Alberta.

• Author: Rempel, Jody
• Position: Legislative Reports

3rd Session of the 29th Legislature

The 3rd session of the 29th Legislature, which had commenced on March 2, 2017, adjourned for the summer on June 5, 2017. During the session, the Assembly passed a total of 18 Government Bills and two Private Bills. In addition, two of the eight Private Members' Public Bills (PMPB) introduced were granted Royal Assent.

Bill 17, Fair and Family-friendly Workplaces Act

On May 24, 2017, Bill 17, Fair and Family-friendly Workplaces Act, was introduced by the Minister of Labour, Christina Gray, MLA (Edmonton-Mill Woods). The Bill proposed a wide variety of changes to the province's labour laws, including extensions to various types of paid and unpaid leave, increased job protection for employees while on leave, simplifying the process for union certification and decertification, and expanding the scope of workers who can unionize.

When the Bill was introduced in the Assembly, a number of Members took the unusual step of calling for a recorded vote on the motion for First Reading. Bill 17 did receive First Reading, and opposition caucuses subsequently argued that it should have been divided into two different Bills to separate the proposed amendments to the Employment Standards Code from the proposed amendments to the Labour Relations Code. The Bill was not divided but was amended during Committee of the Whole consideration. On June 5, 2017, Bill 17 was passed at Third Reading on division and was granted Royal Assent on June 7, 2017.

Government Motion 16

On January 4, 2017, Ethics Commissioner Marguerite Trussler issued a report finding that Ric Mclver, MLA (Calgary-Hays), had breached the Conflicts of Interest Act on November 22, 2016, when he asked a question during Oral Question Period regarding proposed price caps on electricity. The report was issued following an investigation into a complaint filed by Heather Sweet, MLA (Edmonton-Manning) and Deputy Chair of Committees. The issue concerned the fact that because Mr. Mclver's wife is the sole shareholder and director of a competitive retailer in the energy market his question "may reasonably be perceived as seeking to influence government policy in a way that would benefit a business wholly owned and operated by the Member's spouse." Mr. Mclver has made an application for a judicial review of the Commissioner's recommendations, and a hearing has been scheduled for January 12, 2018.

On March 15, 2017, Government Motion 16 was introduced, in accordance with...