Alberta.

• Author: Rempel, Jody
• Position: Legislative Reports

2021 Fall Sitting

The 2021 fall sitting of the 30th Legislature began as anticipated on October 25, 2021 and adjourned several days later than scheduled at 2:57 a.m. on December 8. During the sitting a number of Government Bills were brought forward and, ultimately, given Royal Assent, including:

Bill 49, Labour Mobility Act, which creates a standardized approach to recognizing out-of-province professional credentials;

Bill 76, Captive Insurance Companies Act, which allows for the formation of captive, or "in house", insurance from companies physically located in the province as an alternative to the traditional insurance market;

Bill 77, Municipal Government Amendment Act, 2021, which gives municipalities tools to collect unpaid property taxes from oil and gas companies and extends their ability to claim an education property tax credit equal to the uncollectable education property taxes on delinquent oil and gas properties into 2023;

Bill 78, Alberta Housing Amendment Act, 2021, which is intended to improve and expand the province's affordable housing system, according to a 10-year housing strategy, including the creation of 25,000 new affordable housing units, by providing opportunities for public-private partnerships and selling or transferring government-owned housing; and

Bill 86, the Electricity Statutes Amendment Act, 2021, which permits unlimited self-supply with export in addition to creating opportunities for energy storage systems.

In addition, Bill 87, Electoral Divisions (Calgary-Bhullar-McCall) Amendment Act, 2021, received First Reading on November 30. It received unanimous support from all sides of the Assembly and received Royal Assent just two days later, on December 2. The Bill renamed the Calgary-McCall constituency to Calgary-Bhullar-McCall in honour of former Member Manmeet Bhullar, who died tragically in a highway accident after stopping to assist a stranded motorist. Mr. Bhullar represented constituents in Calgary's northeast from 2008 until his death in 2015. He served in a variety of cabinet portfolios and has been widely acknowledged for his advocacy on behalf of the vulnerable.

One Private Members' Public Bill also received Royal Assent. With the passing of Bill 207, Reservists' Recognition Act, sponsored by Brad Rutherford, MLA (Leduc-Beaumont), the last Saturday in September will now be known as Reservists' Recognition Day.

Interventions

With the commencement of the fall sitting amendments to the Standing...