Alberta.

• Author: Rempel, Joy
• Position: Legislative Reports

The Spring Sitting, a continuation of the First Session of the 28th Legislature, began on March 5, 2013, which is a departure from the usual practice in Alberta as the House tends to sit twice per session with a fresh session starting each spring. It is the first time, since 1992-1993, that the Assembly has had a session which comprises three or more separate sittings. As the sitting was a continuation of the First Session of the Assembly there was no Speech from the Throne and instead, the Assembly moved almost immediately to the business of Budget 2013.

Budget 2013

On March 7, 2013, Doug Homer, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance, delivered the 2013-14 Budget Address in the Legislative Assembly. This year the Province's fiscal plan was divided into three separate categories: operational expenses, capital spending and savings. The operational budget received no increase over 2012-2013 including no adjustments for inflation or population growth. The capital plan expenditures of $5.2 billion anticipated for 2013-2014 are to be financed in part by borrowing and public-private partnerships. In Alberta, borrowing to finance operating costs is prohibited, and a cap on the cost of capital borrowing limits debt-servicing costs to three per cent of a three-year average of annual operational revenues. Budget 2013 also includes a legislated savings strategy for the province which sets out a formula identifying the portion of nonrenewable resource revenue to be set aside in savings. The budget includes no tax increases or new taxes.

Changes to the Standing Orders

On March 5, 2013, the Assembly passed a motion amending the Standing Orders. Most of the changes relate to the way in which the Assembly considers main estimates. The changes include:

* The number of Members serving on the Legislative Policy Committees, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and the Standing Committee on Privileges, Elections, Standing Orders and Printing were reduced to 18 for each committee;

* Previously the estimates for each ministry were reviewed for three hours. The time allocation for each ministry now ranges from two to six hours, a timeframe to be determined by the committees in conjunction with the Government House Leader (consideration for the main estimates of Executive Council remain set at two hours);

* Ministry staff are now allowed not only to attend to assist the minister but, at the discretion of the minister, to address a committee directly;

* Unlike previous years in which all committee meetings on the estimates were held in the evening, the new Standing Orders allow for meetings on Monday from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., on Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:00 a.m...