Alberta.

• Author: Rempel, Jody
• Position: Legislative Reports

2nd Session of the 28th Legislature

The first sitting of the Second Session of the 28th Legislature opened with the Speech from the Throne, delivered by Col. (Ret'd) Hon. Donald S. Ethell, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, on March 3, 2014. Focusing heavily on the province's relationship with municipal governments, the speech touched on long-term stability funding for municipalities, transit support through the "Green Trip" budget allocation, and further amendments to the Municipal Government Act. Other topics of note included flood preparedness, investment in Alberta's infrastructure, and promoting Alberta to the rest of the world. Three days later, on March 6, 2014, the province's proposed 2014-2015 budget was presented by Doug Horner (Spruce Grove-St. Albert), President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance. The Main Estimates were debated by the three Legislative Policy Committees (LPCs) beginning on March 17, 2014, and were reported to the Committee of Supply for a vote on April 16, 2014. Bill 8, Appropriation Act, 2014 also passed First Reading on April 16, 2014, and went on to receive Royal Assent on April 24, 2014.

Changes to the Standing Orders

Government Motion 7, which proposed changes to the Standing Orders governing the review of the Main Estimates by the three LPCs, was passed by the Legislative Assembly on March 4, 2014. The changes included updating the mandates of the LPCs to accurately reflect the portfolio names included in the current Cabinet, reducing the size of the LPCs from 18 to 15 members and clarifying the rotation of caucus speaking times during the estimates debates. A specific segment of time for independent Members was added into the rotation and the maximum amount of time to review a ministry's estimates, which had previously varied from two to six hours, was set at three hours for all ministries except Executive Council, which remains at two hours.

Resignation of the Premier

On March 17, 2014, Alison Redford (Calgary-Elbow) received a standing ovation from her Progressive Conservative caucus after being asked in Oral Question Period if she continued to have the support necessary to lead the province as the Premier of Alberta. Two days later, Ms. Redford announced that she would be resigning as Premier effective March 23, 2014.

Ms. Redford's resignation followed weeks of scrutiny and criticism of her travel costs, use of a government aircraft and other spending. In addition, two Progressive Conservative...