Well, we certainly aren’t mailing it in with this lengthy Monday morning edition of the Roundup.

It was a busy and chaotic week in Canadian politics with the Liberal government announcing a confidence and supply deal with the NDP that if held to by both sides will see the Liberals remain in power until 2025 and major policy planks of the NDP platform fulfilled including pharmacare and dental care.

Much like other provincial governments, the Saskatchewan Government presented a better-than-expected fiscal plan for 2022-23. With higher non-renewable resource revenues, increased tax revenue from higher incomes and PST receipts, and real GDP growth projected at 3.7% for 2022, both debt and deficit figures have dramatically improved.

You can never accuse Alberta politics of being uneventful. While the Legislature continues chugging along on week three of a four week stretch, it is certainly not the centre of attention in Alberta politics these days.

The Legislature continues to sit this week as the second week in a four week stretch gets underway with estimates continuing many ministries including Health, Energy and Executive Council. While attention will be on the Legislature, what is happening up Highway 63 in Fort McMurray with the conclusion of the byelection is sure to garner much attention on Tuesday.

Leadership races, real and imagined, have caught the imagination of conservative activists while distracting many in the halls of the Alberta Legislature. The entrance of former Quebec Premier to the Conservative Party of Canada leadership race caused many tongues to wag about a contest some assumed had already been sewed up by Ottawa MP Pierre Poilievre.

As expected, the past week has been chock-full of good news budget announcements from the government. Consideration of estimates begins today for the budget, which is a line by line look at each ministry at the committee meeting setting. Of course, there is also speculation of an early election.

After a very busy first week back in the Alberta Legislature, MLAs are now back in their ridings for a constituency week, with UCP MLAs tasked with sharing the good news found in the budget tabled Thursday. You can expect a slew of announcements highlighting some of the key initiatives from cabinet ministers and the Premier.

Without a doubt Budget 2022 and Tuesday’s Speech from the Throne were aimed at working class people like Larry, core supporters of the United Conservative Party.

New West Public Affairs’ Monte Solberg, Matt Solberg, Keith McLaughlin and Sonia Kont are joined by public opinion pollster Janet Brown to break down Budget 2022 and what it means for Albertans.

Yesterday, the Honourable Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, delivered the Government of Alberta’s Speech from the Throne. Highlights include, further diversification, building hospital capacity, creating a hydrogen centre, exploring an Alberta Pension Plan and more.