Election, and presenting a strong front to the grassroots membership at this fall’s AGM.
 
Renewables pause
One of the first major policy announcements of the newly formed UCP government under Premier Danielle Smith was to announce in August a 6-month moratorium on approvals of new renewable electricity generation projects. The move took many in the industry by surprise and has the potential to have a long-standing impact on investor confidence in the jurisdiction, especially when competing for investment dollars across North America. With the end of moratorium looming, the future of regulatory policy for renewables in Alberta is sure to be a major story in 2024 as well.
 
Fight with the feds
It’s a tale as old as time in Canadian politics; the push and pull of Alberta independence while also wanting to have a prominent seat at the table in Confederation. The federal government’s proposed emissions cap with a 2035 timeline has been a major source of consternation for Premier Danielle Smith, and she has found her foe in Federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault. While former UCP Premier Jason Kenney often used Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as his foil, Premier Smith seems content to focus her missives at Guilbeault while maintaining productive working relationships with other members of the Trudeau government. Smith took her Sovereignty Act out for a test drive earlier this fall; we’ll see if she attempts to further utilize the legislation (and defend its constitutionality) in 2024.
 
Pension plan proposed
This fall, the Smith government released a long-awaited report on the possibility of establishing an Alberta Pension Plan with the claim that the province would be entitled to $334-billion in assets from the CPP. The topic was taken to Albertans in a series of telephone town halls and met with doubts in the asset number, along with strong opposition to the idea of withdrawing from the CPP. The NDP have recognized the issue as a great one to rally their own troops; they’ve held a series of in-person town halls across the province, mobilizing a great deal of supporters. For the time being, the proposal is on pause, while Albertans and Canadians alike await the financial estimates from the feds’ chief actuary.

That’s all for our look back to the year that was in 2023. Wishing you a safe and peaceful holiday season. We’ll be back with our look ahead for the top political stories of 2024 early in the new year.