At a Glance - September 7, 2022
New Crime Prevention Funding
The Alberta Government has announced $5.2 million in funding to support programs that prevent crime and ensure the safety of Albertans. Justice Minister Tyler Shandro said that grants will be given to eligible groups over the next two years. The money is to be used for the delivery of community safety plans, youth gang prevention and exit programs, as well as plans that address emerging issues and trends.
Minister Shandro made the announcement in Calgary, a city that has been plagued with shootings in 2022. Calgary policy Chief Mark Neufeld called the 97 shootings unprecedented for the city. 75% of the shootings have been attributed to something other than organized crime. Chief Neufeld said that the program will help communities create safety plans, saying, “this will have a significant positive impact for our community, for certain.” 2020 holds the record for highest number of shootings in the past five years with 112 shootings in one year.
Lt. Governor Discusses Alberta Sovereignty Act
What is perhaps the most controversial policy piece to be unveiled during the United Conservative leadership race received additional attention in the media recently. Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani spoke to reporters about Danielle Smith’s proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act, indicating that she would seek independent advice on the legislation’s constitutionality prior to granting it royal assent. Lakhani spoke of the need for checks and balances, saying “I’m what I would call a constitutional fire extinguisher. We don’t have to use it a lot, but sometimes we do have to use it.” She also indicated she would need to see the bill before she can assess legality.
Her comments have already proven to be controversial as many have pointed out that those appointed as Lieutenant Governors are to remain apolitical in carrying out their duties. While it is highly unusual for someone in the role to comment on legislation before it is passed, the office of Lieutenant Governor (and Governor General at the federal level) does retain the authority to reserve royal assent to a bill that infringes on constitutionality. The last time a Lieutenant Governor refused royal assent in Alberta was in 1937 when John Bowen denied assent on three bill tabled passed by the Social Credit government of the time.
Fiscal Update Unveils $13.2 Billion Surplus
Jason Nixon, who was appointed as the new Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board earlier this summer, released his first fiscal update since assuming his new responsibilities. The first quarter update included news that the province is forecasted to post a $13.2 billion surplus for the 2022-23 fiscal year. Additionally, it was also announced that the government would be re-indexing personal income taxes to the rate of inflation.
While the Saskatchewan Government announced it would be distributing $500 cheques to adult residents, Alberta’s government has decided to take a different approach. Minister Nixon shared that the province would pay down taxpayer-supported debt from $93.1 billion to $79.8 billion by March 2023. It also indicated it would invest a total of $2.9 billion into the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund. Total revenue in the Q1 fiscal update forecasted that revenue could reach $75.9 billion, of which about $28.4 billion would come from non-renewable resource revenue.
Mail-In Balloting Begins in UCP Leadership Race
On September 2nd, the UCP began mailing out balloting packages to the party’s 123,915 members across the province. According to the party’s election rules, members choosing to submit a mail-in ballot must have their packages received by the party by 5:00pm on October 3rd. Members will be asked to complete a preferential ballot which will be used to determine the next leader of the party.
In order for a winner to be determined, a candidate must receive more than 50 per cent of the vote in a given round. Should a winner not be determined in the first round, the person with the fewest first-place votes will be removed from the ballot. Their second-place votes will then be redistributed to the remaining candidates. This process repeats itself in subsequent rounds until one candidate earns 50 per cent plus one.
Province Celebrates First-Ever “Alberta Day”
On September 1st, residents across the province celebrate the inaugural Alberta Day. The non-statutory holiday was announced earlier this year to give Albertans an opportunity to celebrate “our province’s unique spirit, culture, and heritage”. The date was selected as it is also the anniversary of Alberta joining confederation in 1905.
In a statement, Premier Jason Kenney spoke of the importance of recognizing our province’s history and potential. “Alberta’s story starts with Indigenous Peoples, cultures and customs rooted in a pristine land. It continues with the courage of pioneer farmers facing extraordinary challenges to build families and communities. It’s a modern story of entrepreneurs making the most of natural resources, of visionaries leading the world in science, technology and medical research.”