The Weekly Roundup - February 23, 2023
There’s nothing like a long weekend to get a government firing on all cylinders to publish items that they’d prefer to quickly go away.
That was the case on Friday of last week with the federal government tabling both the Emergencies Act inquiry final report (all 2000-plus pages worth) and the release of their Sustainable Jobs Plan which is a framework for transitioning workers to a green economy.
If you want to hear an interesting conversation featuring New West’s Partner Keith McLaughlin regarding attack ads and their role and effectiveness in politics, you can listen to the Alberta at Noon conversation from earlier this week on CBC here.
On February 28th at 4 pm, New West Public Affairs is hosting a live webinar to present an exclusive first take on Budget 2023! The highly anticipated pre-election budget will outline major funding announcements and provide insight into the UCP’s strategy heading into the spring election.
Below, you’ll find a recap of the top federal and provincial stories of the week, government announcements made and Orders in Council passed since our last edition.
Top Federal Stories of the Week
The Emergencies Act inquiry final report was tabled on Friday, and central to the report’s determination that the use of the Act was required were the activities that occurred in Alberta at the Coutts border crossing. Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro released a statement on the report, sharing that the Alberta government maintains that federal consultation with provinces was inadequate and invocation of the Act sets a dangerous precedent.
If you listen to Premier Danielle Smith, the Sustainable Jobs plan is puzzling and her government continues to have grave concerns; if you read the interim plan in its entirety, it’s a rather dry read establishing governance and accountability before the real work begins in 2025. The plan also takes time to note that while the term “just transition” is the recognized language internationally for plans like this, “sustainable jobs” will be the vernacular in Canada (that won’t stop the UCP government from using the just transition terminology when framing the Trudeau government).
CSIS documents reported on by the Globe and Mail late last week show attempts made by the Chinese government to influence the 2019 and 2021 elections. The Prime MInister has responded by saying he expects an investigation into the leaks that led to the story, rather than focusing on creating a foreign agents’ registry, similar to what exists in other nations like the United States and Australia. On Tuesday, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs voted to expand the scope of the current study on foreign election Interference.
Top Alberta Stories of the Week
Like a little Advent calendar of goodies leading up to Christmas day, the UCP government is slowly releasing good news items from Budget 2023, set to be tabled February 28. You can expect to see the UCP continuing to use the Budget to frame some of the key items they’d like to run on in this spring’s election, including growing the economy, creating jobs and improving the province’s health care system.
Speaking of health care, one of the key announcements last week came from the government’s Health Care Action Plan with the release of a Health Workforce Strategy and a promised $158 million in Budget 2023. With the agreement between Alberta and the feds to boost health care funding by more than half a billion dollars tentatively agreed to, you can expect to see more announcements in the coming weeks. On Tuesday, the UCP government announced there would be $2 billion in health care spending - a record investment - in next week’s budget. The more positive health care stories for the UCP government, the better for them as the NDP tries to also paint their vision for health care in the province.
Government of Alberta Announcements
Minister of Health Jason Copping issued a statement on two reports released by Alberta’s auditor general on seniors care in long-term care and COVID-19 in continuing care facilities.
Premier Smith issued a statement regarding rehabilitating problematic oil and gas sites and clearing up some public misconceptions about her government’s work on the file including ongoing consultation and a pilot program under consideration.
Borrowing from the federal tradition of keeping former Supreme Court Justices busy on panels and writing reports, former Supreme Court Justice John C. Major and economist and former AHS board member Jack Mintz are among five new members appointed to the Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel.
Fourteen Indigenous community-owned businesses are receiving a share of $5 million in grants through the Aboriginal Business Investment Fund.
Grande Prairie is in the final stages of deciding to create a municipal police service, and in Budget 2023 the provincial government will provide $9.7 million over two years toward the costs associated with starting a local police service.
The Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association has released its 2022 annual report and the Alberta government took the opportunity to highlight record investment in Alberta’s tech sector.
A Recovery Expert Advisory Panel has been created and will provide ongoing advice for one year regarding best practices for recovery-oriented systems of care as well as inform policy and standards in the field.
Through the new Ukrainian Student Benefit, Alberta’s government will provide $1.5 million to post-secondary institutions to continue providing financial supports for Ukrainian newcomers.
The government announced $38 million in funding through the Community Facility Enhancement Program and the Community Initiatives Program to help enhance public facilities and non-profit community programs.
A new advisory panel led by David Yager will develop a long-term vision for Alberta’s energy future.
Premier Smith wrote a follow up letter to the Prime Minister following their in-person meeting earlier this month, pushing for cooperation on growing the energy sector and focusing on emissions reductions.
Licensed family day home agencies can apply for funding through the province’s $50-million Child Care Space Creation Grant program.
As part of Budget 2023, government plans to cap domestic tuition increases at two per cent at post-secondary schools in 2024-25 and for future academic years along with other supports for students.
Expect to see a lot of politicians named Olivia and Noah in 30 to 40 years, as those names once again topped the list of baby names in Alberta for 2022.
The provincial government is providing more than $4 million to the Calgary Drop-In Centre to create dynamic overdose response teams and establish 35 medical detox and pre-treatment beds.
Demolition of the former Edmonton Remand Centre is expected to be completed by 2025 to make space for new developments in downtown Edmonton.
With a $200,000 grant, a “triple-track” assessment pilot project will establish an Alberta assessment facility for internationally educated nurses and allow them to apply with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta.
A 12-week pilot partnership between the Alberta Sheriffs and the Calgary Police Service to provide 12 sherrifs will begin in late February to help deter and respond to crime and social disorder.
The provincial government is providing an additional $10 million this year to help Grade 1 students who need help catching up to grade level in the areas of foundational math and literacy.
As part of the Budget 2023 Capital Plan, Alberta’s government would provide the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton with $4 million to help fund its renewal project.
Orders in Council
OC 22/2023: Appoints Catherine D. Douglas as the Health Advocate for a term to expire on February 14, 2026.
OC 23/2023: Effective July 9, 2023, reappoints Kristi Natalie Sebalj as a member of the Alberta Utilities Commission for a term to expire on July 8, 2028; effective April 3, 2023, appoints Michael Arthur as a member of the Alberta Utilities Commission for a term to expire on April 2, 2028.
OC 24/2023: Effective April 3, 2023, nominates Dennis Frehlich and Doug Hawkins as persons from among whom acting members of the Alberta Utilities Commission may be selected, each for a term to expire on April 2, 2028.
OC 25/2023: Exempts the appointment of Dr. Yuri L. Metelitsa, Dr. Rory Cunniam Sellmer and Dr. John Robert Tuttle as psychiatrist members to a roster of eligible persons to act as members of any review panel established under section 34 of the Mental Health Act from the application of section 14(2) of the Alberta Public Agencies Governance Act; exempts the appointment of Gordon G. Shields as a public member to a roster of eligible persons to act as members of any review panel established under section 34 of the Mental Health Act from the application of section 14(2) of the Alberta Public Agencies Governance Act.
OC 26/2023: Appoints Catherine D. Douglas as the Mental Health Patient Advocate for a term to expire on February 14, 2026.
OC 27/2023: Effective February 19, 2023, reappoints M. (Mary) Carol Ryder as chair of The Board of Governors of Alberta University of the Arts for a term to expire on February 18, 2024; effective February 19, 2023, reappoints Sheila Taylor as a member of The Board of Governors of Alberta University of the Arts for a term to expire on February 18, 2026.
OC 28/2023: Effective June 1, 2023, reappoints Garth Rowswell, MLA, as a member of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities for a term to expire on February 14, 2026; effective July 1, 2023, reappoints Heath Birkholz as a member of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities for a term to expire on June 30, 2026; appoints Jackie Lovely, MLA, and Jacob George McGregor as members of the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities, each for a term to expire on February 14, 2026.
OC 29/2023: Proclaiming the Public’s Right to Know Act in force on February 15, 2023.
OC 30/2023: Makes the Designation and Transfer of Responsibility Regulation.
OC 31/2023: Repeals section 63.1, termination pay after temporary layoff for reasons related to COVID‑19, of the Employment Standards Code on February 16, 2023.
OC 32/2023: Designates land in southwest Edmonton as a provincial park to be known as Big Island Provincial Park.
OC 33/2023: Makes the Student Financial Assistance Amendment Regulation.
OC 34/2023: Rescinds Order in Council numbered O.C. 12/2023, appointing Lionel Richard Robert Chartrand as a judge of The Provincial Court of Alberta.
Upcoming Events Calendar
February 28, 2023: Alberta Legislature Session scheduled to resume with Budget 2023
February 28, 2023: New West Public Affairs Budget 2023 live webinar. Register here.
March 6, 2023: House of Commons resumes sitting
March 7, 2023: Senate resumes sitting
May 29, 2023: The next Provincial General Election is scheduled to be held
The provincial pre-election period acts as a rare, opportune moment for organizations to be heard. As the UCP and NDP look to the May 29th election, both sides of the aisle are listening — and listening hard. It will be instrumental for companies across the province to engage with and catalyze the support of champions from both parties, with the help of a strong and strategic government relations plan.
Because of this advantageous time in Alberta politics, New West is launching Lighthouse: a unique pre-election offering that makes government relations accessible and affordable. Lighthouse is a subsidized version of our full suite of government relations & public affairs services, tailored to the provincial election.