The Weekly Roundup - December 9, 2022
Canada's premiers will hold a virtual news conference today as children's hospitals across the country, including in Alberta struggle to deal with a wave of child illnesses. Alberta’s two children’s hospitals have been at capacity while dealing with a surge in flu, RSV and COVID-19. The surge comes at a time when the provincial government has banned school mask mandates.
With the Sovereignty Act passing Third Reading late in the night earlier this week, the Legislature will continue trucking along with the other decidedly less controversial bills that were introduced. There are no other government bills currently on the Order Paper set to be introduced.
Rachel Notley had her portrait from her time as Premier unveiled at the Legislature on Thursday, in a ceremony that current Premier Danielle Smith missed.
Below, you’ll find a recap of government legislation introduced and debated, government announcements made and Orders in Council passed since our last edition.
Government Legislation Recap
Bill 1: Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act
Stage: Third Reading passed on division December 7, 2022
Notes: Following significant amendments to the legislation to narrow the scope of the term “harm” and clarify the powers given to cabinet to make amendments are limited to regulations, and do not include the power to amend legislation, Bill 1 passed after time allocation was invoked earlier this week. After calls from Opposition Leader Rachel Notley to do so, Premier Danielle Smith has said she will not send the legislation to the courts to determine its constitutionality. Treaty Chiefs have also called for the legislation to be withdrawn.
Bill 2: Inflation Relief Statutes Amendment Act, 2022
Stage: Second Reading adjourned December 8, 2022
Notes:The legislation and supporting regulations would allow the government to carry out the Affordability Action Plan including expanding utility rebates, enacting electricity price protection over the winter, making personal income tax indexation retroactive to the 2022 tax year, suspending the provincial fuel tax and delivering upcoming targeted relief payments to families, seniors and vulnerable Albertans.
Bill 3: Property Rights Statutes Amendment Act, 2022
Stage: Second Reading passed December 8, 2022
Notes: Bread and butter for the UCP’s rural contingent, the bill would abolish the ability of squatters to make a claim and give private landowners the same protections once only reserved for government. Currently, adverse possession allows a person who has occupied another person’s land for 10 years to claim ownership of that land.
Bill 4: Alberta Health Care Insurance Amendment Act, 2022
Stage: Second Reading passed December 7, 2022
Notes: If passed, the bill would repeal Section 40.2 of the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act which allows the government to terminate compensation-related agreements with the Alberta Medical Association.
Bill 5: Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2022 (No. 2)
Stage: Second Reading adjourned December 7, 2022
Notes: This omnibus legislation covers off a number of files within the justice ministry, including allowing more claims to be dealt with through the provincial court, allowing future increases to the civil claims limit in the provincial court up to $200,000 (previous amount was $50,000), allowing the Legislative Assembly Security Service to carry firearms in the legislature building and surrounding precinct and making it easier to collect child and spousal support payments from ex-partners and spouses who live across the country. A full overview of the changes made in the legislation can be found here.
Bill 6: Police Amendment Act, 2022
Stage: First Reading passed December 8, 2022
Notes: The legislation would establish an independent agency, the Police Review Commission, to handle complaints against the police, establish formal civilian bodies in all Alberta jurisdictions policed by the RCMP, require police to develop community safety plans and diversity and inclusion plans, expand the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team’s (ASIRT) mandate to include cases involving peace officers employed by the province and municipalities and create standardized categories of complaints against police. A full overview of the changes made in the legislation can be found here.
Government of Alberta Announcements
The new Affordable Housing Partnership Program is open for applications until mid-January to help public, non-profit and private sectors work together to build and deliver affordable housing for seniors, families, individuals with low incomes, developmental disabilities, physical challenges, victims of violence, and others.
To combat the shortage of children’s pain and fever medicine, the province has secured five million bottles of children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen for Alberta families.
Population surveys indicate a sharp decline in trees killed by mountain pine beetle for the fourth consecutive year.
Alberta’s government and its municipal and federal partners are investing about $7 million in an east-central Alberta irrigation expansion project.
The government is funding an additional $270,000 for micro-credential programs to help Albertans develop the skills they need.
Orders in Council
OC 388/2022: Makes the Procedures (Occupational Health and Safety Code) Amendment Regulation by repealing certain penalties associated with the Occupational Health and Safety Code effective March 31, 2023.
OC 389/2022: Makes the Utility Commodity Rebate Amendment Regulation.
OC 390/2022: Makes the Practice Review of Teachers and Teacher Leaders Amendment Regulation including a Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers and Teacher Leaders coming into force January 1, 2023.
OC 391/2022: Makes the Election Act Forms Amendment Regulation.