Update from the Legislature: Fair Deal Panel, LAEA amendments and more

Fair Deal Panel Report

Advocacy efforts this week have been focused on the response to the Fair Deal Panel, pending amendments to the Local Authorities Election Act and federal/provincial pandemic support and recovery efforts.

Of those items, the Fair Deal Panel report and its 25 recommendations have received the most attention. You can read the panel’s report here and the government’s response here.

A more detailed breakdown of the sections most relevant to municipalities can be found elsewhere in the Digest. Of particularly note is the Panel’s recommendation to create an Alberta Police Force to replace the RCMP, similar to the police forces in Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador. 

The Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General will commence a detailed study into the costs, benefits, and structure of a potential provincial police service. As part of this study, Justice and Solicitor General is planning to meet with a wide range of stakeholders, including municipalities, to get their perspectives and address their concerns around what a provincial police service means for their communities. This study is expected to be completed and released in 2021. The Advocacy team will be engaged in the process to ensure the voice of municipalities is heard.

New Bills & other news

The spring session of the Assembly is scheduled to run until July 23, with a constituency break the week of June 29. As of Wednesday evening, the government has introduced 29 bills. A status report is below. Legislation of particular interest to AUMA include Bills 3, 13, 19, 26, 27 and Bill 29, the Local Authorities Election Amendment Act. You may find President Morishita’s statement on that piece of legislation here.

Members may be interested in the government’s Survey on the Strategic Capital Plan, which was launched this week and will be open until August 10. More information will be coming in future digests.

Also of interest may be the Select Special Democratic Accountability Committee which was struck on June 17. You can find their terms of reference here.

Spring 2020 Legislation Status

Leave to Introduce a Bill

N/A

Second Reading

Bill 21 — Provincial Administrative Penalties Act (Schweitzer)

Bill 25 — Protecting Alberta Industry From Theft Act, 2020 (Schweitzer)

Bill 26 - Constitutional Referendum Amendment Act, 2020 (Schweitzer)

Bill 27 - Alberta Senate Election Amendment Act, 2020 (Schweitzer)

Bill 28 - Vital Statistics (Protecting Albertans from Convicted Sex Offenders) Amendment Act, 2020 (Glubish)

Bill 29 - Local Authorities Election Amendment Act, 2020 (Madu)

Committee

Bill 22 — Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act, 2020 (Hunter)

Bill 23 — Commercial Tenancies Protection Act (Fir)

Third Reading

Bill 7 — Responsible Energy Development Amendment Act, 2020 (Savage)

Bill 16 — Victims of Crime (Strengthening Public Safety) Amendment Act, 2020 (Schweitzer)

Bill 17 — Mental Health Amendment Act, 2020 (Shandro)

Bill 24 — COVID-19 Pandemic Response Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 (Shandro)

Awaiting Royal Assent

Bill 4 — Fiscal Planning and Transparency (Fixed Budget Period) Amendment Act, 2020 (Toews)

Bill 15 — Choice in Education Act, 2020 (LaGrange)

Bill 18 — Corrections (Alberta Parole Board) Amendment Act, 2020 (Schweitzer)

Bill 19 — Tobacco and Smoking Reduction Amendment Act, 2020 (Shandro)

Received Royal Assent

Bill 1 — Critical Infrastructure Defence Act (Kenney)

Bill 2 — Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Amendment Act, 2020 (Hunter)

Bill 3 — Mobile Home Sites Tenancies Amendment Act, 2020 (Glubish)
Bill 5 — Fiscal Measures and Taxation Act, 2020 (Toews)

Bill 6 — Appropriation Act, 2020 ($) (Toews)

Bill 8 — Protecting Survivors of Human Trafficking Act (Schweitzer)

Bill 10 — Public Health (Emergency Powers) Amendment Act, 2020 (Shandro)     

Bill 11 — Tenancies Statutes (Emergency Provisions) Amendment Act, 2020 (Glubish)

Bill 12 — Liabilities Management Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 (Savage)

Bill 13 — Emergency Management Amendment Act, 2020 (No. 2) (Madu)

Bill 14 — Utility Payment Deferral Program Act (Nally)

Bill 20 — Real Estate Amendment Act, 2020 (Glubish)