Alberta.

• Author: Rempel, Jody
• Position: Legislative Reports

Provincial General Election

A general election was held in Alberta on April 16, 2019. The United Conservative Party secured 63 of the 87 seats in the Assembly, while the New Democratic Party won the remaining 24 seats to form the Official Opposition. Overall voter turnout was 64 per cent, which is the highest for a provincial election in Alberta since 1982. In total, over 1.9 million Albertans voted and 36.7 per cent of these voters cast their ballot at advance polls, which is the highest advance voter turnout experienced in any Canadian jurisdiction. Of the advance voters, 31.8 per cent used the new "Vote Anywhere" option, which enabled voters to receive the ballot for their electoral division from any advance polling location in the province.

The Legislative Assembly Office (LAO) provided a two-day administrative orientation to new Members on April 24 and 25, 2019. Prior to the orientation new Members were given access to a secure online portal which permitted them to access employment forms and details regarding available information technology equipment and services. All participating Members left the first day of the orientation with a security pass, mobile devices, laptops and active information technology accounts. The orientation also featured an information fair, hosted by all branches of the LAO, and presentations from LAO management on subjects including security, benefits and remuneration, as well as other support services available to Members. A former Member and his spouse made a presentation on "Life as an MLA", which was well received.

Less than a month later, to prepare for the beginning of the First Session, procedural orientations were offered to the new Members of each caucus. Hosted by the Table Officers, these half day sessions included a presentation and briefing materials, and concluded with a session focused on the responsibilities and limits on Members as Notaries Public and Commissioners for Oaths under the Notaries and Commissioners Act.

Cabinet Business

On April 30, 2019, Premier Jason Kenney, MLA (Calgary-Lougheed) and the 22 other members of his cabinet were sworn in. Shortly after the ceremony, cabinet held its first meeting and proclaimed Bill 12, Preserving Canada's Economic Prosperity Act, but did not utilize its provisions. This legislation, passed in the spring of 2018, empowers the Minister of Energy to require energy exporters to obtain a licence and meet a variety of terms and conditions prior to...