At a Glance - November 1, 2022
Municipal Issues Make Headline News
Two major stories hit the news cycle this week that caught the attention of municipalities across our province. At the UCP AGM, party members passed Resolution 14 which proposes to have municipal officials register as lobbyists when advocating to the provincial government. While it is important to note that party resolutions are not the same as government policy or legislation, the issue raised many red flags across the province.
Premier Danielle Smith also discussed the possibility of introducing political parties at the municipal level of government. The Premier suggested that she has heard that both Calgary and Edmonton would like to see. “It may be something that makes sense for big cities rather than small municipalities but there seems to be an appetite for it in Calgary and Edmonton.”
Updates on the Calgary Arena Deal
Premier Danielle Smith sent a letter to both Mayor Jyoti Gondek and the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation to express hers and the province’s desire to get shovels in the ground for the proposed Calgary arena. "Although Calgary's iconic Saddledome has served this community well, it is not able to adequately compete with the host of new event centres and arenas built and under construction across North America." She has appointed MLA and former Calgary Alderman Ric McIver as the province’s lead person on the file.
Back in January, the deal between the city and the CSEC fell apart as a result of new costs for climate mitigation. Recently, the two sides have agreed to sit back down at the negotiating table to try and get the project finalized. In Premier Smith’s letter, she does not commit to providing monetary funding to the project, but does not explicitly say that money is not on the table.
Crown Prosecutors Ratify Agreement with Province
Following months of negotiations, the Alberta Crown Attorneys’ Association has ratified a new deal with the province. ACAA president Dallas Sopko said that “I think we’re relieved and we’re feeling optimistic that it’s the beginning of a new chapter in our relationship between prosecutors and the government.” Minister Tyler Shandro agreed, saying “this agreement is an important step forward for the stability of Alberta’s justice system.”
As part of the deal, there will be market adjustments to ensure pay is competitive with other jurisdictions in Canada, the creation of a year-long counselling pilot project, and a newly defined relationship between prosecutors and the government. The new agreement will expire on March 31, 2024.
MLA Leela Aheer Not Running for UCP
As time winds down on her second term as an MLA, the former UCP leadership contestant has announced that she will not be seeking re-election as a member of the party. “I chose to run for the UCP leadership to reflect my commitment and values and give back to the province that has given so much to my family and me. But the members have stated their wishes for leadership and a new direction for our party. I respect their decision.”
Aheer was first elected in the 2015 provincial election as a member of the Wildrose. As a member of the official opposition, she held critic roles in Energy, Education and Status of Women, as well as Children’s Services. In government, she served as the Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women from 2019 to 2021. In her public letter, she did not say that she would not seek re-election in 2023.