The Weekly Roundup - March 31, 2023
The Legislature ended its spring session late last week and currently isn’t set to resume until well after the spring election on October 30. The House of Commons will be on a two week constituency break following a busy stretch that included the U.S. Presidential visit and tabling of the budget. Former Conservative party leader Erin O’Toole announced today that he will be resigning as an MP this spring following the end of the spring session.
Below, you’ll find the top federal and provincial stories of the week, key announcements made and a wrap up on provincial legislation passed since our last edition.
Top Federal Stories of the Week
The carbon tax will climb by $15 to $65/tonne tomorrow, and the opposition Conservatives will use the increase to drive home how unaffordable life has become under the Trudeau government. Helping their case is a new report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer estimating that most households will see a net loss when fiscal and economic impacts of the federal fuel charge are considered.
The Federal Budget was tabled on Tuesday, and with the House now rising for two weeks, you can bet your bottom dollar that Liberal and NDP MPs alike will be touting key planks of the document, including dental care. If you missed New West’s budget analysis earlier this week, you can read through here.
Look for a date to be set in the next two weeks for the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Katie Telford to testify for two hours before a House of Commons Committee regarding what information the Prime Minister’s Office had on attempts at Chinese interference in Canada’s electoral process.
Top Alberta Stories of the Week
Online videos have landed more than one UCP candidate, including leader Danielle Smith, in hot water this week. A leaked phone call between the Premier and Artur Pawlowski, a Calgary street pastor and now former leader of the Independence Party of Alberta has called into question the Premier’s judgment. Smith issued a defiant statement about the leaked conversation. NDP Leader Rachel Notley wants an independent investigation into the matter. Lethbridge-West UCP candidate Torry Tanner was forced to resign this week following attention garnered by a video she posted claiming children are exposed to pornography in schools.
With attention on missteps from the UCP slate of candidates, the decisions by some sitting MLAs to not run again become all the more important. Finance Minister Travis Toews and Environment Minister Sonya Savage both announced late last week they will not be seeking re-election. The UCP war room needs to double down on candidate vetting to ensure no further ‘bozo eruptions’ before more Albertans turn their attention to the election.
As April sets the groundwork for the actual campaign being called in May, take note of where the two party leaders are spending their time over the next month. Smith will be traversing the province for fundraising dinners in Calgary, Cochrane and Lethbridge over the next few weeks. April 18 will see the two leaders participating in a conversation with Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek that may give the first hint at what the election’s debate will look like.
Government Legislation Recap
All government bills introduced during the spring sitting of the Legislature received Royal Assent on March 28. Additionally, one private members’ bill from outgoing MLA for Drayton Valley - Devon Mark Smith received Royal Assent, creating a silver alert for seniors or adults with a cognitive impairment similar to the Amber Alert for missing children.
Key Government Announcements
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne has approved the Rogers Communications $26 billion takeover of Shaw with conditions.
Alberta’s government is investing more than $210 million over three years to improve and expand campgrounds and trails in the province.
More key planks of the UCP’s 2023 budget were highlighted including municipal funding, supporting regional economic development alliances, providing affordable housing, making adoption more affordable, supporting Francophone education, planning for a standalone Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton and fighting rural crime.
Many appointments were made to various agencies, boards and commissions through Order in Council.
Upcoming Events Calendar
May 29, 2023: The next Alberta Provincial General Election is scheduled to be held
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