Update from the Legislature - Nov 18
New legislation proposes changes to the MGA
The fall legislative session resumed on November 16. The Legislature is scheduled to sit for a few more weeks before rising for the year on December 3.
On November 16, the Associate Minister for Red Tape Reduction introduced Bill 48, the Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act, 2020 (No. 2). The omnibus legislation proposes changes to several different Acts, including the Municipal Government Act and Land and Property Rights Tribunal Act. Please keep an eye out for a more thorough review of the proposed changes in a future edition of the Digest.
The final report – Citizens' Initiatives and Recall was tabled by the Chair of Select Special Democratic Accountability Committee. The report is supportive of citizens’ initiatives in general and makes several recommendations regarding criteria, thresholds and the types of initiatives that should be permitted. The report is also supportive of recall legislation for politicians at both the provincial and municipal levels of government. The committee was struck and asked to study these topics at the request of the previous Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
A reminder that this afternoon there will be a telephone town hall meeting for Mayors and CAOs with Premier Kenney, Ministers Allard and Toews, and Dr. Hinshaw. The province circulated registration details on November 13. The meeting is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
Fall 2020 Legislation Status (as of Tuesday, November 17)
Leave to Introduce a Bill
Bill 49 - Labour Mobility Act (Copping)
Second Reading
Bill 35 - Tax Statutes (Creating Jobs and Driving Innovation) Amendment Act, 2020 (Toews)
Bill 39 - Child Care Licensing (Early Learning and Child Care) Amendment Act, 2020 (Schulz)
Bill 41 - Insurance (Enhancing Driver Affordability and Care) Amendment Act, 2020 (Toews)
Bill 43 - Financing Alberta’s Strategic Transportation Act (McIver)
Bill 44 - Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 (Toews)
Bill 45 - Local Authorities Election Amendment Act, 2020 (No. 2) (Allard)
Bill 46 - Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 (No. 2) (Shandro)
Bill 47 - Ensuring Safety and Cutting Red Tape Act, 2020 (Copping)
Bill 48 - Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act, 2020 (No. 2) (Hunter)
Committee of the Whole
Bill 36 - Geothermal Resource Development Act (Savage)
Bill 37 - Builders’ Lien (Prompt Payment) Amendment Act, 2020 (Glubish)
Bill 38 - Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 (Madu)
Bill 40 - Forests (Growing Alberta’s Forest Sector) Amendment Act, 2020 (Dreeshen)
Third Reading
N/A
Awaiting Royal Assent
Bill 42 - North Saskatchewan River Basin Water Authorization Act (Nixon)
