Alberta.

• Author: Rempel, Jody
• Position: Legislative Reports

The 3rd Session of the 28th Legislature

Ending the longest period of prorogation in Alberta since 1984, the 3rd Session of the 28th Legislature began on November 17, 2014, and adjourned on December 10, 2014. Four new MLAs, including Premier Jim Prentice, took their seats in the Chamber having successfully contested provincial by-elections in October. The Assembly passed 10 Government Bills and Bill 201, Electric Utilities (Transparency in Billing) Amendment Act, 2014, the sole Private Members' Public Bill to be passed. Bill 201, sponsored by the only Independent Member of the Assembly, Joe Anglin (Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre), was passed on December 8, 2014.

Changes to Caucus Membership

On November 2, 2014, prior to session commencing, Joe Anglin announced he was leaving the Wildrose caucus to sit as an Independent Member of the Assembly.

On November 24, 2014, two other members of the Wildrose caucus left the caucus, this time to join the governing Progressive Conservatives. Although they crossed the floor at the same time, Ian Donovan (Little Bow) and Kerry Towle (Innisfail-Sylvan Lake) indicated they were unaware of the other's intentions.

Less than a month later, on December 17, 2014, it was announced that an additional nine MLAs were leaving the Wildrose caucus to join the Progressive Conservatives. This group included Danielle Smith (Highwood), Leader of the Official Opposition, and Rob Anderson (Airdrie), Official Opposition House Leader. Mr. Anderson previously crossed the floor in 2010 to leave the governing Progressive Conservatives and join the Wildrose Alliance opposition. Also amongst the nine Members who crossed the floor were Gary Bikman (Cardston-Taber-Wamer), Rod Fox (Lacombe-Ponoka), Jason Hale (StrathmoreBrooks), Bruce McAllister (Chestermere-Rocky View), Blake Pedersen (Medicine Hat), Bruce Rowe (Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills), and Jeff Wilson (CalgaryShaw).

The December 17 floor crossing left both the Wildrose caucus and the Alberta Liberal caucus with five Members each. Each caucus sent a letter to Speaker Gene Zwozdesky (Edmonton-Mill Creek) requesting Official Opposition status. On December 23, 2014, the Speaker ruled that the Wildrose caucus would remain the Official Opposition due, in large part, to their incumbent status.

Heather Forsyth (Calgary-Fish Creek) has been appointed interim leader of the Wildrose Party. Party rules require a new leader to be selected within three to nine months of Ms. Smith's...