Alberta.

• Author: Gravel, Micheline S.
• Position: Legislative Reports/Rapport legislatifs - Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta

On March 7, 2007, Lieutenant Governor Norman L. Kwong delivered the Speech from the Throne. The Speech outlined actions the Government will undertake under five priorities: governing with integrity and transparency; managing growth pressures; improving Albertans' quality of life; providing safe and secure communities; and building a strong Alberta. It also outlined the Government's commitment to protecting the environment and addressing climate change. Other highlights include plans to:

* address housing, labour, infrastructure and environmental pressures;

* develop an energy strategy to ensure resource development and environmental stewardship;

* develop a capital plan to address infrastructure needs and inflation costs;

* finalize a long-term funding arrangement with municipalities;

* develop a policy for managing the financial or budgetary surpluses.

During the Spring Sitting, the Assembly approved supplementary estimates totalling $393,516,000 for five departments. The Assembly also approved interim estimates totalling $10,009,000,000.

At the time of writing, 11 Government Bills had been passed by the Assembly.

Government Bills

Some Bills before the Assembly include:

* Bill 1, Lobbyists Act, creates a lobbyists registry whereby individuals can access information regarding people, groups, and organizations who lobby the Provincial Government. The Bill also prohibits lobbyists from simultaneously lobbying and being paid by the Government to provide advice to the Government on the same issue and contains provisions to have the listing of entities who receive payment from the Government posted online.

* Bill 3, Climate Change and Emissions Management Amendment Act, 2007, establishes legislated greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for large industrial emitters. The regulations require industry to reduce emissions intensity by 12 per cent by 2008 either through upgrading facilities, purchasing Alberta offsets, or investing in a technology fund to develop Alberta-based technology to reduce emissions. The opposition indicated they could not support the Bill as it failed to provide clear and fixed targets as well as timelines. A reasoned amendment was moved by the Leader of the New Democrat opposition during Third Reading consideration of the Bill which was defeated on division.

* Bill 31, Mental Health Amendment Act, 2007, amends the Act by changing the criteria for involuntary admission to designated facilities, provides a legislative framework to implement community treatment orders in Alberta, and requires that treatment recommendations be provided to patients' family doctors when patients are discharged from facilities.

* Bill 34, Tenancies Statutes Amendment Act, 2007, amends the existing legislation by limiting rent increases to once per year with three months' notice before rent on periodic tenancies can be increased. The Bill also compels landlords to provide one year's notice before ending a periodic tenancy for the purpose of converting a rental unit to a condominium or to undertake major renovations to a rental unit. No rent increases are to be permitted during that one-year period. The changes are retroactive to April 24, 2007, the date the Government first announced its intention to revise residential tenancies legislation. Landlords who fail to comply with the legislation may face fines of up to $10,000 per tenant. The opposition criticized the Bill and argued that rent stability guidelines (limits on the amount of increases) be put in place. During Committee of the Whole consideration, which began the evening of May 9 and continued until late the following morning, 6 opposition amendments and 1 subamendment were moved in connection with the Bill. Two of these amendments were approved by the committee.

Private Members' Public Bills

Some Private Members' Public Bills before the Assembly include:

* Bill 203, Service Dogs Act, sponsored by Rob Lougheed (PC, Strathcona) prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities who use a certified service dog by allowing such individuals to be accompanied by an accredited service dog in all areas open to the general public. The Bill also includes a provision for a mechanism to identify service dogs.

Hoist amendments were moved in connection with the following Private Members' Bills:

* Bill 204, Emblems of Alberta (Franco-Albertan Recognition) Amendment Act, 2007 / Loi modificative de 2007 sur les emblemes de l'Alberta (reconnaissance du fait franco-albertain), introduced by Frank Oberle (PC, Peace River), amended the Emblems of Alberta Act by recognizing the Franco-Albertan symbol as an official emblem of Alberta. A six-month hoist amendment was agreed to during Second Reading of the Bill. (Note: a Government Bill, Bill 27, Emblems of Alberta Amendment Act, 2007, was introduced in response to Bill 204 to allow for any special Alberta symbol to be added to the list of official symbols of the province. These items would be designated as symbols of distinction rather than emblems. The Government Bill received Royal Assent on April 20, 2007.)

* Bill 205, Environmental Protection and Enhancement (Conservation and Reclamation) Amendment Act, 2007, sponsored by Ivan Stang (PC, West Yellowhead), proposed amendments to the Act to ensure that stakeholders in the energy and forest industries would be brought together with representatives from the Government on a consistent basis to review reclamation Standards for land that has been utilized in the resource extraction.

Standing Orders Changes

During the Spring Sitting the Legislative Assembly approved significant changes to its Standing Orders. The temporary amendments were approved by the Assembly on March 12, 2007, thereby giving...