30th Alberta Legislature
The 30th Alberta Legislative Assembly was constituted after the general election on April 16, 2019. The United Conservative Party, led by Jason Kenney, won a majority of seats and formed the government. The New Democrats, led by outgoing Premier Rachel Notley, won the second most seats and formed the official opposition.[1] The premiership of Jason Kenney began on April 30, 2019 when Jason Kenney and his first cabinet were sworn in by Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Lois Mitchell.
| 30th Alberta Legislature | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Majority parliament | |||
| May 21, 2019 – present | |||
 | |||
| Parliament leaders | |||
| Premier (cabinet) | Jason Kenney (Kenney cabinet) April 30, 2019 – Present | ||
| Leader of the Opposition | Rachel Notley April 30, 2019 – Present | ||
| Party caucuses | |||
| Government | United Conservative Party | ||
| Opposition | New Democratic Party | ||
| Legislative Assembly | |||
| Speaker of the Assembly | Nathan Cooper May 21, 2019 — present | ||
| Government House Leader | Jason Nixon April 30, 2019 — Present | ||
| Opposition House Leader | Deron Bilous May 13, 2019 – Present | ||
| Members | 87 MLA seats | ||
| Sovereign | |||
| Monarch | Elizabeth II February 6, 1952 – present | ||
| Lieutenant Governor | Hon. Lois Mitchell June 12, 2015 - present | ||
| Sessions | |||
| 1st Session 22 May 2019 – 2020 | |||
| 2nd Session 25 February 2020 – | |||
| |||
First session
Among the legislation adopted during the first session of the 30th Legislature, An Act to Repeal the Carbon Tax (Bill 1) repealed the Climate Leadership Act and its carbon levy, Bill 2 amended the Employment Standards Code and the Labour Relations Code to change how overtime hours are calculated from time-and-a-half to straight time, reduced the minimum wage for workers aged 13 to 17 to $13 an hour (from $15 an hour) and changed rules for union certification processes,[2] Bill 26 exempted the Labour Relations Code from applying to farming or ranching employees and exempted farms with less than five employees from the Employment Standards Code and the requirement to hold workplace insurance,[3] Bill 8 replaced the School Act with the Education Act which, among other changes, included eliminating of certain protections of gay–straight alliances and eliminating the restriction on the number of charter schools that are permitted,[4][5] and Bills 7 and 29 amended the Municipal Government Act to allow individual municipalities to offer tax deferrals or exemptions for the purpose of encouraging the development of non-residential properties.[6][7] Bill 19 renamed the Climate Change and Emissions Management Act to the Emissions Management and Climate Resilience Act and established new rules for targets, prices and credits applicable to industrial emitters.[8] Bill 22 was an omnibus bill that amended, repealed or enacted numerous acts and included the transferring of the Alberta Teachers' Retirement Fund and funds invested by the Workers Compensation Board to the Alberta Investment Management Corporation, dissolving the Office of the Election Commissioner and the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation, repealing the Alberta Sport Connection Act, Social Care Facilities Review Committee Act, the Alberta Competitiveness Act, and the Alberta Capital Finance Authority Act while enacting the Local Authorities Capital Financing Act.[9][10] Bill 25, among other measures aimed at red tape reduction, repealed the Developmental Disabilities Foundation Act and the Small Power Research and Development Act, as well as dissolved the Health Professions Advisory Board, created provisions to allow digital signature to give consent for organ donation, and provided greater flexibility for the Glenbow Museum to loan out its collection.[11]
Among financial measures, Bill 3 lowered the province's corporate tax rate from 12% to 8%,[12] and Bill 12 created a 10 year freeze on oil and gas royalty rates for newly drilled wells.[13] Legislative measures arising from the 2019 Alberta budget were implemented in Bills 20 and 21. Bill 20 repealed Edmonton's and Calgary's City Charters Fiscal Framework Act and replaced it with the new Local Government Fiscal Framework Act and the Public Transit and Green Infrastructure Project Act; repealed the Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit Act and replaced it with the Film and Television Tax Credit Act;[14] repealed the Access to the Future Act regarding advanced education, the Alberta Cancer Prevention Legacy Act regarding cancer prevention, and the Investing in a Diversified Alberta Economy Act regarding tax credits for investment in small non-oil/gas-related businesses;[15] eliminated the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Fund which was a security deposit fund for land reclamation resulting from industrial activities, and the Lottery Fund which had re-direct gaming revenue to charities; and raised tobacco taxes.[16] Bill 21, among other measures, ended the province tuition freeze, increased student loan interest rates by 1%, ended indexation of the bottom tax bracket and of the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped, and allows replacement workers to be used in the public sector.[17]
In addition to the Public Sector Wage Arbitration Deferral Act (Bill 9),[18] new acts that were created included the Red Tape Reduction Act (Bill 4) to require reports on government initiatives to prevent unnecessary regulatory and administrative requirements. The Fair Registration Practices Act (Bill 11) established the Fair Registration Practices Office to facilitate the use of foreign credentials within professional organizations,[19] and the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation Act (Bill 14) established the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation to facilitate investment by indigenous groups in natural resource projects.[20] The Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act (Bill 28) allowed Alberta to join British Columbia's class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers.[21]
Second session
The second session opened on February 25, 2020 with no changes to the Executive Council of Alberta. New acts created during the second session included the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act (Bill 1) which creates a definition of "essential infrastructure" and increases penalties for related trespassing and vandalism including warrentless arrests;[22] the Protecting Survivors of Human Trafficking Act (Bill 8) which allows a court to issue a Human Trafficking Protection Order with conditions to protect victims;[23] and the Provincial Administrative Penalties Act (Bill 21) created SafeRoads AB and the Immediate Roadside Sanction program to administer penalties for impaired driving, rather than the court system.[24] Bill 19 renamed the Tobacco and Smoking Reduction Act to the Tobacco, Smoking and Vaping Reduction Act and inserted new regulations to address vaping.[25] Fiscal Measures and Taxation Act, 2020 (Bill 5) implemented the legislative amendments resulting from the 2020 budget, including extending the province's tourism levy to short-term rentals booked through online platforms.[26] Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic Tenancies Statutes (Emergency Provisions) Amendment Act, 2020 (Bill 11) and Commercial Tenancies Protection Act (Bill 23) prohibited residential and commercial evictions and rent increases; Public Health (Emergency Powers) Amendment Act, 2020 (Bill 10) and COVID-19 Pandemic Response Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 (Bill 24) gave any minister in the Executive Council the ability to make a law outside of the legislature, expanded certain powers held by the Minister of Health and the Chief Medical Officer to apply beyond public health emergencies, created a right to unpaid COVID-related leave for employees; Emergency Management Amendment Act, 2020 (No. 2) (Bill 13) created new offences related to price fixing, travel, and refusing to render expert aid or be conscripted during a state of emergency; and Utility Payment Deferral Program Act (Bill 14) created an electricity and natural gas Utility Payment Deferral Program.[27][28][29] Bill 17 was adopted as the government's response to JH v Alberta Health Services which found several sections of the Mental Health Act to be unconstitutional.[30] Bill 22 was an omnibus bill that addressed numerous topics aimed at "red tape reduction" and, among other items, repealed the Recreation Development Act, dissolved Energy Efficiency Alberta, and removed the restrictions that members of corporate or non-profit boards of directors, as well as applicants for grazing dispositions on public lands, be residents of Alberta.[31] Bill 25 requires scrap metal dealers to report transactions of certain metals to police.[32] Bill 2 ended prohibition in Cardston and Warner Counties.[33] Bill 18 created the Alberta Parole Board to take over the responsibilities of the Parole Board of Canada while Bill 16 expanded the mandate of the Victims of Crime Fund to also include funding for initiatives that promote public safety.[34] Bill 12 allows the Orphan Well Association to operate abandoned wells and pipelines.[35] Concerning future elections, Bill 26 expanded the scope of what a provincial referendum can consider and increased the spending limits of third-party advertisers, while Bill 29 increased donation limits applicable to local government elections, extended the deadline for donation disclosure statements until after the election has occurred, and required unspent campaign funds be donated to a charity.[36]
On the final day of the second session, following a marathon overnight sitting, the omnibus bill, Bill 30—the Health Statutes Amendment Act—passed in its third reading in the morning of July 29.[37]
Members of the 30th Assembly
Seating plan
Official Seating Plan (Retrieved July 19, 2017)
Notes and References
- "Jason Kenney rides UCP wave to majority government in Alberta". CBC News. Apr 16, 2019.
- Bennett, Dean (June 6, 2019). "Alberta bill to overhaul workplace rules passes second reading after marathon debate". Global News. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- Stephenson, Amanda (November 20, 2019). "UCP unveils Bill 6 changes: New rules create exemptions for small farms". Calgary Herald. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- French, Janet (June 8, 2019). "The Education Act: what's in that legislation?". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- Ramsay, Caley (July 5, 2019). "Controversial Alberta education bill passes after marathon debate". Global News. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- Bellefontaine, Michelle (June 4, 2019). "New bill gives Alberta municipalities more power to offer tax breaks". CBC News. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- French, Janet (November 27, 2019). "Manufacturers, oil and gas industrial sites could get property tax break under new bill". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- Fletcher, Robson (October 29, 2019). "How Alberta will keep its $30-per-tonne carbon tax but make it easier for some big emitters to avoid paying". CBC News. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- Dyer, Kelsey (November 19, 2019). "'Significant lack of trust': Reaction to UCP plan to transfer teacher pensions". CTV News. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- French, Janet (November 22, 2019). "Election commissioner officially ousted with Bill 22 passage". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- Cook, Stephen David (November 18, 2019). "Red tape reduction bill proposes slew of changes to 6 ministries". CBC News. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- Clancy, Clare (July 10, 2019). "A look at the 13 bills that passed during Alberta legislature session". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- Jaremko, Deborah (June 25, 2019). "Alberta introduces legislation to guarantee oil and gas royalties". Pipeline News. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- Labine, Jeff (October 26, 2019). "Video game developer 'disappointed' province axed digital media tax credit". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- Zabjek, Alexandra (November 8, 2016). "Alberta wants to kickstart investment with tax credits". CBC News. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- Bellefontaine, Michelle (October 28, 2019). "Alberta government plans sweeping changes through 2 omnibus bills". CBC News. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- French, Janet (October 29, 2019). "Slew of legislative changes would give government greater bargaining power, eliminate dedicated funds". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- "Alberta legislature boss chides both UCP, NDP in earplug spat". Global News. June 25, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- Leavitt, Kieran (June 19, 2019). "New office will oversee Alberta regulatory bodies' application processes". The Star. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
- Bellefontaine, Michelle (October 8, 2019). "Government plans to help First Nations, Métis groups get capital for resource projects". CBC News. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
- Antoneshyn, Alex (November 21, 2019). "Alberta the third province to join B.C.-led opioid lawsuit". CTV News. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- Fine, Sean (February 26, 2020). "Proposed law would imprison, heavily fine pipeline protesters". The Globe and Mail. p. A6.
- Joannou, Ashley (April 7, 2020). "Alberta tables bill to protect human trafficking victims". Edmonton Journal.
- Goulet, Justin (June 4, 2020). "Province introduces legislation to get impaired drivers off roads". Lethbridge News Now.
- Johnson, Lisa (June 3, 2020). "Alberta tables legislation to prohibit minors from vaping but doesn't ban flavours". Edmonton Journal.
- Howlett, Trevor (February 26, 2020). "Alberta government to add tourism levy to short-term rentals". CBC News.
- French, Janet (April 7, 2020). "Bills would grant new emergency powers, help victims of human trafficking". CBC News.
- Johnson, Lisa (April 25, 2020). "UCP going 'back to the drawing board' on controversial Bill 10, Kenney says". Edmonton Journal.
- Joannou, Ashley (May 7, 2020). "Alberta introduces bill that will offers loans to utility companies to cover deferral program". Edmonton Journal.
- "'Right thing to do': Alberta introduces Mental Health Act changes to protect patients' rights". CBC News. June 4, 2020.
- Bellefontaine, Michelle (June 11, 2020). "New bill cuts energy efficiency agency, ends cabinet approval of oilsands projects". CBC News.
- "Alberta's proposed Bill 25 aims to crack down on sellers of stolen metal". CBC News. June 18, 2020.
- Anderson, Drew (July 10, 2020). "Alberta prohibition ended a century ago, except in one small area, where it ended just last month". CBC News.
- Ryan, Sarah (June 26, 2020). "Bill 16 passes third reading, advocates say changes threaten supports for victims of crime". Global News.}
- French, Janet (March 31, 2020). "Expanded powers for Alberta orphan well group could allow it to operate pipelines, produce oil". CBC News.
- Bellefontaine, Michelle (June 24, 2020). "New bill removes limits on donations to trustee, municipal candidates in Alberta". CBC News.
- Woods, Melanie (July 30, 2020). "Alberta's Bill 30: What You Need To Know About Incoming Health Care Changes". HuffPost Canada. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- Legislative Assembly of Alberta: Elected Members of the Assembly
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