What to Expect
On October 6, members of the United Conservative Party (UCP) will elect a new leader who will serve as Alberta’s Premier until next year’s provincial election. All mail-in ballots must be received by 5:00 PM on Monday, October 3. There will also be in-person voting stations on election day in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Slave Lake, and Taber. The results will be announced at an event held at the BMO Centre in Calgary and live-streamed.
The ranked voting method is going to be a key part of how the race ends – check out CSG’s guide to the UCP leadership vote here.
That won’t be the only political story this week, though. Alberta defence lawyers are escalating their job action by stopping all new work for Legal Aid Alberta.
A potential provincial police force will also be a topic of conversation. At last week’s Alberta Municipalities conference, the UCP leadership candidates, government ministers, and Opposition Leader Rachel Notley were all asked questions about a provincial force.
Government announcements from late last week will also be discussed this week. Despite most UCP leadership candidates having promised to make their own systemic changes to the healthcare system, the government announced three advisory panels to modernize primary care. The government also announced plans for Alberta Social Housing Corporation to sell off or transfer most of its properties, as well as changes to modernize continuing care.
The Week That Was
The Alberta government has announced a new $36 million Alberta Broadband Fund to complement the Universal Broadband Fund. Together, they will increase connectivity across the province. In addition, 50 communities will soon be the recipients of a portion of the newly announced $70.6 million joint investment from the provincial and federal governments to increase broadband connectivity.
Premier Jason Kenney announced the launch of the second phase of the Alberta is Calling campaign to bring skilled workers to Alberta from Toronto and Vancouver.
De Havilland announced a new production facility, corporate headquarters, and museum will be built east of Calgary, creating an estimated 1,500 jobs.
Associate Minister of Natural Gas and Electricity Dale Nally has been focusing efforts on strengthening Alberta’s resource industry with a call for the federal government to streamline natural gas export project approvals in Canada. Additionally, Associate Minister Nally is currently in Japan on a mission to drive international interest in Alberta as a hydrogen producer. The mission concludes on October 1.
The Siksika Nation has come to an agreement with both the Alberta and federal governments to begin the transition from the RCMP to a self-administered First Nation police force and will work towards establishing a clear timeline and transition agreement with the federal government.
The province is providing eligible continuing care facility operators with grant funding via the Continuing Care Capital Program as an effort at modernization, with an application deadline of January 6, 2023.
The provincial government has made the decision to partially re-instate the provincial fuel tax beginning on October 1, 2022, a 4.5 cent/litre tax.
Alberta has written to the commanding officer of the RCMP opposing the federal decision to confiscate legally obtained firearms and has stated that the provincial government will formally dispute any attempt to do so by invoking Article 23.0 of the Provincial Police Service Agreement.
Orders in Council
OIC 316/2022 – Appoints Julia Sproule as the first Alberta Teaching Profession Commissioner, effective January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2027.
