Alberta.

• Author: Clerk, Jody
• Position: Legislative Reports

Continuation of the 1st Session of the 28th Legislature

The fourth sitting of the First Session of the 28th Legislature convened on October 28, 2013, and adjourned on December 4, 2013. This sitting saw the passing of 19 Government Bills and two Private Members Public Bills. The Second Session of the 28th Legislature is scheduled to commence on March 3, 2014.

Bill 28, Enabling Regional Growth Boards Amendment Act, originally named the Modernizing Regional Governance Act, received First Reading on October 28, 2013. The Bill caused an immediate outcry from opposition parties and municipal leaders who argued the proposed legislation was heavy-handed and created without proper consultation. Second Reading debate began on October 29 and was completed at 1:41 a.m. the next day after surviving a hoist amendment, brought forward by the Official Opposition. On October 31, 2013, Premier Alison Redford (Calgary-Elbow) announced that progress on the Bill would be put on hold to allow for consultation with municipalities. One month later, during consideration of Bill 28 in Committee of the Whole, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Hon. Doug Griffiths (Battle River-Wainwright) proposed amendments to the Bill that were accepted by the House. In addition to changing the name of the Bill, the amendments clarified that Growth Management Boards would not be implemented by the provincial government but could be established by interested municipalities, and that these Boards would be required to develop an appeals process and submit annual reports to the Assembly. The enforcement provisions of the Act were also changed to ensure penalties focus on organizations, as opposed to individuals, and to impose fines instead of imprisonment. Bill 28, as amended, received Third Reading on Dec. 4, 2013, and came into force upon Royal Assent one week later.

The closing days of the fall sitting saw more controversy after the Government introduced Bills 45 and 46 in the Assembly. Bill 45, Public Sector Services Continuation Act significantly increases the fines and civil liabilities on unions for illegal strikes or threats to strike.

Bill 46, Public Service Salary Restraint Act would apply to the Government's negotiations with the Alberta Union of Public Employees (AUPE) and would impose terms if agreement was not reached between AUPE and the Government. Both pieces of legislation faced significant criticism from unions and opposition parties and prompted multiple demonstrations on the Legislature grounds. The Government moved time allocation motions limiting debate at each stage of the legislative process to two hours. Both Bills moved quickly through the House and received Third Reading just before the completion of the fall sitting and were granted Royal Assent on December 11, 2013.

Legally barred from striking and unable to reach an agreement with the Government through negotiation or...