Alberta.

• Author: Rempel, Jody
• Position: Legislative Reports

Fourth Session of the 29th Legislature

The Fourth Session of the 29th Legislature, which commenced on March 8, 2018, adjourned on June 7, 2018. During the spring sitting 18 Bills received Third Reading and one was referred to a Legislative Policy Committee for review.

Among the Bills debated was Bill 12, Preserving Canada's Economic Prosperity Act, which received Royal Assent on May 18, 2018. The new legislation arose within the context of the debate over the construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline extension project. It empowers the Minister of Energy to require energy exporters to obtain a licence and meet a variety of terms and conditions prior to sending products such as natural gas, crude oil or refined fuel out of Alberta. The new legislation contains a "sunset provision" under which it will cease to have effect after two years. The Attorney General of British Columbia has filed a Statement of Claim in Alberta's Court of Queen's Bench challenging the constitutional validity of the legislation.

Bill 9, Protecting Choice for Women Accessing Health Care Act was also passed by the Assembly and received Royal Assent on June 11, 2018. The Bill authorizes the creation of "no-protest zones" around abortion clinics and other offices or homes of clinic doctors and staff. During deliberations on the Bill, nine amendments were proposed, of which two were accepted, including one introduced by Independent Conservative Member Derek Fildebrandt, MLA (Strathmore-B rooks). Members requested a recorded vote on most votes pertaining to the Bill, including the motion for Second Reading, all proposed amendments, and the motion for Third Reading. Following an initial statement by Angela Pitt, MLA (Airdrie), the Official Opposition (United Conservative Party) chose not to participate in the debate on the Bill and were not present in the Chamber for any of the recorded votes.

Governor General Visit

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, visited the Alberta Legislature on May 15, 2018, and was welcomed with a public ceremony on the Legislature Grounds during which she received military honours, including a 100-person guard of honour, the Vice-Regal salute and a 21-gun salute. Later in the day she addressed the Assembly, becoming only the third Governor General to do so. During her remarks she shared personal anecdotes about her previous visits to the province, noted the province's contributions as "the economic powerhouse of Canada" and...