The Weekly Roundup - December 18, 2023
The Legislature is adjourned until February. Due to legislation passed by the Kenney government, the Alberta Budget must be tabled before the end of February each year. Royal Assent was received for all government bills tabled in the fall session of the Alberta Legislature, with various coming into force dates.
The House of Commons and the Senate have both adjourned for their winter breaks, with the House scheduled to return on January 29 and the Senate on February 6.
We’ll be back in your inbox later this week with a summary of some of the top stories and themes for 2023 in federal and Alberta politics. Below, you’ll find the top federal and provincial stories of the week.
Top Federal Stories of the Week
The Liberal government has launched their $13-billion dental care program, with those under 18 and seniors to be the first to have routine dental costs covered in 2024. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh claimed the announcement was a victory for his party, pushed through only because of the NDP’s ongoing confidence-and-supply agreement with the governing Liberal party. Another key tenet of the agreement, a universal national pharmacare program, now has a new deadline, with a commitment from the Liberal government to produce legislation by March 1, 2024, with negotiations ongoing with the NDP.
As the fall session came to a close, some key bills of the Liberal government received Royal Assent including legislation on gun control, amending the Competition Act, bail reform, and the so-called Affordable Housing and Groceries Act.
Top Alberta Stories of the Week
Federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault and Premier Danielle Smith aren’t going to be on one another’s Christmas card lists following their recent junket to COP 28. Premier Danielle Smith's strong criticism, including issuing a public statement referring to Guilbeault as "treacherous" in response to his efforts at the international climate conference in Dubai has ratcheted the ongoing spat between the two politicians higher than ever, setting the stage for an ongoing fight regarding emissions reduction targets that will carry into 2024.
Federal, provincial and territorial finance ministers met in person on Friday, where the Canada Pension Plan and Alberta’s ongoing contemplation of an Alberta Pension Plan were among the topics discussed. Federal Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland did not provide a specific timeline for the results of the chief actuary’s analysis of Alberta’s proposed withdrawal from the CPP. The group also discussed housing and inflation, and received an economic outlook from Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem. Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner released a statement following the meeting focused on affordability, with no mention of pensions.