What to Expect
Politics will be focused on the UCP caucus this week as it manages the challenges created by the leadership vote and tensions between some backbench MLAs and the party leadership.
Today, Premier Kenney is delivering a keynote address at the Canadian Hydrogen Convention, where he is anticipated to make an announcement regarding Alberta’s Hydrogen Roadmap. The alternative fuel is seen by the government as a way to maintain Alberta’s role as a dynamic energy producer in a world increasingly focused with reducing emissions. Opportunities for industry abound, whether it is power generation, transportation, pipeline construction, or carbon capture.
A new red tape reduction act was introduced into the Legislature this week. Bill 21 covers animal health, rural electrification associations, foster families, education, environment and parks, pharmacists, school boards, municipal business licenses, heritage railways, and co-operatives. Changes include but are not limited to:
Expedited approvals of Community Revitalization Levy bylaws;
Modernizing land surveying in Alberta;
Allowing Alberta heritage railway operators to operate under alternate rules tailored to individual needs while continuing to ensure railway safety; and
Allowing landlords to use electronic methods for returning security deposits and associated documents to tenants.
The Week That Was
Alberta has dedicated more than $13 million in aid to support Ukraine and another $2 million to fund settlement and language services for newcomers into the province.
In an effort to diversify Alberta’s insurance sector, the province has introduced the Insurance Amendment Act, 2022. If passed, the legislation would help make reinsurance more accessible and finalize the details of the recently introduced Captive Insurance Companies Act.
Ronan Segrave will serve as Alberta Health’s new surgical recovery lead tasked with bringing down wait times. He was previously a senior vice-president at Norima Consulting and chief operating officer at Health Sciences Centre in Manitoba from 2019 to 2021. He also previously worked for firms like KPMG and EY, as well as the U.K. government.
Orders in Council
OIC 110/2022 –Appoints Mark Parsons as Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Relations, effective April 30, 2022.
