Alberta.

• Author: Massolin, Philip
• Position: Legislative Reports

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Fifth S ession of the 27th Legislature, which lasted 22 sitting days, commenced on February 7, 2012, and ended on March 26, 2012, at which time the Legislature was dissolved. During this Session, the Assembly passed six Government Bills and one Private Member's Bill. A general election was called on March 26 and held on April 23.

The Budget Address, entitled Investing in People and prioritizing health, education, jobs and service to seniors, was delivered on February 9, 2012. The Assembly approved the main estimates on March 13, following consideration of the estimates in five meetings of Committee of Supply and 16 meetings of the Policy Field Committees (a total of 55 hours and four minutes of consideration). The Appropriation Act, 2012 came into force on March 21, 2012, and included $35,838,128,000 voted for expenses and charges of the Public Service and $1,959,289,000 voted for capital investment for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

Bill 1, Results-based Budgeting Act, garnered considerable attention from the Assembly during the Fifth Session. The Bill proposed the establishment of a budgeting process that requires a comprehensive review of government programs and services. About one-third of all Government of Alberta programs and services are to be reviewed each year with findings and recommendations made public, forming a foundation upon which future budgets and policy decisions are to be based.

Some Members from the Opposition accepted the principle of the Bill but questioned the ease with which a results-based budgeting process could be implemented and executed. After considerable debate, the Bill received Royal Assent on March 5, 2012.

Additionally, the Assembly debated Bill 6, Property Rights Advocate Act, which proposed that landowners be given access to an independent tribunal or the courts in order to determine fair compensation for Government access to their land. The Bill proposed a Property Rights Advocate Office, reporting to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General so that landowners might have access to impartial property rights information, assisting them in ascertaining appropriate remedies, including the courts.

A number of Members from Opposition caucuses opposed the Bill on the basis that it was not comprehensive enough to cover certain land-use provisions, such as leases, and because a property rights advocate is unnecessary. After considerable consideration, especially in Committee of the Whole, the Assembly passed the Bill, which received Royal Assent on March 21, 2012.

Bill...