Alberta.

• Author: Rempel, Jody
• Position: Legislative Reports

Composition of the Assembly

On January 15, 2019, Rick Strankman, MLA (Drumheller-Stettler) left the United Conservative Party (UCP) caucus to sit as an Independent Member. With this move the composition of the Legislative Assembly was 52 seats for the New Democratic Party, 25 seats for the UCP, and three seats for the Alberta Party. In addition, there was one seat each for the Alberta Liberal Party, the Progressive Conservative Party, and the Freedom Conservative Party, along with three Independent Members and one vacant seat.

5th Session of the 29th Legislature

The Fifth Session of the 29th Legislature was opened on March 18, 2019, with the Speech from the Throne delivered by the Honourable Lois E. Mitchell, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Alberta. Later that afternoon, Health Minister Sarah Hoffman, MLA (Edmonton-Glenora) introduced Bill 1, An Act to Protect Public Health Care. The bill proposed amendments to the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act to maintain a single-tier healthcare system and prevent extra billing or any other form of private payments related to insured medical services.

Committee Activities

The Special Standing Committee on Members' Services met on February 12, 2019, and received and approved two reports from the Subcommittee to Review the Members' Services Committee Orders. One of the reports recommends the implementation of a new funding model for future caucus budgets and the other recommends changes to the Regulations Exemption and Variance Order to update exemptions applicable to the Legislative Assembly Office (LAO) from various government regulations which do not meet the unique needs of the LAO, including regulations relating to employment contracts, severance payments, and the issuance of credit cards, as well as the travel, meal and hospitality expenses directive. The Committee has directed staff to draft policies related to severance pay and the reimbursement of travel and other expenses for LAO employees for further consideration.

With new electoral divisions set to take effect, the Committee also reviewed and approved a revised funding matrix for the updated electoral boundaries. These new rules came into effect with the issuance of the writs on March 19, 2019.

The Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship completed its review of Bill 211, Alberta Underground Infrastructure Notification System Consultation Act, which was referred to the Committee after first reading during the Fourth Session. The...