At a Glance - Week of October 22, 2024
Alberta Premier’s Chief of Staff to Retire
On October 8th, Premier Danielle Smith announced that Marshall Smith would be ending his service after two years as the Premier’s Chief of Staff. The Premier posted online that “at the beginning of this year, and after 32 years of public service in various forms, Marshall informed me that he had made the decision to retire from public service in October of this year.”
When Marshall Smith officially leaves the role, it will be filled by Rob Anderson. Anderson was formerly a Wildrose MLA who has more recently served as Smith’s campaign chair and executive director of the Premier’s Office.
Independent MLA Jennifer Johnson Voted into Government Caucus by UCP
Independent Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Jennifer Johnson ran in last year’s provincial election as a UCP candidate; however, she was disallowed to sit in the UCP caucus member following her disparaging comments relating transgender children to feces. On October 9th, a vote by the UCP caucus reinstated her to the party.
Chief Whip Shane Getson stated “over the past 17 months, MLA Johnson has done a very good job as a local MLA. After having a very thoughtful discussion with our caucus team, our MLAs voted to acknowledge her hard work, recognize her efforts, and welcome her into the government caucus.”
Officer Reprimanded for Information Misconduct Against Former MLA
The Lethbridge Police Service announced the conclusion of their investigation into a police officer who had been accused of harassing and improperly accessing data on former Lethbridge-West MLA and then Minister of Environment and Parks Shannon Phillips in 2018.
Despite the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service determining not to pursue prosecution of the officer in May of this year, Lethbridge Chief of Police Shahin Mehdizadeh noted that the “officer’s actions were unauthorized as he was not acting in compliance with policy or legitimate instruction from a superior officer in conducting the database inquiry.”
In a press release, Mehdizadeh “subsequently found the officer guilty of discreditable conduct and insubordination. He was sanctioned by way of a reprimand, to remain on his record of discipline for a period of three years.”
Green Line Gets Partial Green Light
Following the province’s removal of funding for Calgary’s Green Line LRT project, which was later cancelled in a vote by Calgary City Council, a partial joint-recommitment to the project was announced by the on October 10th.
Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen stated: “through these discussions, we have agreed to advance work from 4th Street S.E. to Shepard. This decision not only works to preserve more than 700 jobs, but also builds on the shared investments we have made towards the Green Line.” Additionally, “previously committed funding of $1.53B remains available to support the continuation of this work during the interim period.”
The rest of the project, including the portion planned through downtown Calgary is to be redesigned with cooperation of AECOM, the City of Calgary, and the Alberta Government. “This alignment will be either at-grade or elevated and will connect into the Red and Blue Lines, the new Event Centre, and to southeast Calgary communities.”