Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 31st Legislature

First Session Cooper, Hon. Nathan M., Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills (UC), Speaker

Pitt, Angela D., Airdrie-East (UC), Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees van Dijken, Glenn, Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock (UC), Deputy Chair of Committees

Al-Guneid, Nagwan, Calgary-Glenmore (NDP) Amery, Hon. Mickey K., ECA, KC, Calgary-Cross (UC),

Deputy Government House Leader Arcand-Paul, Brooks, Edmonton-West Henday (NDP) Armstrong-Homeniuk, Hon. Jackie, ECA,

Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville (UC) Batten, Diana M.B., Calgary-Acadia (NDP) Boitchenko, Andrew, Drayton Valley-Devon (UC) Boparai, Parmeet Singh, Calgary-Falconridge (NDP) Bouchard, Eric, Calgary-Lougheed (UC) Brar, Gurinder, Calgary-North East (NDP) Calahoo Stonehouse, Jodi, Edmonton-Rutherford (NDP) Ceci, Hon. Joe, ECA, Calgary-Buffalo (NDP) Chapman, Amanda, Calgary-Beddington (NDP) Cyr, Scott J., Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul (UC) Dach, Lorne, Edmonton-McClung (NDP) de Jonge, Chantelle, Chestermere-Strathmore (UC) Deol, Jasvir, Edmonton-Meadows (NDP) Dreeshen, Hon. Devin, ECA, Innisfail-Sylvan Lake (UC) Dyck, Nolan B., Grande Prairie (UC) Eggen, Hon. David, ECA, Edmonton-North West (NDP),

Official Opposition Whip Ellingson, Court, Calgary-Foothills (NDP) Ellis, Hon. Mike, ECA, Calgary-West (UC),

Deputy Premier Elmeligi, Sarah, Banff-Kananaskis (NDP) Eremenko, Janet, Calgary-Currie (NDP) Fir, Hon. Tanya, ECA, Calgary-Peigan (UC) Ganley, Hon. Kathleen T., ECA, Calgary-Mountain View (NDP) Getson, Shane C., Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland (UC),

Government Whip Glubish, Hon. Nate, ECA, Strathcona-Sherwood Park (UC) Goehring, Nicole, Edmonton-Castle Downs (NDP) Gray, Hon. Christina, ECA, Edmonton-Mill Woods (NDP),

Official Opposition House Leader Guthrie, Hon. Peter F., ECA, Airdrie-Cochrane (UC) Haji, Sharif, Edmonton-Decore (NDP) Hayter, Julia K.U., Calgary-Edgemont (NDP) Hoffman, Hon. Sarah, ECA, Edmonton-Glenora (NDP) Horner, Hon. Nate S., ECA, Drumheller-Stettler (UC) Hoyle, Rhiannon, Edmonton-South (NDP) Hunter, Hon. Grant R., ECA, Taber-Warner (UC) Ip, Nathan, Edmonton-South West (NDP) Irwin, Janis, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood (NDP) Jean, Hon. Brian Michael, ECA, KC, Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche

(UC) Johnson, Jennifer, Lacombe-Ponoka (Ind) Jones, Hon. Matt, ECA, Calgary-South East (UC) Kasawski, Kyle, Sherwood Park (NDP) Kayande, Samir, Calgary-Elbow (NDP),

Official Opposition Deputy Assistant Whip LaGrange, Hon. Adriana, ECA, Red Deer-North (UC)

Loewen, Hon. Todd, ECA, Central Peace-Notley (UC) Long, Martin M., West Yellowhead (UC) Lovely, Jacqueline, Camrose (UC) Loyola, Rod, Edmonton-Ellerslie (NDP) Lunty, Brandon G., Leduc-Beaumont (UC) McDougall, Myles, Calgary-Fish Creek (UC) McIver, Hon. Ric, ECA, Calgary-Hays (UC) Metz, Luanne, Calgary-Varsity (NDP) Nally, Hon. Dale, ECA, Morinville-St. Albert (UC) Neudorf, Hon. Nathan T., ECA, Lethbridge-East (UC) Nicolaides, Hon. Demetrios, ECA, Calgary-Bow (UC) Nixon, Hon. Jason, ECA, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre

(UC) Notley, Hon. Rachel, ECA, Edmonton-Strathcona (NDP),

Leader of the Official Opposition Pancholi, Rakhi, Edmonton-Whitemud (NDP) Petrovic, Chelsae, Livingstone-Macleod (UC) Phillips, Hon. Shannon, ECA, Lethbridge-West (NDP) Renaud, Marie F., St. Albert (NDP) Rowswell, Garth, Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright (UC) Sabir, Hon. Irfan, ECA, Calgary-Bhullar-McCall (NDP),

Official Opposition Deputy House Leader Sawhney, Hon. Rajan, ECA, Calgary-North West (UC) Schmidt, Hon. Marlin, ECA, Edmonton-Gold Bar (NDP) Schow, Hon. Joseph R., ECA, Cardston-Siksika (UC),

Government House Leader Schulz, Hon. Rebecca, ECA, Calgary-Shaw (UC) Shepherd, David, Edmonton-City Centre (NDP) Sigurdson, Hon. Lori, ECA, Edmonton-Riverview (NDP) Sigurdson, Hon. R.J., ECA, Highwood (UC) Sinclair, Scott, Lesser Slave Lake (UC) Singh, Peter, Calgary-East (UC) Smith, Hon. Danielle, ECA, Brooks-Medicine Hat (UC),

Premier Stephan, Jason, Red Deer-South (UC) Sweet, Heather, Edmonton-Manning (NDP),

Official Opposition Assistant Whip Tejada, Lizette, Calgary-Klein (NDP) Turton, Hon. Searle, ECA, Spruce Grove-Stony Plain (UC) Wiebe, Ron, Grande Prairie-Wapiti (UC) Williams, Hon. Dan D.A., ECA, Peace River (UC),

Deputy Government House Leader Wilson, Hon. Rick D., ECA, Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin (UC) Wright, Justin, Cypress-Medicine Hat (UC) Wright, Peggy K., Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview (NDP) Yao, Tany, Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo (UC),

Deputy Government Whip Yaseen, Hon. Muhammad, ECA, Calgary-North (UC)

Party standings: United Conservative: 48 New Democrat: 38 Independent: 1

Officers and Officials of the Legislative Assembly

Shannon Dean, KC, Clerk Teri Cherkewich, Law Clerk Trafton Koenig, Senior Parliamentary

Counsel Philip Massolin, Clerk Assistant and

Director of House Services

Nancy Robert, Clerk of Journals and Committees

Janet Schwegel, Director of Parliamentary Programs

Amanda LeBlanc, Deputy Editor of Alberta Hansard

Terry Langley, Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Link, Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Gareth Scott, Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Lang Bawn, Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms

Executive Council

Danielle Smith Premier, President of Executive Council, Minister of Intergovernmental Relations

Mike Ellis Deputy Premier, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

Mickey Amery Minister of Justice Devin Dreeshen Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Tanya Fir Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women Nate Glubish Minister of Technology and Innovation Pete Guthrie Minister of Infrastructure Nate Horner President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance Brian Jean Minister of Energy and Minerals Matt Jones Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Adriana LaGrange Minister of Health Todd Loewen Minister of Forestry and Parks Ric McIver Minister of Municipal Affairs Dale Nally Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Nathan Neudorf Minister of Affordability and Utilities Demetrios Nicolaides Minister of Education Jason Nixon Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services Rajan Sawhney Minister of Advanced Education Joseph Schow Minister of Tourism and Sport Rebecca Schulz Minister of Environment and Protected Areas R.J. Sigurdson Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Searle Turton Minister of Children and Family Services Dan Williams Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Rick Wilson Minister of Indigenous Relations Muhammad Yaseen Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism

Parliamentary Secretaries

Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk Parliamentary Secretary for Settlement Services and Ukrainian Evacuees Andrew Boitchenko Parliamentary Secretary for Indigenous Relations Chantelle de Jonge Parliamentary Secretary for Affordability and Utilities Shane Getson Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Corridor Development Grant Hunter Parliamentary Secretary for Agrifood Development Martin Long Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health Chelsae Petrovic Parliamentary Secretary for Health Workforce Engagement Scott Sinclair Parliamentary Secretary for Indigenous Policing Tany Yao Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Northern Development

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA

Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Chair: Mr. Yao Deputy Chair: Mr. Rowswell

Boitchenko Bouchard Brar Hunter Kasawski Kayande Wiebe

Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future Chair: Mr. Getson Deputy Chair: Mr. Loyola

Boparai Cyr de Jonge Elmeligi Hoyle Stephan Wright, J. Yao

Select Special Conflicts of Interest Act Review Committee Chair: Mr. Getson Deputy Chair: Mr. Long

Arcand-Paul Ellingson Hunter Ip Lovely Rowswell Sabir Wright, J.

Select Special Ethics Commissioner and Chief Electoral Officer Search Committee Chair: Mr. Yao Deputy Chair: Mr. van Dijken

Dach Dyck Irwin Petrovic Pitt Sabir Stephan Wright, P.

Standing Committee on Families and Communities Chair: Ms Lovely Deputy Chair: Ms Goehring

Batten Boitchenko Long Lunty Metz Petrovic Singh Tejada

Standing Committee on Legislative Offices Chair: Mr. Getson Deputy Chair: Mr. van Dijken

Chapman Dyck Eremenko Hunter Long Renaud Shepherd Sinclair

Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Chair: Mr. Cooper Deputy Chair: Mr. Getson

Eggen Gray Long Phillips Rowswell Sabir Singh Yao

Standing Committee on Private Bills Chair: Ms Pitt Deputy Chair: Mr. Stephan

Bouchard Ceci Deol Dyck Hayter Petrovic Sigurdson, L. Wright, J.

Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing Chair: Mr. Yao Deputy Chair: Ms Armstrong- Homeniuk

Arcand-Paul Ceci Cyr Dach Gray Johnson Stephan Wiebe

Standing Committee on Public Accounts Chair: Mr. Sabir Deputy Chair: Mr. Rowswell

Armstrong-Homeniuk de Jonge Haji Lovely Lunty McDougall Renaud Schmidt

Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship Chair: Mr. Rowswell Deputy Chair: Mr. Schmidt

Al-Guneid Armstrong-Homeniuk Dyck Eggen Hunter McDougall Sinclair Sweet

April 11, 2024 Alberta Hansard 1023

Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Thursday, April 11, 2024 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, 2024

[The Speaker in the chair]

head: Prayers

The Speaker: Lord, the God of righteousness and truth, grant to our King and to his government, to Members of the Legislative Assembly, and to all in positions of responsibility the guidance of Your spirit. May they never lead the province wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideas but, laying aside all private interest and prejudice, keep in mind their responsibility to seek to improve the condition of all. Amen. Hon. members, it being the last sitting day of the week, we will now be led in the singing of God Save the King by Ashley Stevenson.

Hon. Members: God save our gracious King, Long live our noble King, God save the King! Send him victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the King!

The Speaker: Please be seated.

head: Introduction of Visitors

The Speaker: Hon. members, I’d like to introduce to the Assembly a number of special visitors joining us today in the Speaker’s gallery from the Lubicon First Nation. It’s my pleasure to introduce to you Chief Billy Joe Laboucan, chief of the Lubicon First Nation. Joining him in the gallery today are a number of councillors from the nation: Tracy Laboucan-Carter, Tim Sawan, Troy Laboucan, Bryan Laboucan, and band director Albert Thunder. Please rise and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly.

head: Introduction of Guests

The Speaker: Hon. members, it’s my pleasure to introduce to you a good friend of many here in the building and certainly a friend of the Speaker’s office, Gabrielle Symbalisty, who, many of you know, works in the building. Today is, sadly, her last day, and we want to wish her all the best in her future endeavours. Please rise and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly. The hon. Member for Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright has a school group.

Mr. Rowswell: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to introduce to you and through you 24 members visiting from the Irma grade 6 class, a great town with great baseball. Please rise and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Sherwood Park has a school group.

Mr. Kasawski: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you to the members of the Assembly I’d like to introduce the students and staff of St. Theresa Catholic school in Sherwood Park, who have been debating what the length of the recess should be at their school today and have come up with a great decision. Please rise, and we’ll give you the warm welcome of the Assembly.

The Speaker: The hon. the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services.

Mr. Nixon: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to introduce to you and through you to all members of the Assembly a great grade 6 class from Rocky Christian school. Mr. Speaker, as you know, they’ve been doing it up there since 1799, and these kids are one of the best groups of kids to come out of Rocky Mountain House. I’d ask them to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for St. Albert has an introduction.

Ms Renaud: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to introduce to you and through you members of the Alberta Life Lease Protection Society: Anthony Wong, Art Merrick, Ava Dowling, Betty-Lou Munro, Christean Konashuk, Dan Lamb, Deb Vollrath, Dwayne McArthur, Gayle Mischuk, and George Yeoman. I have more, but I’ll let my colleagues introduce them. If I could have them rise.

Mrs. Sawhney: I rise to introduce to you and through you to all members of this Assembly Margaret Wing, CEO of the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association, along with a select number of doctor of pharmacy students and board members from across Alberta. I ask Margaret and all the pharmacy students and board members present to please rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of the Assembly.

Mr. Sinclair: Mr. Speaker, it’s an honour to rise again, as usual, with more of my guests today. These guests today are from the Treaty 8 First Nation. I’d like to reintroduce the leaders from the Lubicon Cree Nation: Chief Billy Joe Laboucan, Tracy Laboucan-Carter, Tim Sawan, Troy Laboucan, Vera Laboucan, and the director, Albert Thunder, from the nation and also my other Indigenous brothers and sisters from the Sucker Creek First Nation. Please rise again, if you don’t mind, and enjoy the warm reception from this wonderful Chamber.

The Speaker: The hon. the Minister of Energy and Minerals has an introduction.

Mr. Jean: I sure do, Mr. Speaker. I rise to welcome some folks from the Energy and Minerals department, who work so hard for the people of Alberta. I’d like to introduce them to you and through you to the people here in the House. If they could rise, please, and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly.

Mr. Dyck: Mr. Speaker, I’m privileged to rise and introduce to you and through you Chris Rempel, a Grande Prairie local leader and businessman, predominantly in the energy sector, and who I consider a long-time friend. Please rise and receive the warm welcome of this Assembly.

The Speaker: The Minister of Indigenous Relations first.

Mr. Wilson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Through you and to you I’m pleased to introduce four guests from Sucker Creek First Nation: Chief Roderick Willier; the director of operations, Jamielynn Cunningham; the executive secretary, Angela Calliou; and the economic development director, Shirley Calliou. I had a great meeting with the chief and his team this morning. They’re doing a fantastic job advocating for their nation and promoting Sucker Creek. Please rise and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly.

The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services.

1024 Alberta Hansard April 11, 2024

Mr. Nixon: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to introduce to you and through you two great people from Sundre, Alberta, dear friends: first, Dave Leslie, and along with him the great Steve Overguard, one of Sundre’s favourite sons, who is world renowned for his Carhartts and his great beard and is also one of the greatest friends I’ve ever had. I ask both of them to rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this Assembly.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo.

Mr. Yao: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to introduce through you to the Assembly two entrepreneurs, Julieta Miranda and Claudia Miranda, who started Kid-Drop, which provides children’s transportation. They were small business of the year in Fort McMurray. Thank you so much.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Grande Prairie-Wapiti.

Mr. Wiebe: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my privilege to rise and introduce to you and through you to the Assembly Jared and Jennifer Schroeder. Jared is my pastor at Westpointe community church, and I’m glad that they can come and visit. Please rise and receive the warm welcome of the Assembly.

The Speaker: The hon. the Minister of Children and Family Services.

Mr. Turton: Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to introduce to you and through you to all the members of the Assembly my good friend Tim Schindel with Leading Influence, which provides spiritual and emotional care to Canadian politicians, and Jeremiah with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada and a pastor of the Public Church in Old Strathcona. Please rise and accept the warm welcome of the Assembly.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Whitemud.

Ms Pancholi: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise to introduce to you and through you members of the Alberta Life Lease Protection Society, including Gordon Wyatt, who was my junior high drama teacher, Hulda Yelic, Janice Olivier, Jim Carey, Karin Dowling, Kim Nelson, Lisle Cameron, Marie Schulte, and May Wong. Please rise and receive the warm welcome of the Chamber.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood.

Member Irwin: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to introduce more incredible advocates from the Life Lease Protection Society. I would like to introduce Ron Dowling, Ruth Merriott, Sharon Mill, Shaunda Yeoman, Steven Graham, and Vivian Sjolie. If they could all rise and receive the traditional warm welcome of this House. Thank you for being here.

head: Members’ Statements

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Banff-Kananaskis has a statement to make.

Eastern Slopes Land Management

Dr. Elmeligi: Thank you. Alberta’s new renewable regulations have generated quite a bit of discussion. There are concerns around the hypocrisy of creating a series of regulations for one industry and not others, there are concerns about telling people what they can and cannot do on their private lands, and then there are concerns

around the pristine viewscapes designation. Standing in the southern Alberta grasslands looking towards the foothills and the mountains, I’m always struck by how picturesque it looks. It’s almost like a painting or like a pretty tapestry draped on the landscape. But what’s happening behind the curtain, Mr. Speaker? Let’s take a closer look at the eastern slopes, the headwaters of southern Alberta, and the pristine viewscapes. 1:40

The native rough fescue grasslands, that sequester carbon, are being ripped up to build access roads. Coal exploration has created 460 kilometres of new roads, adding hundreds of kilometres to the existing linear footprint. The Oldman reservoir is filled with tonnes of sediment, all of it former soil from the eastern slopes. Forestry in the headwaters has altered fish habitat by reducing shade along streams, meaning there are fewer big bull trout here and fewer angling opportunities as well. Motorized recreation continues to go unchecked on large portions of public lands, reducing recreational opportunities for others and displacing wildlife. Coal mining is still a possibility even though its impacts will reach far beyond the eastern slopes. Land-use plans like the Livingstone-Porcupine recreation plan or linear footprint planning keep getting put on hold while more roads are built. Species from cutthroat trout to grizzly bears and migratory birds struggle to adapt to an ever-changing landscape impacted by development. The cumulative effects of these activities continue to threaten the quality and quantity of water available to communities downstream. We must do better. What’s happening behind the curtain, Mr. Speaker? A whole lot. Do these new renewable regulations intentionally address any of it? Nope, but, hey, at least the eastern slopes are pretty to look at.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Lougheed.

Federal Government Spending in Alberta

Mr. Bouchard: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the years the Liberal government in Ottawa have been imposing their destructive agenda on Alberta taxpayers through direct funding agreements with cities and provincially regulated and funded organizations. Not only does Alberta not receive its per capita share of federal taxpayer dollars; the dollars we do receive are often wasted on unneeded programs and infrastructure that are not aligned with the priorities of Albertans. For much of our recent history Alberta has paid far more in federal taxes than we get back in programs or transfers. Even during the last economic downturn we were the largest net contributor to federal finances, yet we consistently receive less than our provincial neighbours in per capita funding. When we do receive funding, those federal dollars come with ideological strings attached, offering funding on its own terms, bypassing the provinces and forcing municipalities to dance to Ottawa’s tune. In other cases Ottawa ignores programs already in place and wastefully spends on identical programs like pharmacare and dental care when what we really need is envelope funding to expand existing provincial programs in these areas. Mr. Speaker, here’s a partial list of things that the Prime Minister could do instead of interfering with provincial matters: they could get rid of the consumer carbon tax, bring in the clean energy investment tax credit that they promised, address public safety concerns resulting from their lenient bail system; they could properly manage federal finances, deficits, and debt to combat the inflation that’s squeezing every Canadian today and maybe balance the budget, too.

April 11, 2024 Alberta Hansard 1025

Our government believes Albertans are entitled to their fair share of federal funding and to having that funding spent on priorities that matter to them. We’re going to do everything we can to make sure that happens. Mr. Speaker, Alberta’s government will not put up with any other manipulation or political interference from the Liberals in Ottawa. Thank you.

Government Policies

Ms Hoffman: I’ve been talking to Albertans right across this province, and they keep telling me that their priorities are health care, climate, and housing. But the UCP yesterday tabled their bill that they called the Provincial Priorities Act, and what’s their bill? To pick a fake fight with Ottawa that will have real consequences for Alberta voters and Alberta residents. They want to make sure that school boards, municipalities, other partners that enter into intergovernmental agreements can’t do so with Ottawa or any other province or any other government without their permission. How arrogant, how disrespectful, how rude to the people who are on the street struggling to find housing right now to say to Ottawa and to any other partner, “No, not unless this Premier agrees with you”; to say to anybody in need of health care support, things like diabetes medication or birth control, “No, not without the Premier’s support”; to say to anybody in need of clean air on a hot summer’s day, when wildfires are blazing and they are crying for climate action and wanting partners to step up and work with us, not against us, “No, not without this Premier’s approval.” Bill 18 is not anything near the priorities of the people of Alberta. It might be about the political priorities of the current Premier, but I’ll tell you that the next Premier is going to focus on health care, climate, and housing. The next Premier is going to put forward real solutions. I was so proud today to roll out my housing platform and to be able to talk about where we’re going to actually invest money in this province of Alberta to make sure that we work with other partners to free up public lands, public lands that school boards and municipalities are sitting on that could be excellent opportunities for housing, making sure that no more than a third of that housing that’s being put on public land is at market rate, making sure that at least a third of it is below market rate, and making sure that at least a third of it affordable, tied to income. These are the kinds of solutions people are looking for. These are the kinds of solutions that I’m going to put forward and that my colleagues are going to put forward. This is one of the reasons why I’m so proud to be fighting in this leadership race and to be standing up for Premier, hopefully, in the next election, inshallah. Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker. [interjections]

The Speaker: Order. The hon. Member for Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland. [interjections] Order. Order. Order.

Federal Policies

Mr. Getson: Mr. Speaker, it should come as no surprise to anyone to hear that I’m a bit of a storyteller. It’s my way to get people to think and, hopefully, do it in a nice way. When I was 13, we had a late spring. Ponds and rivers were still frozen. Snow on the ground. Cows were still in the calving pens, and calving was just wrapping up. While checking the cows, I came across a young moose calf trying to get into the water trough. The moose was sick. It was acting funny. Terrible looking coat. It was weak. We called fish and

wildlife, and they said that we’re not allowed to interfere with it. They advised that it was probably lousy with ticks; he was trying to get into the water trough to drown them. We could not interfere even though we had the medication to fix the problem. That poor moose died a few days later, and it was heartbreaking. Didn’t deserve to die that way, killed by parasites. I was tasked to burn it to make sure the cows didn’t come into contact, so it was diesel fuel and a Tiger Torch as my tools for the job. I know cowboys aren’t supposed to cry, but as a young man I wept. Sadness, frustration, anger all combined, thinking how that poor animal had suffered. I burned it and that squirming pile of ticks knowing it didn’t have to die. That memory came back to me recently when I was explaining the negative impacts of the NDP-Liberal policies that have taken our province and ruined our country’s economy. Affordability, inflation problems are not by chance. It was not just one tick that brought that moose down, Mr. Speaker. The culmination of wackadoo, woke, hard-left socialist, eco warrior, self-balancing budget, haphazard socialist spending policies have definitely taken their toll. Taxing people to change the weather in the guise of saving the environment through carbon pricing: it should be criminal. Even with the kick in the stomach and the April Fool’s Day carbon tax joke by old Fancy Socks, I still have hope. Seventy per cent of Canada’s Premiers are pushing back, and so are the voters. They’re seeing that this is lunacy, Mr. Speaker. Even the NDP leadership hopefuls are backing away from their steaming pile of carbon tax pricing policies that they put in place. Hypocrisy or cowardice: I’m not sure what describes it best when they didn’t do anything. Premier and ministers, don’t back off. Spring is around the corner. Time to get rid of some ticks.

Life Leases

Ms Renaud: A beautiful glossy photo of an older person smiling, sitting in a lovely new apartment with an ad that says:

Life Lease provides you with an ideal balance between the certainty of owning, and the flexibility of renting . . . If you make a 0% loan to the [life lease] project, you pay zero net rent . . . Your investment is secured by a mortgage against the retirement community.

Sales staff reassure seniors that your money is safe and will be available when you choose to leave the building. Sounds pretty good, right? To date the Greg Christenson Group of Companies owes 183 seniors from nine buildings over $60 million. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. The number of Christenson life lease amounts to be paid back will grow to over $200 million once more seniors move out for things like long-term care. Seniors and their families have been waiting to have their money, in many cases their life savings, returned to them for up to three years. Alberta is currently the Wild West for life leases. There is no consumer protection for seniors when they want to end the lease and have their money returned but the landlord refuses to do so. Three hundred and eighty-eight people are members of the Alberta Life Lease Protection Society. The service Alberta minister says that he’s fully consulted this group. The failure of Bill 12 to protect these seniors is proof that the UCP consultation was incomplete at best. Bill 12 doesn’t protect seniors from unscrupulous landlords. Bill 12 does nothing for the 380 members who are owed money. Bill 12 provides no assurance that life lease funds will be protected. Bill 12 does nothing to ensure money is returned in a timely fashion. Like the seniors here today, we urge the Premier to pull Bill 12, consult seniors, not just operators, and redraft legislation that fully protects seniors, including those victims of the Christenson life lease fiasco.

1026 Alberta Hansard April 11, 2024

We have a housing and affordability crisis in Alberta. The UCP’s failure to create meaningful protection for life lease consumers will add to an evolving catastrophe for seniors and their families. Thank you.

head: Oral Question Period

The Speaker: The Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition has question 1.

Continuing Care Standards

Ms Notley: Mr. Speaker, with motel medicine we saw the UCP farm out important care and wash their hands of it, but now we’re finding that Alberta’s continuing care and supportive living centres are failing to meet the most minimal standards of care for some of Alberta’s most vulnerable citizens. From 2018 to 2023 the violations on an annual basis have doubled. To the Premier: is her plan to eliminate legislated minimum standards of care happening because she thinks it will be easier to just scrap them than to actually meet them and enforce them? 1:50

Member LaGrange: Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the government of Alberta is committed to ensuring Albertans get the care and the support they need in continuing care. Alberta Health monitors all facilities with outstanding noncompliances and escalates enforcement when the noncompliances could negatively impact the health, safety, or well-being of residents or clients. Timelines for correcting outstanding noncompliances will vary, depending on the severity of the infraction. We are making sure that our seniors are safe.

Ms Notley: Mr. Speaker, the infractions have doubled, and the amount of time to fix them: they go on for years and years. This is what happens when a government runs on the basis of aspirational goals. In the real world Alberta seniors are no longer able to count on adequate care, nutrition, and kitchens free of mouse droppings. This is not a situation where flexibility is the answer. To the Premier: will she scrap her plan to eliminate the minimum standard of care and instead implement a legislated minimum number of four hours of care, just like they did in Ontario?

Member LaGrange: Mr. Speaker, again, the members opposite are trying to create fear. In fact, under the new regulations we have in fact improved, gone from 1.9 hours of care to over 3.62 hours of care that we’re funding. In fact, we are making sure that safety is paramount. In fact, I’ve actually recently expanded the division in my department to respond to investigations like these complaints that were alleged. We are continuing to make improvements. We’re spending over a billion dollars.

Ms Notley: The minister misspoke, Mr. Speaker. They did not increase regular standards of care; they eliminated them. Albertans expect accountability, especially when it comes to the care of their loved ones. For the first few days after motel medicine was revealed, those ministers over there denied it, and for this stuff we had to dig through freedom of information requests and multiple websites. None of this should be a government secret, Mr. Speaker. To the Premier: why won’t she at least guarantee more transparency and enforcement and restore and expand the independence and scope of the Seniors Advocate?

Member LaGrange: Mr. Speaker, again, the misinformation coming from the other side continues on and on and on. In fact, that information is publicly available. You can see it on the website.

Any Albertan can go and see it on the website. The fact that more investigations are happening is the very reason that we have more people involved in doing those investigations. I’ve added more people to the division because I want to make sure our seniors are safe. We’ve added over a billion dollars to continuing care. We’re going to keep doing what’s right for seniors.

The Speaker: The hon. the Leader of the Opposition for her second set of questions.

Bill 18

Ms Notley: Well, Mr. Speaker, the Premier has taken her ideological control fixation to a new extreme. Albertans democratically elect entire councils who fight to get funding for their communities. From the UCP, though, they get funding cuts and downloaded costs, so they go to Ottawa seeking support for crucial local projects. That’s local representatives standing up for their community. To the Premier: no one has elected this Premier mayor or councillor, so why does she think she has the mandate to pretend that they did?

Mr. McIver: Well, I think it’s courageous of the hon. member to talk about standing up for communities because that leader, when she was Premier, never did it once for Alberta in the entire four years . . .

Ms Gray: Point of order.

Mr. McIver: . . . and today, Mr. Speaker, has the chutzpah to stand here and want Albertans to accept less than a billion dollars for housing when they should be getting more than $2 billion. Not good enough for us, not good enough for municipalities, but I guess it’s good enough for the NDP. [interjections]

The Speaker: Order.

Ms Notley: Well, Mr. Speaker, highways, transit, and other infrastructure projects often need significant federal funding. Access to these projects helps communities and particularly our big cities play a huge role in attracting private investment and jobs. Having municipal leaders advocate for Alberta is actually a feature of this system, not a bug. To the Premier: why doesn’t she understand that this bill is giving major cities in every other province a huge competitive advantage over the Alberta mayors that she has now shackled with her red tape?

Mr. McIver: Well, wrong again, Mr. Speaker. In fact, we will do our best to maintain the agreements that the large cities have with the federal government, but the NDP leader is suggesting that about 220 of Alberta’s 230 municipalities get nothing. News flash: Alberta is bigger than Edmonton and Calgary. I know they don’t realize it over there. Rural Alberta matters. Mid-sized cities matter. Towns matter. We care about all Albertans, not just our favourites, like the folks across the way. [interjections]

The Speaker: Order. Order. Order.

Ms Notley: Well, you know, Mr. Speaker, the UCP is scared of things they just don’t understand, which means, of course, they’ve been chasing postsecondary education with a fiscal version of torches and pitchforks for years, and this bill is just more of the same. Our world-class postsecondary institutions attract Nobel prize winning researchers and generate billions of dollars in economic activity every year. To the Premier: does she not understand . . .

Mr. Nixon: Point of order.

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Ms Notley: . . . that blocking federal funding to our universities will affect the economy, or does she think that that’s just another case of what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her?

Mrs. Sawhney: Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to supporting postsecondary institutes and attracting investment. We are introducing the Provincial Priorities Act to push back on overreach by the federal government because we know that that happens. The approvals process will be determined through engagement with postsecondary institutes and the regulatory development process. Our focus will be on ensuring federal agreements align with provincial priorities.

The Speaker: Hon. members, a point of order was noted at 1:54 by the Official Opposition House Leader and at 1:56 by the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services.

Wildfire Management and First Nations Communities

Member Arcand-Paul: On Tuesday a large grass fire ignited west of the Enoch Cree Nation, prompting an evacuation in the area. I’m grateful that the fire has been extinguished and that those evacuated have been able to return to their homes. However, the stress and fear of having to evacuate on those impacted is huge, and we need to ensure that they are supported. To the Premier: was the government aware that there had been an evacuation as a result of this fire? When was she informed? And if she was, why has there been no announced support for the impacted community members?

The Speaker: The hon. the Minister of Forestry and Parks.

Mr. Loewen: Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thanks for the question. Of course, our hearts go out to anybody that’s been evacuated. We know that we had about 50,000 Albertans in 38 communities last year evacuated. Our hearts go out to them. We know that it disrupted their lives and their livelihoods, and we want to make sure that we keep that to a minimum. It was unfortunate that this happened at Enoch Cree Nation. They were evacuated because of the smoke from a fire. We have active firefighters on the landscape right now. Just an interesting fact: we’ve had 103 wildfires already started just this year when we have nine left on the books, and that’s because of the good work of the people in Wildfire.

Member Arcand-Paul: So she was not informed. I have heard from multiple Indigenous folks such as from the East Prairie Métis settlement in regard to community concerns. There is no direction or guidance from this government. Communities are left to fend for themselves. The UCP tries to say that they will invest money or they will provide emergency co-ordinators, yet when it comes to the actual time of wildfire igniting, this government is seemingly unprepared, with zero plans, failing Indigenous peoples in Alberta. To the Premier. Fire season has started. What is the plan for wildfires in nations like Enoch or in settlements like East Prairie?

The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Forestry and Parks.

Mr. Loewen: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thanks again for the question. The chief from Enoch contacted the Indigenous Relations minister with that fire going on, and the Indigenous Relations minister was in contact with East Prairie Métis settlement through that fire, too. I was out there at East Prairie Métis settlement with the Premier here just a few months ago. We know that our First Nations people need to be protected. Their communities are quite

often in areas where there’s a danger of wildfire. We’re working with them. We continue to work with them. We’re concerned about them. We’re working on community fireguards across this province to protect our communities, and we’re going to continue that good work.

Member Arcand-Paul: A Métis settlement resident last year stated that the UCP should not have cut the wildfire budget and rap attack as his community experienced a disaster of wildfires. Elders have also said that evacuation notices were dangerously late. Alongside ex- firefighters this community fought the fire themselves while waiting for support. The UCP has a failed track record on Indigenous engagement for emergency response. Now they’re ignoring Indigenous peoples when they tell this government when they need to keep their homes safe. 2:00 Mr. Schow: Point of order.

Member Arcand-Paul: To the Premier: why does the UCP continue to fail Indigenous peoples when it comes to protecting their homelands from wildfires?

The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Forestry and Parks.

Mr. Loewen: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To the opposite member there, talking about the budget, we increased wildfire operations’ budget this year by $55 million. That increased both on-the- ground firefighters, to the tune of 140 people, plus operational people, too, within the department. We are concerned about wildfire. We’re concerned about our communities. We’re concerned about our First Nation communities. We reflected that in the budget, and we’ve acted on that budget, and we’re making sure that we’re doing everything we can to protect our communities, First Nations and otherwise, across Alberta.

The Speaker: A point of order is noted at 2 o’clock by the hon. the Government House Leader.

Federal Postsecondary Research Funding

Member Hoyle: Yesterday the government introduced legislation to limit provincial institutions’ autonomy, from municipalities to postsecondaries. Our world-class research institutions attract the brightest minds, using federal funds that are distributed by arm’s- length granting councils, which the Premier calls ideologically driven. Thirty-five per cent of the U of C’s research funding comes from the government of Canada. How much is at risk to ensure the Premier’s ideology is the only one supported at that institution?

Mrs. Sawhney: Thank you to the member for that question. Mr. Speaker, our financial statements indicate that $500 million are received by Alberta postsecondary institutions, sent by the federal government every year. I believe that Albertans have a right to know what these grants are, what they’re funding, and Bill 18 will enable us to collect that information. But I do want to assure our postsecondary partners that they will be at the table as we conduct our engagement to make sure that the approvals process aligns with their priorities as well.

Member Hoyle: Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council make decisions based on the applications and the mandates of excellence, attraction, equity, and innovation. Alberta’s arm’s-length institutions make decisions based on a mandate. One may wonder how much political

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interference is already happening under the UCP. Will the Premier admit she is using the federal government as a smokescreen to justify control of organizations and academic thought in Alberta?

Mr. Schow: Point of order.

Mrs. Sawhney: Mr. Speaker, again, $500 million is provided by the federal government to Alberta’s postsecondaries, and it’s important to know where this grant funding is going because it will allow the province to better partner with the postsecondaries as well. I think industry, Albertans, and students have a right to know where this grant funding is going. That’s why Bill 18 is important, for us to collect that information. [interjections]

The Speaker: Order. Order. A point of order is noted at 2:03 by the hon. the Government House Leader.

Member Hoyle: Federal funding includes Canada research chairs, used to attract the brightest minds at Canadian universities. Alberta benefits by $24.7 million, supporting research and sciences, social areas such as social entrepreneurship, criminology. These chairs decide where they research. Other jurisdictions are already reaching out, offering employment in less hostile environments. Will the Premier admit that she made a mistake and commit to Alberta’s postsecondaries that they will be removed from the scope of Bill 18?

Mrs. Sawhney: Mr. Speaker, the fact is that the government of Alberta is a strong partner with postsecondaries in Alberta. We provide billions of dollars to these institutions, and we are going to work with them after the passage of Bill 18 to sit down and talk about the approvals process and better understand where this funding is going. Again, this provides an opportunity to the provincial government to better partner with our postsecondaries when we have a more clear understanding of what that grant funding is for.

Life Lease Housing

Ms Pancholi: Hundreds of Alberta seniors and their families in my riding have been scammed out of their life savings by Christenson Developments and unregulated life leases. Many of those Albertans, who the minister has failed to consult with on Bill 12, are in the gallery today. The government and AHS currently have several multimillion-dollar contracts with the Christenson Group of Companies. Will the Premier commit today that those contracts will be terminated because not one single public dollar should go to a private company that is defrauding Alberta seniors?

Mr. Nally: Mr. Speaker, this is a deplorable situation when 180 Albertans, vulnerable seniors, can’t get their deposits back. I will say this. The answer to that is not to evict more seniors, as the member is asking. The answer to this is what I’m doing. My department has met with Greg Christenson 12 times. I personally attended nine of those meetings. The purpose is to apply pressure, and I’ve committed to not stopping until he’s made every one of those Albertans whole. [interjections]

The Speaker: Order. Order. Order.

Ms Pancholi: Given that there are currently 55 seniors in my riding who are owed over $16 million from Christenson life leases and the first senior in the payout queue has been waiting almost three years for the return of their own money and given that when all of the current life leases with Christenson are terminated, seniors across this province will be owed over $200 million and given that the

minister has claimed he wants to make these seniors whole but Bill 12 and nothing that he has done makes any difference for these seniors, will the Premier commit today that the government or AHS will not enter into any new contracts with Christenson until every dollar has been repaid?

Mr. Nally: Mr. Speaker, as I said, this is a deplorable situation, and the answer to this is not to evict more seniors. I have said it before and I’ll say it again: I will keep meeting with Christenson Developments until every single Albertan is made whole. Now, Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this legislation is to make sure that this never happens again. There are penalties in this legislation that include fines up to $300,000. Just because the Member for St. Albert can’t act with class or dignity doesn’t mean that we won’t on this side. [interjections]

Ms Gray: Point of order.

The Speaker: Order. Order. Order. A point of order is noted at 2:07. [interjections] Order. Order. Order.

Ms Pancholi: Given that last month Greg Christenson, a big UCP donor, boasted to the Alberta Life Lease Protection Society that he got a call from AHS about a potential untendered contract to use his vacant life lease units to move seniors out of hospitals and given that the minister told the group he would not support this but shortly after one of his staff contacted the society and asked them nervously if they were going to go public with the conversation and given that it’s pretty simple – Greg Christenson and his companies owe Alberta seniors millions of dollars. Not one new single public dollar should go to them. Will the Minister of Health commit right now that it will not?

Mr. Nally: Mr. Speaker, here’s what I can tell you. This situation . . . [interjections]

The Speaker: Order. Order. Order.

Mr. Nixon: Point of order.

Mr. Nally: Mr. Speaker, I apologize for identifying the Member for St. Albert. In fact, the correct thing to point out is that it’s the entire caucus that lacks dignity and respect. We have 180 Albertans that have had their deposits kept from them. That is deplorable, and I have committed and I will continue to commit that I won’t stop putting pressure on Greg Christenson until every single one of those individuals has been made whole.

The Speaker: A point of order is noted by the hon. the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services at 2:08. [interjections] Order. Order. Order.

Mr. Schow: Point of order.

The Speaker: A point of order is noted by the hon. the Government House Leader. [interjections] Order. Order. Order. The Member for Lesser Slave Lake has a question.

Technology Innovation in Agriculture

Mr. Sinclair: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Alberta is a global leader in agriculture research and technology, which results in tangible benefits for farmers such as higher profits and more abundant food supply at an affordable cost for consumers. That’s why I was so pleased that earlier this week Alberta’s government announced a

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$1.2 million grant to the University of Calgary’s Simpson Centre and their Alberta agriculture digitalization program. Could the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation please tell us how these funds will help Alberta farmers and ranchers better understand the challenges and opportunities for technology and digitalization in agriculture? 2:10

The Speaker: The hon. the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation.

Mr. Sigurdson: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the member for this great question. Providing $1.2 million over three years for the Alberta agriculture digitalization program at the University of Calgary’s Simpson Centre will help us better understand how digital technology could increase agriculture productivity and competitiveness, improve food security, and have a positive impact on the environment. This innovative program will allow the school to research and provide recommendations on how producers can use and adopt new technologies to improve their operations. [interjections]

The Speaker: Order. The hon. Member for Lesser Slave Lake.

Mr. Sinclair: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and to the minister for that answer. Given that we are looking at the agriculture industry to continue as a leading contributor to Alberta’s economy and given that this centre is a cutting-edge research and policy hub and further given that this government will continue to fight for farmers, families, and First Nations to eliminate the do-nothing carbon tax and continue to help Métis settlements like the East Prairie settlement with $9 million to rebuild every single home lost in the wildfire, to the same minister: what are some tangible examples of the type of work the Simpson Centre will be doing?

The Speaker: The hon. the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation.

Mr. Sigurdson: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you again to the member for the question. Now, this centre is going to create a platform for experts to exchange ideas to develop recommendations for the digitalization of agriculture. Alberta is already a global leader in ag research and technology, and we’re looking to continue that trend and carry on this leadership. Adopting new technologies, whether it be artificial intelligence, robotics and drones, data analytics, for example, will benefit Alberta producers but also consumers by ensuring a safe, stable, and secure food supply.

The Speaker: The hon. the Member for Lesser Slave Lake.

Mr. Sinclair: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and again to the minister for that wonderful answer. Given that modern agriculture is still a hands-on, boots-on-the-ground industry and given that agriculture is a highly technical and skilled occupation and given that the folks who make up Alberta’s ag industry, whether it be farmers, ranchers, or researchers, all contribute to feeding families here in Alberta and across the globe, to the same minister: how will this research impact farms and ranches, and when can producers expect to start seeing the results of the work in the fields?

Mr. Sigurdson: Mr. Speaker, the Simpson Centre’s leading researchers have a significant role in finding solutions to the challenges farmers and ranchers face. This includes things like automation to reimagine labour-intensive processes, using technology to monitor crops, and installing smart sensors to monitor equipment and track maintenance. Innovation in ag tech is essential to help move this industry forward, and I know that with

the constant, growing demand for food our crop and livestock associations really appreciate this type of work that this government is investing in right now.

Bill 18 (continued)

Mr. Kasawski: When this government isn’t failing municipalities by not getting them the unpaid taxes they are owed or downloading costs onto them, they are fixated on wrapping them in red tape to address the Premier’s ideological agenda. Not a single municipality was consulted on Bill 18, the Premier’s attempt to block Albertans from their own tax dollars, leaving many municipalities concerned that they will see projects cancelled or funding cut. Why didn’t the minister consult with even one municipality before introducing this bad bill? [interjections]

The Speaker: Order. The hon. the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Mr. McIver: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The folks across the way are probably satisfied with municipalities getting a billion dollars or $2 billion less than what would be equal with the other provinces, but on this side of the House we are not satisfied. We got elected to fight for Alberta, fight for Alberta citizens, and fight for Alberta housing. We’re not going to settle for half of any of those things. The NDP will settle for municipalities going with less housing, fewer Albertans supported. On this side of the House we will fight for municipalities, and we’ll fight for housing.

Mr. Kasawski: Given that the mayor of Wetaskiwin, who is the president of Alberta Municipalities, said of Bill 18, “We weren’t consulted on it” and they didn’t even know it was in the works and given that he has concerns this bill is just another way for the province to continue blocking municipal funding, seeing as this government has cut this funding by 56 per cent since 2019, forcing Albertans to pay higher property taxes while receiving fewer services, does the minister have a message for those who will pay more and get less as a result of the Premier’s plan to build a firewall between Albertans and their own money?

The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Mr. McIver: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The mayor of Wetaskiwin is a very good person, and I’m helping him. Out of the 265-odd municipalities that Alberta Municipalities represents, about 255 are getting zero from the federal government. That is not equitable. We’ve heard folks on the other side talk about housing, talk about equity. This is neither of those things. [interjections] Their leader is mouthing off though their party did nothing when they were in power to support equity for Albertans, for their municipalities and people. We are not going to be satisfied until Albertans get what they need, equal with other provinces.

Mr. Kasawski: Given that it’s clear that the UCP has no respect for municipalities and given that this minister has left rural municipalities with $260 million of unpaid property taxes under his watch that is growing year after year and given that this minister, who has failed for years to address this, now wants to be the decider on what Albertans do with their tax dollars, how does the minister expect any municipality to trust him when he refuses to consult and puts the Premier’s whims over the needs of Albertans?

Mr. McIver: Mr. Speaker, here’s a news flash for the folks over there: out of the 65 rural municipalities there are about 60 that are

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getting zero in funding. Not good enough. You know what? The NDP might be happy with less than 10 per cent getting some funding for housing. We’d like that number to be a lot closer to 100 per cent. There’s the difference right there, why rural Alberta supports this party, because we want everybody in Alberta to get funding: Calgary, Edmonton, and every other municipality. The folks over there are only satisfied with their close friends. All Albertans get support from this government. It’s the way it will always be.

Life Lease Regulation

Mr. Ip: Mr. Speaker, for the 161 families that are owed millions of dollars from Christenson Communities, having their life savings taken away is devastating. They need their money back now. The minister of service Alberta says that he can’t do anything since his department is investigating, but what he doesn’t mention is that his department is only investigating Christenson’s sales tactics and not the lopsided contract seniors had signed. To the minister: why isn’t he using the full force of the Consumer Protection Act to investigate unfair practices?

The Speaker: The hon. the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction.

Mr. Nally: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t interfere in investigations. I looked as recently as last week, and that investigation is still open. Until that investigation is closed, I’m unable to comment on the matter. But I will say this: we side with the 180 Albertans that have not had their deposits returned. We think it’s deplorable, and we will not stop putting pressure on that developer until every single Albertan has been paid back.

Mr. Ip: Given that the point of the Consumer Protection Act is to protect Albertans from unfair practices and bad actors and given that individual families owed money by life lease companies have $300,000, $400,000, $500,000 tied up by these leases and were expecting decisive action from the minister but are instead blindsided and devastated by Bill 12, calling it, quote, a slap in the face and utterly disgusting, why is the minister abandoning families and instead telling them to go to court when they have no more cash?

Mr. Nally: Mr. Speaker, I want to be very clear that this bill brings in the most comprehensive protections that we have ever seen in the life lease industry in Alberta. It ensures that there are prescribed time frames to be paid back. We’ve improved disclosure, and we’ve even put in penalties that will include not only up to $300,000 in fines but two years in prison. We committed that this will not happen again, and it won’t. [interjections]

The Speaker: Order.

Mr. Ip: Given that the minister has a responsibility to protect Albertans, full stop, and given that he already has powers to protect consumers from unethical companies and tactics but is instead allowing bad actors to get away with it with a further $146 million being held by Christenson from current life lease holders, why is the minister refusing to take immediate action to protect consumers not from future life leases but from existing unscrupulous practices?

Mr. Nally: Mr. Speaker, the answer to that question is: because those protections don’t exist today. That’s the urgency to passing this legislation, so that this situation never happens again. In the future there will be prescribed time frames. There will be improved disclosure, transparency. There will be penalties, interest rates if it’s

not paid back within 180 days. Lastly, there will be fines up to $300,000 or two years in prison. If the member would read the legislation, he would know that this will go a long way to making sure that this never happens again. 2:20

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lacombe-Ponoka has a question.

High-speed Internet Service for Rural Alberta

Mrs. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The ability to access the Internet has become an essential component of everyday life. However, ensuring rural Albertans have fast and effective Internet continues to pose a problem. Given the increasing need for high- speed Internet connection across Alberta and given that options such as fibre optics and Starlink are unavailable or out of reach to many constituency members, to the Minister of Technology and Innovation: can you outline what broadband infrastructure currently exists in the constituency of Lacombe-Ponoka?

The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Technology and Innovation.

Mr. Glubish: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the member for the question. The larger population centres within the constituency of Lacombe-Ponoka, including Ponoka, Lacombe, Blackfalds, and Alix, have access to a mix of gigabit-capable fibre, hybrid fibre, as well as some upgraded and fixed wireless high-speed Internet. While some rural areas of the constituency can access fixed wireless high-speed Internet, other areas are experiencing more challenges, particularly homes in the west, southeast, and far northeast. Currently homes in Lacombe-Ponoka are able to access high-speed Internet through Starlink’s residential service, which is available nation-wide. This is why the Alberta broadband strategy is so . . .

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Lacombe-Ponoka.

Mrs. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and through you to the minister. Given that much of the riding is rural, with many constituents living a significant distance from their nearest community hub, and given that many families such as myself have had to seek out expensive alternative Internet infrastructure to have a successful and consistent high-speed connection, to the Minister of Technology and Innovation: what types of future infrastructure investment can we expect to see in the constituency of Lacombe-Ponoka?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mr. Glubish: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to say that as a part of Alberta’s broadband strategy we’ve allocated $390 million over five years to expand high-speed Internet infrastructure across the province, and just yesterday I was at a broadband event in Red Deer county . . .

An Hon. Member: Bye.

Ms Gray: Point of order.

Mr. Glubish: . . . to share the good news that we are investing $8 million to connect 10 communities in that region to high-speed Internet services. Blackfalds, which falls within the constituency of Lacombe-Ponoka, is one of these communities. Gull Lake south is another one that is going to be connected through the broadband strategy. Our government is committed to getting all Albertans access to high-speed Internet by 2027, and, Mr. Speaker, we are 55 per cent of the way there already. [interjections]

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The Speaker: Order. Order. Order. A point of order is noted at 2:22 by the Official Opposition House Leader. The hon. Member for Lacombe-Ponoka, second supplemental.

Mrs. Johnson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker and again through you to the minister. Given that some seniors frequently struggle to navigate and successfully conduct business online and given that seniors and seniors’ lodges are a critical part of our community and given that quality high-speed Internet can come at a hefty cost to some of our seniors who rely only on pensions and given that many seniors can have a hard time moving to digital infrastructure, to the same minister: what is being done to ensure we are helping our seniors bridge the gap to the digital world yet enabling them to still access their required support systems?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mr. Glubish: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to say we recently announced the Alberta digital literacy program, which can help Albertans, including seniors, gain the confidence and skills they need to engage with our increasingly digital world. Whether it’s accessing products, services, or information online or just reaching out to loved ones, digital literacy can help Alberta seniors build the needed skills to engage online safely. This government is committed to helping our seniors in this digital age, which is why we’ve made these digital courses free of charge, available for every Albertan at digitalliteracy.alberta.ca. As of March 27, 2024, hundreds of individuals have used these programs for free, and of those about one-third are seniors.

Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy

Mr. Ellingson: Mr. Speaker, in 2022 the government released the Alberta technology innovation strategy with five broad goals accompanying objectives, including increasing the depth of our talent pool, increasing access to capital facilitating commercialization, optimizing our ecosystem, and enhancing our reputation. The strategy does not include any performance indicators for these goals, making it difficult to measure any form of success. Can the minister tell us exactly how many jobs have been created and revenue generated by companies through the implementation of that strategy? Will Albertans see a progress report?

Mr. Glubish: Mr. Speaker, I’ll give you some numbers that I think are really meaningful. When the NDP were in government in 2017: only $30 million of tech investment.While we were in government in the last couple of years: $729 million of tech investment in 2022, and in 2023, again, over $700 million. We did that at the same time that the Canadian venture market was deeply on the decline. In fact, it went down by 30 per cent last year. Alberta is bucking the trend. Alberta is leading the country. We are the fastest growing, most exciting technology sector in the country, and it’s going to stay that way. [interjections]

The Speaker: Order.

Mr. Ellingson: Given that the approved budget in ’23-24 was double that requested from program staff and given that the strategy includes initiatives to enhance short-term skills development, apprenticeship programs, expanding work-integrated learning, developing microcredentialing and given that the strategy also includes expanded postsecondary and launching accelerated technology pathways for immigration, can the minister share with

us how many more technology jobs have been felt since the technology strategy had been implemented?

Mr. Glubish: Mr. Speaker, there’s never been a better time to be in tech in Alberta than today, and we’re just getting started. We have more tech companies than ever before. They are growing faster than ever before. They are raising more money than ever before. For the first time in my lifetime we can say that we have between 10 and 12 tech companies in Alberta worth a billion dollars. There have never been tech unicorns under the NDP. There are tech unicorns under the UCP. What we are doing is working, and we are working closely with our tech sector to continue that momentum and to continue attracting investment, continue creating jobs, and I’m having a lot of fun doing it.

Mr. Ellingson: Given that Alberta saw no growth in venture capital in 2023 and given that this budget did not recapitalize Alberta Enterprise Corp and given that the government directs TIER funding to debt repayment instead of tech and innovation and given that despite repeated broken promises the UCP has failed to replace the Alberta investor tax credit or the digital media tax credit that they eliminated, does the minister intend to repromise the tax credits they’ve been unable to deliver so far? If not, how does he plan to ensure access to capital at all stages of growth?

Mr. Glubish: Mr. Speaker, the only time there was no growth in venture capital was when the NDP were in government. We have been able to grow our venture capital exponentially in the last four years, and we’re going to keep that going. As I mentioned, the entire Canadian market was down by 30 per cent last year. We held steady at over $700 million compared to $30 million when the NDP were in government. Everywhere I go, I talk about what’s happening in Alberta tech. No matter where I go across the country or around the world, everyone agrees. There’s something special happening in Alberta in our tech sector, and they want to be a part of it.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock.

Rural School Construction and Modernization

Mr. van Dijken: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Providing adequate school facilities is crucial to ensuring that every child in Alberta has access to quality education. As we strive to create a better future for our youth, it’s essential to understand the government’s commitment to funding and developing school facilities across the province. Can the Minister of Education elaborate on the government’s strategies for providing school facilities throughout Alberta, particularly in rural areas, and how budgetary allocations are being prioritized to meet the needs of our communities?

The Speaker: The hon. the Minister of Education.

Mr. Nicolaides: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a top priority for our government to ensure that we are building and modernizing schools, of course, in our fastest growing communities but also in all communities across the province. Just this past Friday I had the opportunity of announcing, along with the Premier, the development of the replacement junior high school in Brooks. We have a number of replacement and new school projects under way in every corner of the province. We’re working aggressively because Alberta is back and booming. People are moving here in droves, and we’re going to make sure they have the schools they need.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Athabasca-Barrhead- Westlock.

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Mr. van Dijken: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the importance of timely school project execution in meeting the educational needs of our communities and given the diverse stages, from planning to completion, of these projects and further given the ongoing concerns raised by the opposition NDP regarding school construction projects, often without a full understanding of the project stages, can the Minister of Infrastructure, for the benefit of the House and especially for the opposition, outline the different stages in school development projects and the corresponding timelines for completion?

Mr. Guthrie: Mr. Speaker, the province has a whopping 98 schools in the queue at one of four stages: preplanning, which addresses capacity and site selection; planning, creates a functional plan; design and tender, includes cost estimates, drawings, permitting, and bidding; and . . . [interjections] 2:30

The Speaker: Okay. Okay. The hon. the Minister of Infrastructure is the one with the call.

Mr. Guthrie: I know how contentious this is. . . . finally, construction. Generally, depending on size and complexity, it takes three to four years to build a school and get kiddos in the seats. Mr. Speaker, our department continues to work and take every opportunity to speed up timelines and reduce costs, of course, while maintaining quality.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Mr. van Dijken: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that some school projects have been identified in my constituency for replacement and modernization and given the significant importance of these schools to the communities in my riding – namely, the Mallaig replacement school project, Barrhead composite high school modernization, the Holy Family Catholic school in Waskatenau – can the same minister provide updates for my constituents on the progress of these three projects and the expected timelines for completion?

Mr. Guthrie: Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to let the member know that all three projects he mentioned are currently in design. We expect the Holy Family school to tender later this year. All will have shovels in the ground in 2025, ready for a September 26 opening. Mr. Speaker, in 2015 and in 2016, before the Nenshi Trojan Horse and Liberal invasion, the NDP announced zero schools. Since 2019 we invested $1.4 billion into 120 projects with more on the way. We have a road map for success, and we’re sticking to it. Thank you.

Access to Menstrual Products

Ms Hayter: Mr. Speaker, last fall I had the opportunity to meet with Ziyana Kotadia, a constituent advocate for menstrual equity. I was thrilled to host a successful period poverty drive in the Calgary- Edgemont constituency, and with the generosity of the community it has resulted in a permanent period poverty drive and an ongoing endeavour. Supplies can be dropped off at my office. Given that period poverty, the lack of access to menstrual products, continues to enforce gender barriers in our province, what is the provincial government currently doing to end menstrual inequality in Alberta?

Ms Fir: Mr. Speaker, our government values the health care of all Albertans, including women. Period poverty and menstrual products is something that the member asked me about in estimates,

which I addressed, and it’s something that as a government we will continue to look into and consider. [interjections]

The Speaker: Order. Order. Order.

Ms Hayter: Given that this government did not continue with the United Way Period Promise campaign in 2021 to provide free menstrual products to schools and given that schools need barrier- free access to pads and tampons, with statistics indicating that 62 per cent of students have left or missed school because period products weren’t available to them, given that Alberta is in the midst of the worst affordability crisis in memory and access to period products should not be considered a luxury item, Minister, why not provide access to menstrual products to all provincial buildings and schools?

The Speaker: The hon. the Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women.

Ms Fir: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said before and I’ll say again, our government values the health and well-being of all Albertans, including women. When it comes to menstrual products available in schools, again, these are conversations that I’m open to. The member opposite knows that I spoke about this in estimates, and it’s something that we will look at.

Ms Hayter: Given that we must advance momentum towards menstrual equality and establish proactive gender transformative policies at the provincial level to set up all women and girls for success and given that the stigma surrounding menstruation can be a significant barrier, preventing women and young girls from exercising their sexual and reproductive rights, given that equitable access to menstrual products and education about reproductive health is an essential part of health care, when will the UCP government step up and, at the very least, permanently provide free period products in all provincial buildings?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Ms Fir: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again I’ll repeat what I’ve previously said. This government believes in Albertans and believes in supporting the health and well-being of all Albertans, and this is something that we will consider and look at, as we do all products and services.

Support for Health Care Workers

Member Eremenko: Mr. Speaker, this government has utterly failed to listen to or properly support health care workers. Time and time again we’ve seen them claim to know better than those on the front lines when it comes to Albertans and their health. The Premier says that smoking isn’t actually bad for you and that stage 4 cancer is the patient’s fault.

Mr. Nixon: Point of order.

Member Eremenko: The Premier denies health rights and protections for trans youth, and now the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction moralizes his way out of providing life-saving services for people suffering from addiction. Can the Premier or any of the ministers opposite tell us why they know better than highly trained health professionals about what is the best care for their patients?

The Speaker: A point of order is noted at 2:35 by the hon. the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services. The Minister of . . .

April 11, 2024 Alberta Hansard 1033

Mr. Nixon: Point of order.

The Speaker: I literally just said that.

Mr. Nixon: A new one. It’s a different one.

Mr. Williams: Mr. Speaker, this government takes incredibly seriously Albertans who are in vulnerable positions, and our response is to care for them and meet them wherever they are. Whether it be an individual suffering from addiction, we want to be there to help them through recovery. If it’s an individual suffering from a mental health crisis, we need to be there to get them the support. We need to make sure that no matter where Albertans are, we’re there to support them in their moments of crisis and we respond to those in need.

Member Eremenko: Given that the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction glibly refers to harm reduction as harm “production” and given that there are hundreds of health care professionals working in harm reduction who are now under the minister’s mandate and given that the rate of burnout, turnover, and mental health challenges among health care providers is at an all-time high, can the minister tell Albertans how he plans to support recovery Alberta when he has shown such disdain and disrespect for the life-saving workers on the front lines?

The Speaker: The hon. the Minister of . . .

Mr. Schow: Point of order.

The Speaker: Mental Health and Addiction. And a point of order is noted at 2:36 by the hon. the Government House Leader.

Mr. Williams: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. If we’re talking about burnout from our front-line workers, we will not go down the path that B.C. has gone down, where they’re putting at risk nurses in hospitals who are told that they have to accept any knife that is four inches or less in their hospital work. They have to accept second- hand crystal meth and fentanyl smoke. We will not do that. If by “harm reduction” you mean to say naloxone: yes. If by “harm reduction” you mean to say beds in our drug-consumption sites and in our recovery centres: absolutely. If, instead, you mean safe- supply, high-powered opioids dumped into our communities, it’s an absolute no and twice on Sunday. No.

Member Eremenko: Given that the Premier made it clear that they would be moving ahead with recovery Alberta, having pursued no consultation with health care providers, given that the same Premier has spoken with extreme ignorance just yesterday . . .

Mr. Schow: Point of order.

Member Eremenko: . . . outright insulting nurses working in managed alcohol programs, which are well recognized and proven therapies that save lives, I’ll ask once more: why does the minister think any nurse or social worker would want to stay employed with recovery Alberta when the UCP regularly insults them by claiming they are producing harm for the people whose lives they are actually saving?

The Speaker: A point of order is noted at 2:38 by the hon. the Government House Leader.

Mr. Williams: Mr. Speaker, we had the largest recovery conference in Canada last week in Calgary, with over 2,000 individuals, where we had resumés flowing into recovery Alberta,

because nobody wants to work in the devastating environment created by decriminalization and safe supply in British Columbia. On this side of the border we will not go there. We believe we have an obligation to be hopeful, and that is why recovery is the centre of someone’s crisis, whether it be addiction or mental health. The path forward is one of optimism. [interjections]

The Speaker: Order. Order. Order. The hon. Member for Calgary- Currie might not like the answer. The minister is entitled to give it. The use of unparliamentary language, whether it’s on the record or off the record, is still unparliamentary.

Mr. Williams: Mr. Speaker, members opposite do not like it because this is a path of hope and life, and they prefer death and destruction. [interjections]

Ms Gray: Point of order.

The Speaker: Order. Order. Order. The hon. Member for Livingstone-Macleod.

Drought Preparations

Mrs. Petrovic: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As many Albertans know, especially in areas such as my riding of Livingstone-Macleod, Alberta is currently in stage 4 of its water shortage management response plan, an effort to cope with the drought conditions. The effects of drought are numerous and include economic losses in agriculture and ranching. Since it is crucial to ensure drought-affected regions gain access to necessary water and considering that large water licence stakeholders are currently being met with, to the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas: what is being done to ensure that small water licence holders will have their voices heard to ensure their livelihoods are kept?

The Speaker: The hon. the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas.

Ms Schulz: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the member for the question. My department has met with dozens of communities and smaller licence holders this year as we help them to find new and better ways to conserve water and prepare for the risk of drought that we’re seeing this year. And we are in fact ramping up this work. In the next couple of weeks we’ll reach out to more than 2,000 smaller water users in southern Alberta alone. These are unprecedented efforts, and they will help protect communities and businesses alike this year. 2:40

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Livingstone-Macleod.

Mrs. Petrovic: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that drought relief is one of the critical responsibilities of our government and given that it is important that we are able to provide aid in a timely manner and further given that some drought relief mitigations can cross over different ministries, which could potentially create some confusion and delay, to the same minister: what is being done to ensure that government drought relief mitigations are not getting bogged down by crossministerial red tape?

Ms Schulz: That is an excellent question, Mr. Speaker. Nothing irritates me more than unnecessary red tape, especially when it comes to solving the issues that are facing Albertans right now when it comes to drought. That’s why our departments are working together to support municipalities and water users. We’re working to increase flexibility and help landowners, irrigators, and communities by making changes; for example, to pause the 10 per cent holdback when

1034 Alberta Hansard April 11, 2024

it’s not needed. Fast-tracking regulatory reviews for requests to move water intakes or other drought-related changes will continue to cut red tape so Albertans can respond to the changing drought conditions that we’re seeing.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Mrs. Petrovic: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that it is necessary that drought-affected municipalities co-ordinate a cohesive drought response plan to best mitigate the damages of drought and further given that communities like Pincher Creek went into early mandatory water restrictions yet larger downstream municipalities such as Lethbridge only adopted voluntary water restrictions later on, to the same minister: can you explain why communities so close together have been adopting different water restriction timelines, and what is being done to help these communities adopt more co- ordinating drought prevention restrictions going forward?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Ms Schulz: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I really do want to thank the member for being such a great advocate for her communities, as I know that these are concerns that they raised when we met with them last week. Water is a shared responsibility, so local water restrictions are municipal jurisdiction. But as the member and I met with municipalities in the Crowsnest Pass last week, we heard this very concern. Every drop that you save can help Albertans and your neighbours downstream. That’s why we will be launching a public awareness campaign as well next month to inform all Albertans on how they can take action to conserve water and reuse more water during this time.

The Speaker: Fortunately, that concludes the time allotted for Oral Question Period. In 30 seconds or less we will continue with the remainder of the daily Routine.

[The Deputy Speaker in the chair]

head: Members’ Statements (continued)

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Anniversary

Member Kayande: Madam Speaker, before the British conquest of India our English words of Indian origin were about wealth and power, words like “mogul,” “nabob,” “bungalow,” or the source of that wealth and power, which was a world-leading textile industry: “calico,” “dungaree,” “seersucker.” During the Raj these lone words changed: “loot,” “thug.” The massive wealth extraction machine that the British Raj built in India, spoiling one of the world’s most fertile agricultural regions and shattering an industrial base, had never been seen before. A famine every 20 years during the Raj, and not a single one since. A legacy of starvation that lives on in my genes, in my own sensitivity to heart disease and diabetes. Naturally, South Asians fought back, mostly peacefully, sometimes not, up to and including war. Their resistance provoked an ever harsher response. All that, Madam Speaker, is prologue to the shameful massacre of hundreds of peaceful protesters in Jallianwala Bagh on April 14, 1919, the anniversary of which is this weekend. General Rex Dyer marched into a square, closed the exit, and ordered sharpshooters to start killing men, women, children, babies. The youngest victim was six months old. Dyer was cashiered, sent home at half pay, and as a result of this injustice the House of Lords rectified it with a lifetime pension. Racist writer Rudyard Kipling wrote about Dyer:

he did his duty.True words. Killing babies for the Raj was Dyer’s duty, and he did it and by accounts enjoyed it and was pensioned for it.

[The Speaker in the chair]

To this day the British government has never formally apologized for this massacre, impacting the dignity and respect South Asian Canadians feel in our homes. We know here in Canada that apology and reconciliation are not just about the victim but as well allows the perpetrator to heal and change. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

head: Tabling Returns and Reports

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Cypress-Medicine Hat has a tabling.

Mr. Wright: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to table the five requisite copies of a transcript from a speech made by the Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood at a rally about supporting homeless encampments instead of finding appropriate housing and shelter for Albertans.

Mr. Wiebe: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table the five requisite copies of a tweet from the Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood bearing witness to the removal of encampments.

Mr. Lunty: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table the requisite five copies of a tweet from the Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood protesting the removal of garbage from an encampment.

Mr. Dyck: I rise today to table the five requisite copies of a retweet from the Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood that protested the removal of gang-operated drug markets.

Member Irwin: I feel so honoured. I rise to table the requisite number of copies of e-mails from constituents urging the UCP to support Bill 205 and institute rent caps. These are all constituents from various Calgary ridings. I urge the minister, especially, to read these e-mails. Thank you.

The Speaker: Are there others? The hon. Member for Calgary- Currie, followed by the hon. Member for Calgary-Fish Creek.

Member Eremenko: I rise to table the requisite five copies of a recent article from the International Journal of Drug Policy entitled “Everybody is Impacted. Everybody’s Hurting”: Grief, Loss and the Emotional Impacts of Overdose on Harm Reduction Workers.

Mr. McDougall: I rise today to table the five requisite copies of a December 15, 2023, news release from the opposition responding to an e-mail from the Edmonton chief of police to remove encampments. The release calls on the government to stop plans to move unhoused Edmontonians to proper housing.

Mr. Kasawski: The scam by UCP donor Greg Christenson’s companies has left my constituent Elizabeth and her family awaiting repayment of a $500,000 loan from Bedford Village. I’m tabling the letter from Elizabeth’s family to highlight the shortcomings of Bill 12, Consumer Protection (Life Leases) Amendment Act, 2024.

Ms de Jonge: I rise today to table the requisite copies of a tweet from the Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood protesting police action to prevent the spread of gang-operated drug markets.

April 11, 2024 Alberta Hansard 1035

The Speaker: The Minister of Justice and the keeper of the Great Seal of Alberta.

Mr. Amery: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, rise today to table the requisite copies of tweets from the Member for Edmonton- Highlands-Norwood rallying against the removal of gang-operated drug markets, keeping vulnerable people in dangerous situations.

The Speaker: The Member for Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland.

Mr. Getson: Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to submit the requisite copies of an article from the Edmonton Journal stating that the Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood signed letters to stop encampment removals, also known as tarp cities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

head: Tablings to the Clerk

The Clerk: I wish to advise the Assembly that the following document was deposited with the office of the Clerk: on behalf of hon. Mr. Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, supplemental response to questions raised by Mr. Dach, hon. Member for Edmonton-McClung, in the March 19, 2024, Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors 2024-25 main estimates debate.

The Speaker: Hon. members, that brings us to points of order. At 1:54 the hon. the Official Opposition House Leader rose on a point of order.

Point of Order Insulting Language

Ms Gray: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Happy Leg. Friday to you and all in the Chamber. This afternoon our session began with the chief government whip giving a member’s statement which seemed to equate members of the Official Opposition with ticks who should be drowned. Perhaps he was only referring to our policies, but it was an awful start to the session, having that dehumanizing language pointed at your political opponents. Certainly, there is a great deal of human history where that has been done, and I do not think it’s becoming of the whip. 2:50

That being said, Mr. Speaker, I did not call a point of order at that time. I did at 1:54, when the Leader of the Official Opposition was in discussion through question period with the Minister of Municipal Affairs talking about something that has a lot of Albertans concerned, with the UCP government inserting themselves between funding from the federal government to municipalities as well as many, many other entities. A big thank you to the folks at Hansard because I do have the Blues in this case. As part of the Blues the Minister of Municipal Affairs, as part of his response, said, “Well, I think it’s courageous of the hon. member to talk about standing up for communities because that leader, when she was Premier, never did it once for Alberta in the entire four years,” at which point I rose on a point of order. Mr. Speaker, I rose under 23(h), (i), and (j). The minister, who has been a member of this Chamber for many, many years, was making direct allegations against another member, imputing false and unavowed motives to another member, and using abusive and insulting language of a nature likely to create disorder because he quite literally named her and insulted her and her record as Premier, suggesting she did nothing to help people in Alberta.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I believe me calling this point of order set off a flurry of future points, but I was not calling it simply because it was personalized. I was calling it because it was an insult, and for someone who dropped child poverty by 50 per cent – we could debate. I won’t get into it.

The Speaker: This does sound like we’re continuing the debate. The hon. the Government House Leader.

Mr. Schow: No, Mr. Speaker, this is not a point of order. On numerous occasions members in the opposition have used very similar lines like “the member for such and such has done nothing for their constituents” or “the minister of such and such has done nothing for the stakeholders under their ministry.” This is ridiculous. It wasn’t a personal attack. It was a comment on the opposition leader’s record as Premier. On this side of the House we feel that was a very dark four years for this province. I see you have a large stack of papers there. We have many points of order to get to, so I’ll keep my remarks short and say: not a point of order; very similar to many remarks said in this Chamber, a matter of debate.

The Speaker: I do have the benefit of the Blues. While I appreciate it’s possible that the Blues were posted, they are not to be posted until following question period, but we will deal with that matter separately. The hon. Minister of Municipal Affairs did say the following: “When she was Premier, [she] never did it once for Alberta in the entire four years.” It’s difficult to know – “talk about standing up for communities.” This is a matter of debate on the former Premier’s record, which we’re not here to do. This is not a point of order. I consider the matter dealt with and concluded. At 1:56, who rose on a point of order? Oh, it appears that the hon. the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services rose on a point of order. It appears the Government House Leader is rising to argue such a point of order.

Point of Order Insulting Language

Mr. Schow: Yes, Mr. Speaker. And for this and all future arguments I will just preface it by saying: I don’t have the benefit of the Blues. I’m going to go with what I have in my hand. At the time the Leader of the Opposition was speaking and had said, “The UCP is scared of things they . . . don’t understand, which means, of course, they’ve been chasing postsecondary education with . . . fiscal . . . torches and pitchforks.” Mr. Speaker, this language is certainly meant to create disorder in this Chamber. Torches and pitchforks are something that we see in lynch mobs. That is not the case. This is government policy. That language is inflammatory, and I believe that under 23(h), (i), and (j) it is a point of order. I’ll leave it in your hands.

The Speaker: The hon. the Official Opposition House Leader.

Ms Gray: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I disagree. I believe this is important language in the matter of debate on an issue of seriousness. Certainly, I feel this is a continuation of debate to talk about it, and I’ve certainly seen it used colloquially in the greater public many, many times. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: I do have the benefit of the Blues. The hon. the Leader of the Official Opposition said the following – oh, my apologies. Is there anyone else?

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Seeing none, I am prepared to rule. She said the following: “postsecondary education with a fiscal version of torches and pitchforks for years, and this bill is just more of the same.” In the absolute strongest possible of cautions, literally members of the Official Opposition have risen on this very point of order with respect to the uses of the term “torches and pitchforks.” The hon. Member for Edmonton-South was one of them on a number of occasions who expressed deep concern and care about the use of such language in the Assembly for the implications that it may have. I appreciate that the Leader of the Official Opposition was cautious in her language when she said, “A fiscal version,” but there’s no doubt that she knew the language was provocative. I encourage her to govern herself accordingly. This is not a point of order. I consider the matter dealt with and concluded. Hon. members, at 2 o’clock the hon. the Government House Leader rose on a point of order.

Point of Order Language Creating Disorder

Mr. Schow: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise under 23(h), (i), and (j). I will say that this on its own is likely not a point of order. However, we have shown as recently as yesterday that a pattern of inflammatory language and questions coming from the members opposite creates disruption. It’s not necessarily about politics or policy; it ends up being about the person. In this case, whether you’re referring specifically to a member of the government caucus or you’re referring to the government caucus as a whole, you should not be able to say that we are ignoring Indigenous peoples when they tell us to keep them safe in their homes. Mr. Speaker, that is such a blanket remark. There are so many amazing Indigenous communities around this province that we work diligently for, and we care for and work with them. It is inflammatory to suggest that we are ignoring their needs, especially on something as severe as wildfires. Again, I leave this in your capable hands, but this kind of language and language similar to it that makes broad-stroking statements about government policy and how it is ignoring or doesn’t care about or is hateful towards: it’s unhelpful in this Chamber. It doesn’t raise the level of debate. I believe it’s a point of order, and if it is not today, it will be another time as they continue to use this kind of language.

The Speaker: The Official Opposition House Leader.

Ms Gray: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I do not believe this is a point of order; this is a matter of debate. We are speaking about a government and their actions or inactions. In his remarks the Government House Leader referred to yesterday’s points of order as informing him in calling this today. I would submit to you that there is a very big difference about a political party or a caucus wanting people to live and die in encampments versus suggesting that the government is ignoring voices when we see that happening through their actions. I believe this is a matter of debate, and I look forward to your ruling.

The Speaker: Are there others? Seeing none, I do have the benefit of the Blues, and I am prepared to rule. “The UCP has a failed track record on Indigenous engagement for emergency response. Now they’re ignoring Indigenous peoples when they tell this government when they need to keep their homes safe.” I do not find this a point of order. I appreciate the remarks raised by the hon. the Government House Leader; I will take them under advisement. At no point in time during the Speakership have I provided any sort of caution on this type of language. I’m not saying that it could never be a point of

order in the future, but it certainly isn’t today. I consider this matter dealt with and concluded. At 2:04 the hon. the Government House Leader rose on a point of order. The hon. Member for Edmonton-South was speaking.

Point of Order Insulting Language

Mr. Schow: Yes, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, at the time noted, the hon. Member for Edmonton-South was speaking. We were talking about postsecondary education. Similar to the previous point of order, I believe that the language used – again, making broad, wild accusations about what the Premier is or is not interested in doing I think is not helpful to the debate in this Chamber. I would be more than happy to entertain questions about government policy and what it may or may not do, but to suggest – and I quote without the benefit of the Blues but with my limited ability to write down notes: will the Premier admit she is using the federal government as a smokescreen to justify control over organizations and academics in Alberta? That is an absurd assertion. Like, it is absurd. The Member for Edmonton-South should be, frankly, ashamed. Whether she or someone else wrote that question, to bring that kind of tripe into this Chamber is ridiculous. The Premier’s job has been, is, and always will be to defend the best interests of Albertans, including those in postsecondary and academics. We are going to defend our province from federal interference and make sure we do what’s best for Albertans. This is a point of order under 23(h), (i), and (j), but I’ll leave it in your hands. 3:00

Ms Gray: Mr. Speaker, this is not a point of order. However, what the Government House Leader just said during his argument would have been a point of order if he had said it in the Chamber normally. Telling another member they should be ashamed has been ruled a point of order numerous times. The Government House Leader loves to use his arguments to further debate and insult our members. I wish he would stop. In this case, “Will the Premier admit she is using the federal government as a smokescreen to justify control of organizations and academic thought in Alberta?” is an important question and part of the debate that we were undertaking. Certainly, if we refer back to your very first ruling today – when the actions or inactions of an individual member as Premier were not considered a point of order, suggesting that someone didn’t do anything to stand up for communities in an entire four years – I would suggest this is also a matter of debate.

The Speaker: Are there others? I do have the benefit of the Blues, and I am prepared to rule. Well, the comments in question, the record in the Blues is: “Will the Premier admit she is using the federal government as a smokescreen to justify control of organizations and academic thought in Alberta?” Many of those organizations and schools are within the purview of the hon. the Premier, of which a point could be made that this is a question about government policy. I don’t consider it a point of order. I consider the matter concluded and dealt with. I believe the next one was at 2:07. The hon. the Official Opposition House Leader rose on a point of order.

Point of Order Insulting Language

Ms Gray: Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. At 2:07, in a discussion about life leases and during a wholly inadequate answer, the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction – I do not have the benefit of the Blues, but I believe he said, “The Member

April 11, 2024 Alberta Hansard 1037

for St. Albert can’t act with class or dignity.” I rise under 23(h), (i), and (j): very abusive and insulting language of a nature likely to create disorder in this place and also a direct insult to another member hurled across during important questions about something that we even had guests in the gallery here to listen to the debate on. This is a point of order, and I hope that the member apologizes and withdraws.

Mr. Schow: That was a point of order. I withdraw and apologize.

The Speaker: I accept the apology. I consider the matter dealt with and concluded. At 2:08 the hon. Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services rose on a point of order.

Point of Order Referring to the Galleries

Mr. Nixon: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rose on a point of order at that time in regard to the Member for Edmonton-Highlands- Norwood, who at that time in a fairly heated debate took her time, rose out of her chair, started to interact with members of the gallery, riled them up so much that a Sergeant-at-Arms staff had to come and provide some caution, visibly could be seen by members of the Chamber. It is highly inappropriate and, I would suggest, even dangerous at times for members of this place to interact with a gallery in that type of a context. I think it is concerning particularly given that the NDP, as far as I know, are the first party in history to bring a guest to the floor of this Chamber to interrupt a throne speech. There clearly appears to be a pattern of trying to disrupt this House and the members that are within this House doing the work of democracy in this province.

Ms Gray: Certainly, the NDP has never brought someone in with the purpose of disrupting this Chamber. That is incorrect. Regarding interactions with members of the gallery, I’m afraid I had my back to the Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood. I do not believe that she would be doing that, but I did not see and did not have a view of whatever these events may have been. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: Hon. members, are there others wishing to provide any information and just double-check?

Mr. Yao: I can confirm that I also saw, witnessed the incident.

The Speaker: I appreciate the input. Is there anyone with new information or additional information? Seeing none, I am prepared to rule. But prior to doing so, at 2:08, so just moments following the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services rising on this particular point of order, the Government House Leader also rose on a point of order. Is this a separate issue, or is it the same issue?

Mr. Schow: Can’t even remember, so I’ll withdraw mine.

The Speaker: Excellent. Here’s what I would say. I did not see the hon. Member for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood do that. If she did do that, it is a point of order as I have provided caution to members of the Assembly with respect to engaging with members of the gallery who are here visiting us. I always value and appreciate those who have come to join us. However, it is their role to observe. It is our role to debate the important issues of the day, and engaging members in the gallery under any circumstances, with the exception of acknowledging their presence, is entirely inappropriate. If the

member did it, she should apologize. But I consider the matter dealt with and concluded as I did not see it myself. Hon. members, at 2:22 the hon. Official Opposition House Leader rose while the hon. the Minister of Technology and Innovation was speaking.

Point of Order Referring to the Absence of a Member

Ms Gray: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. At 2:22 we saw behaviour in this House that we’ve actually seen before and that you have cautioned against. The Minister of Municipal Affairs was yelling, “Bye” at the Leader of the Official Opposition as she departed the Chamber. Mr. Speaker, you know well, as do all members and particularly the Minister of Municipal Affairs, who has at many times served on the House team, that as per House of Commons Procedure and Practice:

Allusions to the presence or absence of a Member or Minister in the Chamber are unacceptable. Speakers have upheld this prohibition on the ground that “there are many places that Members have to be in order to carry out all of the obligations that go with their office.”

Now, Mr. Speaker, this has occurred multiple times, and I have not always risen to call a point of order, but the behaviour needs to be stopped. As most recently that I could find in a very quick search, November 29, 2023, on Hansard page 423, while delivering your ruling on a point of order to do with presence or absence, you said:

And while I am on my feet, I too have heard the hon. Member for Morinville-St. Albert perhaps [he’s] making reference to the presence or absence of members in the Chamber, and if he continues to proceed in doing so, there’s a very real possibility that that would also be a point of order.

Now, the Member for Morinville-St. Albert and the Minister of Municipal Affairs sit beside each other. They’ve both engaged in the same bad behaviour. I would ask that you rule it a point of order so we can make sure that it stops.

The Speaker: The hon. Government House Leader.

Mr. Schow: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the time noted, I did hear the word “goodbye.” No idea who it was directed at because at the time, while the Leader of the Opposition was exiting the Chamber – for whatever reason she was exiting the Chamber – and after she had left the Chamber, the word “goodbye” was used a couple more times. I don’t think the word “goodbye” is necessarily a point of order. I would say that there is precedent where the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction has said, “Hey, part- timer” or something offensive. That was a point of order. I totally get it. That was apologized for. You’ve ruled on this. But in this instance, Mr. Speaker, it is impossible for me to suggest who that comment was directed at. It could have been directed at someone on the government side who was exiting the Chamber at the same time. I leave it in your hands, but I don’t believe this is a point of order.

The Speaker: Are there others? I am prepared to rule, and I do have the benefit of the Blues. I would say that I’ve provided caution in the past on referring to the presence or absence of a member. I have no reliable record of who said what. I do have the benefit of the Blues. I would encourage members that it’s unparliamentary to refer to the presence or absence of a member as there are lots of reasons why members may or may not be able to attend the Chamber. If the hon. Minister of Municipal Affairs or whoever the other allegations are made about are doing that, I encourage them to stop. I will be listening with

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keen attention in the future. I consider the matter dealt with and concluded. This is not a point of order. 3:10

At 2:35 the hon. Member for Calgary-Currie was speaking, and the hon. Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services rose on two separate occasions.

Point of Order Insulting Language

Mr. Schow: Yes, Mr. Speaker. At the time noted, the Member for Calgary-Currie was speaking and said in her remarks – I don’t have the benefit of the Blues and I don’t even have, like, an official record besides some borderline legible chicken scratch that I put down, but it’s something to the effect of: the Premier said that smoking isn’t bad for you, and getting cancer is their own fault. Now, we know in this Chamber that that is wildly inaccurate. That is wildly false. The Premier has never said that. I don’t know why that member would even suggest that the Premier said that smoking isn’t bad for you. It’s certainly a distortion. It sounds a lot like a personal attack. I would say that this rises to the level of a point of order under 23(h), (i), and (j). I count one, two, three, four points of order on this specific member. It seems like there is a pattern of making personal attacks specifically against the Premier in her lines of questioning.

The Speaker: The Official Opposition House Leader.

Ms Gray: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I don’t believe this is a point of order. This is a matter of debate. In defending this, I very quickly typed the name of the Premier and the word “cancer.” The CTV news article from Calgary, UCP Leadership Candidate . . . under Fire by All Political Stripes for Cancer Comments, has within it: “While listening, Smith” – again, apologies; it’s been a long day – “said that she believes some of the blame falls at the hands of the patient.” This is a quote: once you’ve arrived and got stage 4 cancer and there’s no radiation and surgery and chemotherapy, that is an incredibly expensive intervention, not just for the system but also expensive in the toll it takes on the body; but when you think everything that built up before you got to stage 4 and that diagnosis, that’s completely within your control and there’s something you can do about that, that is different. So the Member for Calgary-Currie is not alone in attributing these statements, which we have recorded and we know that the Premier did say, and referencing them in her question, I believe, is a matter of debate. Not intended as a personal insult; just a matter of record, Mr. Speaker. I believe this is not a point of order.

The Speaker: Are there others? I do have the benefit of the Blues, and I am prepared to rule. “The Premier says that smoking isn’t actually bad for you and that stage 4 cancer is the patient’s fault.” She proceeded. There was a point of order called. The hon. Member for Calgary-Currie continued to say, “Can the Premier or any of the ministers opposite tell us why they know better than highly trained health professionals about what is the best care for their patients?” Another point of order was called. It’s tough to know if those were two of the same. She continued. It’s possible this isn’t the second one. But maybe with some agreement from the Government House Leader we can deal with these both together, because she continued to say, “Can the minister tell Albertans how he plans to support recovery Alberta when he has shown such disdain and disrespect for the life-saving workers on the front lines?” An additional point of order was called. Is this all on the same point of order?

Mr. Schow: No. They’re different.

The Speaker: Okay. That’s fine. Then I’m happy to deal with the first one. I believe this is a matter of debate, not a point of order. I consider the matter dealt with and concluded. The second point of order. Is the minister rising on that one, or would the Government House Leader like to rise on it?

Point of Order Language Creating Disorder

Mr. Nixon: Well, I’ll help the Government House Leader out as a member of the Government House Leader unit. That one I believe I rose on, Mr. Speaker. You are, too, a member of the Opposition House Leader unit. We’ll let you in. The Premier denying protection for trans youth or something to that effect, which I believe will be in the Blues in front of you. Mr. Speaker, again I rise under 23(h), (i), and (j). Certainly, that is an outrageous accusation to make to a member of this place. It will cause disorder inside this Chamber if members continue to do that, to say that about the hon. Premier. Not a true accusation. While I will not presume to know where you will head today, what I can tell you is that language like that will certainly create disorder in this place long term because it’s not true, when it comes to the Premier’s position on trans youth. Mr. Speaker, this side of the House will certainly defend the Premier and make that clear. She is a member of this place and should not be accused of that in the future.

Ms Gray: Mr. Speaker, what’s also not true is that the previous Premier did nothing to advocate for communities. Talking about what Premiers do or do not do has already been ruled in this current day as being in order. In this case, talking about this government and this Premier denying health rights is actually a matter of debate and fact. A number of health-based organizations and legal-based organizations have already come out denouncing this government’s policies. This is a continuation of debate and a very important one, particularly for vulnerable trans youth, who are at higher rates of homelessness, suicide, and many other challenges. This has been one of the key fights in this Assembly so far this session, and I imagine it will continue. I believe this is not a point of order, and I look forward to your ruling.

The Speaker: Are there others? Well, on this particular point of order I do not have the benefit of the Blues. I am unsure of what has been said in this case, and without a reliable record it’s impossible for the Speaker to rule. Having said that, there was another point of order called at 2:36, on or around, where the hon. the Member for Calgary-Currie stated the following: “such disdain and disrespect for the life-saving workers on the front lines.” I mean, I’m happy to argue the point.

Mr. Schow: That was my next one.

The Speaker: That’s your next one? Please feel free to proceed.

Point of Order Parliamentary Language

Mr. Schow: I think you led into it just fine, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have the benefit of the Blues and, again, trying to read my own writing. But that was great you read it out, because, again, that kind of language is very disrespectful: showing disdain for workers. We do not show disdain for workers. The Alberta recovery model is one that’s leading the world – leading the world – in helping addicts get

April 11, 2024 Alberta Hansard 1039

off the cycle of addiction and back into recovery. That is the plan. That is the job of the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, and I may say, if I may take a moment, that he is doing a phenomenal job at that, literally saving lives. Now, I’m not going to go here and debate government policy, but what I will say is: to show that level of disdain and disrespect for the government’s work and to suggest that the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction has that level of disdain and disrespect for addicts and workers is disrespectful in and of itself. I think it’s a point of order. It creates disruption under 23(h), (i), and (j), but I’ll leave it in your hands.

The Speaker: The Official Opposition House Leader.

Ms Gray: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. This is not a point of order. The workers themselves have expressed these things to the members of the Official Opposition, and this government is leading the world only if you cherry-pick the evidence, as this government is wont to do. I believe that this continues the debate, that it is important in this place, and that the Official Opposition needs to be able to represent what the workers are telling us directly. I look forward to your ruling.

The Speaker: Are there others? I do have the benefit of the Blues, which I already read into the record: “. . . health care providers is at an all-time high, can the minister tell Albertans how he plans to support recovery . . . when he has shown such disdain and disrespect for the life-saving workers [serving] on the front lines?” I actually do believe that this rises to the level of a point of order. Unfortunately, the hon. Member for Calgary- Currie went on to use some unparliamentary language off the record, and I think it’s reasonable that she apologizes and withdraws.

Member Eremenko: I apologize and withdraw my statement.

The Speaker: I consider this matter dealt with and concluded. At 2:38 the hon. Government House Leader rose on a point of order. The hon. Member for Calgary-Currie was speaking.

Point of Order Parliamentary Language

Mr. Schow: Yes, Mr. Speaker. At the time noted, the Member for Calgary-Currie was speaking, and without the benefit of the Blues I could say, but I can still feel with that – I feel that this is a point of order when the member said that the Premier is speaking with “extreme ignorance.” Obviously, this is inflammatory language. I think you’ve provided caution on a number of occasions about speaking with ignorance or being ignorant to the facts or just ignorant in general. That certainly is not something that I think is fit for this Chamber and for the debate. 3:20

I may say as well, Mr. Speaker, that it is our job to debate back and forth the government policy, and if stakeholders are having a reaction to something the government is doing, it is the opposition’s job to bring that to our attention. But to make the logical jump from what they’re saying to how the member or how the minister feels about something, I think, is wildly inappropriate. This is why I just shouldn’t be responding to the last point of order, but I think it speaks more to what the Member for Calgary-Currie is saying now and applying intent to someone else, which is not the job of members opposite, to question government policy; 23(h), (i), and (j), point of order. Take it away.

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Calgary-Currie.

Member Eremenko: Sorry. I missed that. Did we already argue?

Ms Gray: The language around ignorance has been ruled out of order in the past, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the member I would apologize and withdraw because of . . .

The Speaker: Sadly for the hon. member, because she happens to be taking part in the debate. The hon. Member for Calgary-Currie.

Member Eremenko: I apologize and withdraw my statement. I didn’t realize that ignorance was not something that was permitted in Chambers.

The Speaker: Sorry. Just for clarity’s sake, there are lots of occasions in which you can say the word “ignorance.” You can’t say: the hon. Premier spoke with great ignorance yesterday. That is the differential of the two things. That’s a point of order. I accept the apology and consider the matter dealt with and concluded. I don’t know what time this was at all.

An Hon. Member: Two-forty, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: Perhaps 2:40, the Official Opposition House Leader rose on a point of order.

Point of Order Parliamentary Language

Ms Gray: Thank you very much. Part of the same exchange, and I think we see that, certainly, the temperatures were quite hot in the House. In this case I rose on a point of order because the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, in his response to the Member for Calgary-Currie, stated that the members opposite “prefer death and destruction.” I am all for debate on policies, debate on the issues, even talking broadly and mischaracterizing what our political opponents might say. But to suggest that any member of this Assembly wants their constituents to die, I think, passes into a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Talking about the members opposite preferring policy that causes death and destruction: I will tell you that during COVID the language that the Official Opposition used, concerned about policy and the outcomes that it has, was something we thought about quite a bit, but certainly we would never accuse the government of wanting people to die and preferring death and destruction. I believe this is a point of order, and I look forward to your ruling, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker: The hon. the Government House Leader – oh, the Deputy Government House Leader.

Mr. Schow: No. The Deputy Government House Leader. Sorry.

Mr. Williams: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The truth is that when we’re debating policy – I understand it’s a sensitive topic; I’m happy to take your direction at the end of this – surrounding addiction, the reality is: death is a part of that. In this Chamber, if nowhere else, we should be able to have an honest, frank discussion about the consequences of the policies adopted by either side. I hear regularly while answering questions from the other side shouts of how many children they believe are dying because of our policies, invoking death regularly. The truth is that it is a sensitive topic, one of which the policy – we were debating safe supply. This government vigorously disagrees with the other side because we do believe it does cause death. This is a matter of debate, Mr. Speaker, perhaps the most important matter of debate because of the

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seriousness of the consequence of the policy at hand. Happy to take your direction.

The Speaker: Are there others? Hon. members, because the exchange took place so late into question period, I don’t have the benefit of the Blues. In light of a fairly robust and vigorous debate over a period of time, you can well imagine that I am unsure of the exact language that the minister used. Without the benefit of the Blues it’s difficult for the Speaker to rule. I do agree that issues around policy of political entities or otherwise can create strong emotions on both sides. I would recommend that over the weekend all members make some considerations on: what type of Chamber do we want to have? Do we largely want to focus on the actual issues of the day, or is our primary objective to perhaps score political points inside the Chamber? I hope that, more broadly speaking, we can each reflect on our own personal responsibility in ways that we can raise the level of decorum more broadly and that, while people might have strong feelings sometimes about how the Speaker has ruled or otherwise, we don’t take the opportunity to try to push the boundaries of what is or what isn’t a point of order, that all members will accept that there are going to be certain levels of frustration on both sides of the Assembly and that that frustration is part and parcel with robust and meaningful debate. I think we are very, very on the edge of a pretty concerning tone and tenor in the House where we saw today, quite frankly, members of the opposition rise every time members of the government said something that could have been perceived as personal or could have been perceived as hurtful, and in exchange for that, we saw members of the government rise and call points of order on every situation that could have been perceived as personal or could have been perceived as frustrating. We’ve spent well over 35 minutes discussing those things. I don’t think that it’s helpful more broadly. The Speaker is but a humble servant of the Assembly, and if that is the pathway that the Assembly chooses, I’m happy to make rulings for 30, 40, 50 minutes following question period. I’m not convinced it’s the best use of our time. I hope members will take some time to be reflective on that. This isn’t a point of order. I consider the matter dealt with and concluded.

Mr. Williams: Understanding, Mr. Speaker, that it is dealt with and concluded in your mind, in the spirit of your comments I will unreservedly withdraw and apologize.

The Speaker: I consider this matter dealt with and concluded. I hope that same spirit that we see here this afternoon will flow to Monday, that the blessings of the weekend, your family, and all of the good things in your lives will come true over the weekend, and we can come back on Monday and have teamwork make the dream work. Ordres du jour.

head: Orders of the Day head: Government Bills and Orders Second Reading

Bill 12 Consumer Protection (Life Leases) Amendment Act, 2024

[Debated adjourned April 10: Dr. Metz speaking]

The Speaker: The hon. Member for Edmonton-Riverview has risen to join in the debate.

Ms Sigurdson: Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m very happy to join the debate on this very important topic. Of course, we’re debating Bill 12, the Consumer Protection (Life Leases) Amendment Act, 2024. I just sort of want to start with some basics about what this legislation is doing and just what exactly life leases are. Life leases are a form of long-term housing tenure, and they’re typically for older adults. Providers specifically do target seniors in their marketing. They’re often sold as more affordable housing options for seniors. They’re supposed to provide fewer home maintenance responsibilities; like, snow removal is taken care of. Of course, this is quite attractive to many people because they’d prefer not to have to do that. That’s one of the key reasons I think people want to live in this kind of a situation.

[Mr. van Dijken in the chair]

Oftentimes, too, one of the partners has passed on, and people, you know, like to move into sort of more congregate settings so that they are not all by themselves in a single-family home. There are often common-space activities that people are together for. This makes this quite attractive to people who are interested in this kind of housing situation. 3:30

Of course, one of the significant difficulties right now is that this life lease program has been found to have significant flaws, so significant that millions and millions of dollars are being lost by Albertans. Like, hundreds of Albertans are impacted by this because Alberta has not properly managed this situation. I just want to read into the record a letter from a constituent in Sherwood Park, from my colleague’s riding, where there is a life lease facility. It’s in response to Bill 12, and she writes: “I’m writing to express our distress with the life lease legislation. It does not address the interests of seniors who feel trapped, misled, and lied to. Now or in the future with life leases, where is the protection? There is no protection in this legislation for those of us in a current life lease situation, be it on the queue to be paid out or for those still living in life lease units.” She beseeches the government to please reconsider Bill 12 and then shares a little bit about her own family story. She talks about how her mom left Vancouver Island following her father’s passing. That’s sort of a typical situation. Oftentimes women do outlive men, and when that happens, they often want to move into a more congregate setting. After her father’s passing, to be closer to her family, which was here, Bedford Village appeared to be ideal in that her mother could meet with other people her age, have a social life, engage in all the activities offered, go on bus trips to a variety of different venues, and still be close to family. She bought the apartment with her life savings and was told that when she wanted to leave, Bedford would sell it for a small fee and she would receive her money after three months’ time. “We have since learned that most of what we were told is untrue. We have been misled, and things are no longer ideal at Bedford. The bus trips have been cancelled. Their balconies have been locked down. Activities have been reduced to a couple of exercises a week. At some point my mom may need more care, and we were relying on the sale of her suite to pay for her extra care. We’re not sure she’ll ever receive that money now, and Bill 12 does not help. We support the seniors involved and want fair legislation that protects all seniors. Bill 12 is not ready. More consultation is needed, more protection, and more support for seniors.” Of course, we have people in the gallery today who were gathered earlier, before we sat in this House, to express very similar concerns to the one that I just read in this letter, that so many Albertans are

April 11, 2024 Alberta Hansard 1041

not receiving the funds that they’re entitled to under these life lease agreements. We know that there are some bad actors in this sector, and one of the most egregious bad actors is Greg Christenson, and his unscrupulous business practices have caused tremendous suffering for hundreds – hundreds – of Albertans. We know that $60 million approximately is currently owed to more than 150,000 seniors who have terminated their life lease with the Christenson Group of Companies. It’s been over six months that the life lease society of Alberta, led by President Karin Dowling, has, you know, beseeched the minister of service Alberta to do something. Bill 12 is what he’s done, and unfortunately he seems to not have really listened or given enough time for contemplation, you know, or made enough time to really understand the issues. Of course, this legislation does nothing to help current life lease holders. They are still out in the cold. The president, Karin Dowling, said that it feels like a slap in the face, that they’re blindsided, that they really weren’t properly consulted on this legislation. These are very important stakeholders on this issue that are not being listened to, and I really ask the government to take a step back. This legislation needs to be able to support people, and if it can’t be done in this legislation, then how can it be done? Certainly, what I’ve heard from people who are in this situation is that they don’t feel the government is listening, that they don’t feel the minister is listening to their concerns. Of course, the consequences are devastating for these families. It’s really horrific what’s gone on. Hundreds of families don’t have access to the funds that are legitimately theirs. The impacted seniors are in the latter part of their lives. If they terminate the life leases when they need higher levels of care – and, unfortunately, that’s what happens. It happens to many of us as we age. We need more supports, and these facilities can’t provide them. We can’t always age forever in this kind of more independent living situation. When that’s needed, they can’t access these funds for this higher level care. Of course, that’s much more expensive. You know, it’s causing families across the province just significant stress and difficulties to not have access to these resources. Again, this legislation does nothing to change that situation. I mean, really, people terminate their life leases usually for three different reasons. One is that they need this higher level of care, which I just mentioned. Another: a person or family might move for another reason. Sometimes a spouse dies. Sometimes couples are in these life leases, and they decide to maybe move closer to family that might not be in that area. There’s a whole bunch of reasons why people move. Or the final way is that someone who had a life lease passes away. Of course, then the estate would receive, you know, the funds owed to them from that life lease. These are all sort of legitimate ways that we as citizens of this province of Alberta should be able to go on with our lives. When we terminate those leases, we should be able to access those funds. Many said that they had been told they would receive money within 90 days, but we know that people have been waiting three years. They have no sense of when they’ll ever get it. You know, this is just absolutely unjust and completely disturbing, that this particular operator that I’ve already mentioned has sort of ignored the concerns of people and not done his due diligence, taken responsibility for the situation that is set up. Another part that I think is important to say in this House is that Greg Christenson is a max donor for the UCP. He maxes out all of his political donations to the UCP. It’s in the government’s best interest not to make one of their big supporters, their big funders, angry. That’s kind of a bit of a problem. I hope the government will be responsible about that and actually think of the larger public good and what’s most important in our society, about making sure things are done fairly.

If this legislation can’t be done – I know that there are some concerns with having legislation that would go back retroactively for contracts and things like that. There certainly are challenges in the legal system that would make a really unstable business situation, because you can’t always go back after agreements have been made. There are other solutions that the government can come to and, certainly, many other things that the government can do to support them, but we’re not hearing any of it. And I’ve said already that it’s been months and months and months now that the government continues to – you know, they say that they’re concerned, but they don’t seem to know what to do about it. 3:40

You know, the minister said in question period today that he has met with Greg Christenson 12 times. That’s a lot of times. Like, what’s he doing in those meetings? What’s going on? Why have we not been informed of what progress they’re having? Is it only this? I mean, one of the things they say, too, is that there’s an investigation, that we understand is very limited in scope, and this is why he can’t speak freely about that. I think that there’s more that the minister could say, but he is choosing not to. I mean, this is causing so much hardship for many, many Albertans, and it is certainly, really a horrific situation that is causing so much difficulty for so many. I just really think that there is a solution and the government could create it if they opened themselves up to more conversation, certainly, with Albertans who are impacted by this. Just saying that, you know, this legislation is the answer is not the way to go. We know that the legislation does bring in some penalties in the Consumer Protection Act, this Bill 12 that they’ve put forward, but it’s such small scale. It’s not enough of a penalty to actually make much difference. These are hundreds of millions of dollars. You know, it’s a significant discrepancy. It won’t even be a deterrent, it seems. Like, the protections are so low. Then the legislation itself – and this, of course, isn’t for the ones who already have leases; this is for, you know, upcoming leaseholders after the legislation is passed. There’s a 180-day period for landlords to release the entrance fees. These are the fees that are about on average $300,000 to $500,000, that people have paid to be part of this life lease program. That’s, like, six months of time. We know Manitoba has 90 days, so that’s more like three months, which is more reasonable. Oftentimes when people’s health deteriorates, it can be very rapid. Someone may have a fall, and they hurt their – you know, sometimes there are falls where they’ll break their hip and they’ll need hip replacement, and then they just don’t have the ability to continue to live in sort of an independent living facility sometimes. So this six-month period can be, again, a really significant hardship for families because they need that money, of course, to be able to support their loved ones in higher level care. Ninety days is something that other provinces have done, Manitoba specifically. I just urge the government to think about that, and amending that might be one way to address this. But, again, as I’ve said, this is just for people in the future because this legislation, you know, is not even passed yet. So anybody . . . [Ms Sigurdson’s speaking time expired] Okay. Thank you.

The Acting Speaker: Are there any other members wishing to speak to Bill 12? The Member for Calgary-Currie.

Member Eremenko: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to rise and stand in debate of Bill 12, the Consumer Protection (Life Leases) Amendment Act, 2024, in regard to life leases. Of course, this has been something that has been a subject of debate for much of the week, and rightfully so. It is an issue that is just absolutely

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critical and worthy of our attention. I have to wonder what has taken so long to identify the gaps within the existing legislation, that was failing to protect seniors in our community. We all have seniors in our midst. We all want to see the absolute best provided to them, and where there is exploitation or mistreatment of seniors, then we really must rise to the occasion and do the utmost within our capacity to support them. However, Mr. Speaker, speaking of support, I don’t support Bill 12. I am thankful, though, for this opportunity to stand up and speak to the legislation because, as I mentioned, it is absolutely critical, and it has laid bare some pretty significant gaps in the role of the minister’s portfolio and in their mandate to appropriately address a very concerning issue. Bill 12 is a bit of a disappointment, though, I think, with all of that said. When we know about all of the kinds of contributions that seniors have made to this province, Bill 12 does not rise to the occasion that they deserve. It provides little for the people who have been seeking appropriate compensation, especially now – especially now – when the cost of living is so incredibly high. I can’t imagine the anxiety and the angst experienced by seniors living on fixed incomes, having, you know, worked for five or six decades, raised a family, paid off the mortgage, did everything that they were supposed to do so that they were comfortable and protected and taken care of in their final years, and now we have folks who are worried about how they’re going to provide for their children, their grandchildren, and for themselves as their needs may grow. As my colleague previously mentioned, you know, things continue to change, health conditions start to change, housing needs continue to change, care needs continue to change for seniors. This is not just a point in time, and if we don’t actually assure the protections for folks as those changes come and as those life stages continue to evolve, then we are not in fact doing the service that they require. Bill 12 does nothing to allay the issues relevant to existing life lease contracts, Mr. Speaker. The bill offers support only to new entrants into life lease contracts, but as my colleague for Edmonton- Whitemud has so eloquently and succinctly presented this week, there are an awful lot of people for whom this legislation does nothing. What is it? I apologize; I don’t have the numbers right in front of me. I believe it’s $15 million worth of entrance fees that are owed people as a result of this Christenson contract kind of debacle. Unfortunately, this legislation simply does not provide the kinds of assurances that they will get those entrance fees back in a timely manner to bring a little peace of mind and comfort in their final years. It truly does fall short, I think, of the expectations and the responsibilities of this government to respond to the needs of seniors, and it certainly does fall short of what life lease contracts and life lease legislation and consumer protection acts are in other provinces, namely Manitoba and Saskatchewan. As I mentioned, my colleague from Edmonton-Whitemud provided some staggering figures yesterday, Mr. Speaker. Many millions of dollars are tied up in life leases, and unfortunately governments of the past here in Alberta have really taken their time to resolve the gaps in regulation and lax protection for seniors. As I mentioned, they are the seniors who have built this province, seniors who have worked right to retirement, seniors who have doggedly saved for their final years, and seniors who I wouldn’t blame for feeling abandoned in some way by a system that was meant to provide them with the protections that they deserve and, frankly, that they’re owed, having paid taxes for all those decades, contributing to Alberta’s economy and contributing to Alberta’s success. Now, I think they’re probably feeling like a bit of a David

and Goliath when it comes to advocating for their rights for what they are due for their own money. There is some room for improvement with Bill 12. Bill 12 should be changed to include all tenants and every rental unit. It’s inexcusable that legislation be introduced that excludes existing tenants, and in doing so it leaves hundreds of tenants and the entrance fees that they have paid at risk. Mr. Speaker, there are more than 150 families from Christenson facilities alone that are owed approximately $55 million in reimbursements because they haven’t been renewed. Perhaps leaseholders have passed away, or perhaps they have had to move on as a result of growing care needs or just evolving care needs. 3:50

Once passed, Bill 12 will offer some protection for new life lease contracts, specifically for the return of entrance fees, but other protections may or, frankly, may not be included in the regulations, as is very often the case. The devil is in the details, the proof is in the pudding, whatever analogy we might want to use in that particular context, where a real level of granularity and scrutiny of these contracts is absolutely fundamental because lives depend on it, livelihoods depend on it, and future generations within a family depend on it, too. Back to what the bill does and doesn’t do, the bill states that an operator must “return the leaseholder’s entrance fee within 180 days of termination.” But, my goodness, 180 days is a very long time – six months, Mr. Speaker – and it is very long relative to legislation in other provinces like Manitoba, where the requirement is a mere two weeks; 14 days versus 180 days. I would love to hear from the minister about why such incredible leniency was provided within this legislation when not all actors, not all organizations providing life leases have taken advantage of this particular piece of legislation or the contract law that allows for some discrepancies between one contract versus another. Why would we demonstrate such leniency when we’ve seen that such abuse can take place as a result? A hundred and eighty days just does not seem justified. It makes me think back to a constituent that I have in Calgary- Currie who contacted my office over the immensely complex, difficult, and costly process of dealing with the kind of closing of the estate following the passing of a loved one. There are dozens of convoluted steps. If anybody has ever had to actually navigate this system, it is not for the faint of heart. It takes a long time, it is very resource intensive, and it’s often sequential. One step can only be done once the one previous has been completed. Oftentimes that will involve money, that will involve an estate, that will mean we have to close one step before we can move on to the next. If we’re waiting 180 days for a really fundamental piece of that estate to be resolved, everything else gets delayed, everything else gets pushed down the line. We can easily be talking about a year or more before families can finally achieve some closure and some tangible steps when it comes to being able to move on following the passing of a loved one. I just wonder: with this six-month wait that individuals and Albertans are expected to now abide by, is Bill 12 really for the family? It begs the question if it’s for the seniors, or is it for shareholders? Is it for donors, or is it for the downtrodden? Now, I’ll be frank. Life leases are not as common in my constituency of Calgary-Currie, so perhaps for the folks watching at home, please indulge a moment for me to summarize what they actually are. It’s kind of a different – they’re not as common here in Calgary, as my colleagues here are nodding. A life lease is a form of housing tenure where the leaseholder buys the right to occupy a unit in a particular development for a fixed term for life or until the leaseholder can no longer live independently. To enter into such a contract, a leaseholder will pay an upfront entrance fee, averaging

April 11, 2024 Alberta Hansard 1043

currently about $300,000. You can imagine maybe that’s the sale of the family home that is then reallocated towards getting this lease for a particular period of time. It is, in fact, a loan to the company that we’ve been talking about so much today, the Christenson company, in exchange for which a leaseholder can be assured of a return and an inheritance for their family. If a life lease holder passes away, moves, or terminates the lease as a result of changes in their care needs or changes in their housing needs – perhaps the family moves away and they want to be closer – they or the family are supposed to receive the entrance fee less a predetermined amount. As we’ve heard this week, there are individuals who have been waiting three years for an average of $300,000. Who amongst us under the best of circumstances, let alone the current economic climate in Alberta can wait three years for a $300,000 fee to be returned? That is, to be clear, a fee that belongs to them. It doesn’t belong to the government of Alberta. It doesn’t belong to Christenson. It belongs to that family, and they are owed. Before now, as I mentioned, I wasn’t very familiar with life leases, but what I have learned since then is really quite shocking both in operations from what is clearly a dubious business owner and in regard to what is a long-overdue response in legislation. What I can speak to, though, with first-hand experience and on behalf of constituents in Calgary-Currie is the tremendous hardship under which seniors are required to live right now and increasingly so. I refer to an e-mail from a resident of Calgary-Currie that is indicative of this hardship that no senior should endure. They share that as a senior citizen living with a disability, life has become very, very hard. After their basic needs are paid for, there is very little left for transportation, adequate and nutritious food, medications, maybe a Christmas present for the grandkids under the tree every year. On a fixed income that results in a condition of chronic poverty. Government has got to step up. If we don’t do it for Albertans, then for whom? It is, I think, an absolutely fundamental responsibility and duty of all of us in these Chambers to ensure that we are closing any gaps that might exist where seniors can fall through the cracks. Before I close, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to reinforce the open letter sent to the Premier by the Alberta Life Lease Protection Society. These are the folks who have joined us in the gallery today, and we’re so honoured to have them in attendance. Three key points in the correspondence that they have provided to government. One, engagement has been insufficient. Don’t take my word for it. Everyone who participated in a previous Zoom meeting with the minister and perhaps members of his ministry was under the impression that further consultation would follow, and they were quite shocked and dismayed to learn that the legislation was being tabled without further consultation, without even seeing the legislation as it had been drafted, or being briefed on the contents of said legislation. Unfortunately, for some reason requests for further consultation had been ignored. Two, they are gravely concerned with the repayment schedule and the training provided to the sales staff of life lease operators. I think it was the minister yesterday who had made a couple of references to the number of nonprofit organizations that were delivering life leases, Mr. Speaker. We all know that nonprofits run on pretty shoestring budgets. I will, you know, give them the benefit of the doubt that they are operating with the greatest of intention and generosity to the people who are actually pursuing this as an opportunity for some housing and financial security, but as a result of those shoestring budgets sometimes it can be challenging to resource the capacity building and the training that we need to ensure that we are in fact dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s.

That was a point of concern from the folks with the life lease society, that salespeople are saying what seniors may want to hear rather than actually addressing the fundamental concerns within the contract and by families. With that, thank you so much, Mr. Speaker.

The Acting Speaker: Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak? The Minister of Justice.

Mr. Amery: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. You know, there has been a good amount of robust debate on Bill 12. However, I would now like to move to adjourn debate and focus on the other business at hand.

[Motion to adjourn debate carried]

head: Government Bills and Orders Third Reading

Bill 10 Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024

The Acting Speaker: The hon. President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance.

Mr. Horner: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to move third reading of Bill 10, the Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024. 4:00

Mr. Speaker, Bill 10 would implement six key measures to support Albertans and our economy. It would improve fiscal planning, reporting, and spending. It would modernize our land transfer and registration services and support Albertans’ health and would ensure that Alberta’s momentum as Canada’s economic engine remains strong. We said that we would attract skilled trades workers, and this bill keeps that promise so we get ahead of a growing gap. We need these workers to build hospitals, houses, and schools. We also need to continue introducing projects throughout the year to diversify our economy like the Alberta carbon capture incentive program. To be clear, this amendment will still achieve a balanced budget while protecting us from unexpected payments which could inadvertently rise up and eat up the entirety of a contingency or require in-year adjustments to other areas. We’re not willing to allow unforeseen circumstances to affect the public services Albertans rely on, nor will we allow it to affect investment into Alberta. This includes already successful industries like agriprocessing and film and television. The amendments would allow these industries to be even more successful with expanded tax credit programs. Bill 10 fulfills a commitment to protect Albertans’ health by adding further costs to vaping, as outlined in the tobacco and vaping reduction strategy. Alberta’s population is growing, and additional revenue is also needed to pay to maintain our high standards of public services. Our land titles and mortgage registration charges will remain the lowest in the country. They will actually only be one-fifth of the Canadian average. Mr. Speaker, Budget 2024 is a responsible plan for today and tomorrow. It balances investing wisely to meet Albertans’ needs today while ensuring services that will support the next generations. The amendments in Bill 10 would help make that happen. I’d encourage all members to support it today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Acting Speaker: Thank you.

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Are there any other members wishing to speak to third reading on Bill 10? The Member for Calgary-Foothills.

Mr. Ellingson: Got it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak to Bill 10, Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024. It is difficult to support a bill that covers this much ground – as the minister just said, it covers quite a few things – and I say that because voting on this bill comes down to: all or nothing. You don’t get to pick and choose as you cast your vote, and it’s simply not possible to support everything that is in this bill. While I acknowledge there are elements of this bill that do have potential, this bill is also littered with broken promises from this government. Therefore, I cannot support this bill, and I encourage all members of this House to consider every element of the bill and whether or not it’s something that you can support and vote against the bill. Of the things that are in the bill, I’d like to start out with the amendments to the Alberta Corporate Tax Act and the Film and Television Tax Credit Act and the changes that would be made to the application of film and television tax credits. Mr. Speaker, I have been discussing these changes with stakeholders in the film and television industry. Members of the House might recall that I was the vice- president of strategy at Calgary Economic Development, and that put me in touch with stakeholders in this community about attracting film and television activity in this province. Through my prior role I’m aware of the benefit of the industry to Albertans and the growth that this industry has experienced with previous changes made to film and television tax credits. The film and television industry is an example of the diversification that can take place in this province when the right set of legislation and associated regulations that go with that legislation is put in place. This industry creates good-paying jobs in a number of sectors, including the trades such as electrical and construction workers, transportation, and equipment operators. The industry also supports hotels and food services in areas where productions are taking place, sometimes in rural Alberta. Mr. Speaker, there are positive elements to the changes brought forward in Bill 10. Changing the timing and application to the tax credits will be helpful. However, as the saying goes, and as my friend from Calgary-Currie was saying earlier, the proof is in the pudding. We need to see the regulations that will follow this legislation, that if the government is considering increasing the tax credits available – it seems like they are increasing the tax credits available – this might actually make Alberta kind of move past the benchmarks that we see in other provinces in creating a tax credit that is more favourable than we see elsewhere. It may be that the government is considering regulations associated with the legislation to incent productions in rural settings. Mr. Speaker, if these are the intentions of the government, increasing the credit available to larger productions may not achieve the outcomes that are being sought. Much of the production that we see in rural Alberta is from local productions and smaller scale productions, so we do need to make sure we give consideration to those local productions. The smaller budgets associated with those productions ensure that there’s no production value in place for those tax credits to be triggered if we really want to maximize the production in rural Alberta. This bill would be better served to include further detail on the application of the tax credits and provide additional clarity in the outcomes that we want to achieve in those changes. Now, I will also say that what is noticeably absent from this bill is any mention of a digital media tax credit or anything meant to achieve similar outcomes for digital media. The UCP government has been promising a digital media tax credit for some time or the exploration of a tax credit equivalent. In fact, to explore something like a tax credit or an equivalent to grow digital media is included

in the mandate letter to the Minister of Technology and Innovation, yet we’ve seen now two budgets and several acts of legislation later and we haven’t heard any word of a digital media tax credit or the support that will be given to growing digital media in Alberta. Through animation and postproduction associated with film and television, digital media is making up a growing share of film and television activity. Not having a tax credit in place to support these activities not only prevents these activities from happening in Alberta but, in fact, drives entire productions to other locations that do have tax credits in place for digital media. Mr. Speaker, we’re holding our film and television industry back and not seeing the full value and growth in this industry although, admittedly, I will say that we have seen this industry grow. We could see additional growth. We’re holding them back by not having the tax credits in place that support all elements of production, including digital media. This is why we see larger production volumes in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. The digital media area extends far beyond film and television to include software industries such as video game development. The global video gaming industry is growing at over 6 per cent per year, anticipated to reach $300 billion by 2029. We see considerable growth in gaming in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal while Alberta is held back by the lack of a digital media tax credit. These other markets can attract global talent by offering larger salaries when a tax credit is in place. Alberta companies struggle to compete in this competitive talent environment. Bill 10 opened the opportunity for a digital media tax credit, but unfortunately it’s another broken promise by this UCP government. Mr. Speaker, there are many more amendments in Bill 10, including the amendments to the Personal Income Tax Act and the Investing in a Diversified Alberta Economy Act. Among these changes to the agriprocessing investments tax credit, we, in fact, applaud the UCP in borrowing from Alberta NDP policy and what we heard from stakeholders to make agriculture and agriprocessing more competitive. Bill 10 is a step in the right direction, and I encourage the government to continue pulling ideas from our agricultural policy paper to further enhance the competitiveness of agriculture and agribusiness in Alberta. But for competitiveness in these areas we need to go beyond this act and the regulations that will come with it. We need to look at other issues that make rural Alberta livable and attractive for living and working. Mr. Speaker, we have experienced an exodus of youth from rural Alberta to the cities. This has been happening for decades under Conservative rule in this province. Clearly, the Conservative government in Alberta has no track record in supporting the growth and development that is attractive to youth in Alberta’s rural communities. 4:10

The UCP government has been cutting supports to local agricultural societies. The UCP government has recently announced declining support to regional economic development agencies. This UCP government fails to deliver on the social infrastructure needed to support rural communities. This UCP government has been dragging its feet on deploying the rural broadband fund, having deployed less than half of the funding as we enter the third year of the program. We remain far from our goal of 100 per cent broadband coverage. Without this coverage, businesses cannot operate effectively. People cannot access remote health care services. They can’t access remote learning opportunities. Youth are not enticed to stay in their communities. So while this act does borrow from NDP policy and take a step in the right direction, it both falls short in the legislation and likely

April 11, 2024 Alberta Hansard 1045

regulations as well as other facilities and infrastructure required for rural Alberta to be attractive, especially for youth. This government promised to Albertans an Alberta Is Calling tax credit that would support the attraction of health care workers. While the occupations that can apply to the tax credits are not listed in this bill – again, we know the details are to come later – the government has let us know the credit will apply to construction and trades workers. Mr. Speaker, there is no denying the need for trades workers in Alberta, but this bill ignores other occupations we so desperately need. Our health care system is in a crisis, yet this bill doesn’t support our ailing health care system or the workers in it. This bill also doesn’t support construction and trades workers that are already doing great work here in Alberta. It doesn’t support those who are already living in Alberta that may be pivoting their career or entering into a career in the trades. What is also questionable is the administration of the change to the Personal Income Tax Act. We know the CRA will not be administering this on Alberta’s behalf and that Alberta will be incurring the cost to do so. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance has suggested that the cost associated with running the program and marketing the program is 40 per cent of the value of the program itself. This government would never provide grant funding to a not-for-profit that said that the administration of the program was 40 per cent of the cost of the program itself. Hasn’t this government been telling Albertans that they’re business friendly and striving to remove red tape? This program doesn’t sound efficient in its delivery or the effectiveness in its outcomes, and perhaps we could have explored other ways to achieve the outcomes that we’re looking to achieve. I’ll also talk about, as the Minister of Finance talked about, the changes to the Land Titles Act. It is true that in the costs that are associated and the changes that have been made, in Alberta those costs still remain lower than other provinces, but I’m not sure that in this time of an affordability crisis we should be happy about increasing those costs for Albertans. Mr. Speaker, the average price of a home in Alberta is now over $450,000. With interest rates now hovering at about 4 per cent per year, Albertans are already struggling with home ownership, especially youth, and youth are now thinking that it’s simply not attainable for them. Bill 10 would be adding an average of $5,000 to the price of a home by increasing the costs of transferring land titles and mortgages, property transfers, and mortgage registrations. How can the government justify these increases to Albertans? As I said, I cannot support everything that is in Bill 10; therefore, I cannot support Bill 10. Again, I ask all members of this Legislature to consider all elements of Bill 10 and vote against this bill. Thank you.

The Acting Speaker: I’ll recognize the Minister of Technology and Innovation to speak next.

Mr. Glubish: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was listening intently to the member opposite through his remarks, and I felt that some of it required a bit of a response to correct the record. You know, he really felt it was important to criticize our government’s track record on broadband as one of his key arguments against this bill. Well, the NDP never let the facts get in the way of a good story. But Albertans deserve the truth, and the truth is that when the NDP were in government for four years, they invested – wait for it – zero dollars in broadband. They never mentioned it in a budget address. They never mentioned it in a fiscal plan. They never mentioned it in a strategic plan. They never mentioned it in a business plan in any department across all of government. Zero dollars. How’s that

for a track record? How does that help keep our youth in rural Alberta? How does that help rural Albertans access health care? How does that help rural Alberta access better education? It doesn’t. While that member wasn’t a part of the government at that time, I guess it’s important for me to remind him that his party’s track record on broadband is a complete failure. The fact is that they did nothing. The NDP are so disconnected from reality. They are living in a fantasyland. They seem to think that you can just wave a magic wand and say some magic words and, poof, everyone in Alberta will have access to high-speed Internet. Well, if it were that simple, Mr. Speaker, why didn’t the NDP do it during their disastrous four years in government? Either they didn’t care or they were incompetent or it’s a more complex task than what they’re insinuating or maybe it’s all of the above. The good news is, Mr. Speaker, that while the NDP struggle with complex tasks, our government is taking real action to deploy $780 million of public funding to connect every Alberta household over the next several years to reliable high-speed Internet. That’s high- speed Internet in every corner of the province, every community across this province. We are going to deliver real results for Albertans. The member criticized our track record. Well, $780 million of public funding is a whole lot better than zero, and $212 million of that already committed to projects with shovels in the ground: that’s a whole lot better than zero. Mr. Speaker, when you take all of the public funding that we have been able to secure that has been deployed to date along with the private-sector partners who have been putting money to work to build infrastructure for connectivity across our province, we have 110,000 households that did not have access to reliable high-speed Internet who now either have it or have it being constructed in their communities. That’s 55 per cent of the households, that were identified at the outset of the publishing of the Alberta broadband strategy, that needed access to reliable high-speed Internet that are well on their way. That is a heck of a lot better than zero dollars and zero households, which is the NDP’s track record. It’s a little bit rich for the member opposite to use criticism of the government of Alberta’s broadband strategy and our track record on delivering connectivity to rural Alberta as a key argument in his attempt to debate this bill. Mr. Speaker, he talked a lot about track records of keeping youth in rural Alberta. The NDP wouldn’t know rural Alberta if it hit them in the face. They never leave the big cities. We know this because when they were in government, everything they did was an assault on rural Alberta. Do we remember Bill 6 and their failed policies on agriculture? We had farmers from all across the province protesting here at the Legislature because of the grave consequences of that member’s former government and the decisions that they made when they were in power. Mr. Speaker, if there is any government in the last number of years that actually understands Alberta, stands up for the interests of Alberta, and defends what is important to rural Albertans, it is this government; it is a United Conservative government. We will never apologize for standing up for rural Alberta. We will always defend the interests of rural Alberta. 4:20

I’m confident that the evidence on track record, the proof of our track record for rural Alberta is the election itself. How many rural NDP MLAs do we have, and how many rural UCP MLAs do we have? I think the evidence is clear, Mr. Speaker. Rural Albertans know who’s got their back. Rural Albertans know who understand which strategic initiatives need to be taken in order to advance their interests, and they know that it is a United Conservative government that will do that.

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Mr. Speaker, I hope that this is helpful to you. I hope this is helpful to all members of this Assembly to clear the record, to set the members opposite straight, to ensure that we are dealing with facts and not feelings, because facts are what are going to move Alberta forward. Facts are what are going to deliver high-speed Internet to rural Alberta. Facts are what are going to deliver a brighter future for our youth. The facts are on our side. Thank you.

The Acting Speaker: Any others wishing to speak to Bill 10? Calgary- Elbow has risen to speak.

Member Kayande: Thank you for the opportunity to speak, Mr. Speaker. The topic of debate is the Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024. It’s the enabling act of the budget. If I’m to quote Ed Broadbent: budgets are values in miniature. This budget is about the values of this government, and sadly it pains me to say that it’s a budget of broken promises, starting from the most signature policy that this government proposed as an election promise. They promised that there would be a tax cut for Albertans. Now, I know that me standing up here talking about a tax cut that we didn’t promise, you know, may seem a little bit strange, but Albertans had a choice in the last election. They had a choice of a government that would pay to fix health care, fund education so you’ve got smaller class sizes, get Albertans a family doctor, or they had a choice of immediate affordability in the form of cash in their pockets. Albertans chose the other option. That’s democracy. What they have now is neither. They have neither what they voted for nor what they could have voted against. It’s an assault on democracy. It is deeply offensive. Especially, as we find, that there was only a single, six-page briefing note in July in which the tax cut was killed is an insult to the people of Alberta.

Let’s start there. The minister has mentioned many times that: look, we can’t project what a tax cut would cost in the budget because there’s nothing in legislation and there’s no ministerial evaluation, and therefore it’s not in the out-years. That could have happened in fall. The enabling legislation could have been passed. As much as on the other side of the House they love talking about the ’15 to ’19 government, the government between ’19 and now is over there, and they have the power and the ability to make those choices and the power and ability to pass laws to fulfill their election promises. I wish they would, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate your time. I appreciate the indulgence of this House. Thank you very much.

The Acting Speaker: Any others wishing to speak? Seeing none, the Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board to close debate.

Mr. Horner: Waive.

The Acting Speaker: To close has been waived. The hon. President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance has moved third reading of Bill 10, Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024.

[Motion carried; Bill 10 read a third time]

The Acting Speaker: Minister of Justice and deputy House leader.

Mr. Amery: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. A wonderful and productive week from all sides of this House. However, it is now Thursday, and it is nearing time to go home. Thank you very much for the work that you’ve done. I move now to adjourn the Assembly until 1:30 on Monday, April 15.

[Motion carried; the Assembly adjourned at 4:26 p.m.]

_________________________________________________________Bill Status Report for the 31th Legislature - 1st Session (2023-2024)

Activity to Thursday, April 11, 2024

The Bill sponsor's name is in brackets following the Bill title. If it is a money Bill, ($) will appear between the title and the sponsor's name. Numbers following each Reading refer to Hansard pages where the text of debates is found; dates for each Reading are in brackets following the page numbers. Bills numbered 1 to 200 are Government Bills. Bills numbered 201 or higher are Private Members' Public Bills. Bills numbered with a "Pr" prefix are Private Bills.

* An asterisk beside a Bill number indicates an amendment was passed to that Bill; the Committee line shows the precise date of the amendment.

The date a Bill comes into force is indicated in square brackets after the date of Royal Assent. If a Bill comes into force "on proclamation," "with exceptions," or "on various dates," please contact Legislative Counsel, Alberta Justice, for details at 780.427.2217. The chapter number assigned to the Bill is entered immediately following the date the Bill comes into force. SA indicates Statutes of Alberta; this is followed by the year in which it is included in the statutes, and its chapter number. Please note, Private Bills are not assigned chapter number until the conclusion of the Fall Sittings.

Bill 1 — Alberta Taxpayer Protection Amendment Act, 2023 (Smith) First Reading — 10 (Oct. 30, 2023 aft., passed) Second Reading — 57-58 (Nov. 1, 2023 aft.), 96-97 (Nov. 2, 2023 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole — 145-47 (Nov. 7, 2023 aft., passed) Third Reading — 147-54 (Nov. 7, 2023 aft., passed on division) Royal Assent — (Dec. 7, 2023 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on December 7, 2023; SA 2023 c6 ]

Bill 2 — Alberta Pension Protection Act (Horner) First Reading — 89-90 (Nov. 2, 2023 aft., passed) Second Reading — 154-55 (Nov. 7, 2023 aft.), 274-85 (Nov. 21, 2023 aft.), 336-43 (Nov. 23, 2023 aft.), 394-400 (Nov. 28, 2023 aft.), 424-30 (Nov. 29, 2023 aft., passed)

Committee of the Whole — 522-30 (Dec. 5, 2023 aft.), 552-59 (Dec. 6, 2023 eve., passed) Third Reading — 565 (Dec. 6, 2023 eve.), 583-90 (Dec. 6, 2023 eve., passed on division) Royal Assent — (Dec. 7, 2023 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on December 7, 2023; SA 2023 cA-29.5 ]

Bill 3 — Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Amendment Act, 2023 (Williams) First Reading — 22 (Oct. 31, 2023 aft., passed) Second Reading — 90-93 (Nov. 2, 2023 aft.), 180-87 (Nov. 8, 2023 aft.), 272-73 (Nov. 21, 2023 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole — 307-09 (Nov. 22, 2023 aft., passed) Third Reading — 334-36 (Nov. 23, 2023 aft., passed) Royal Assent — (Dec. 7, 2023 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on December 7, 2023; SA 2023 c10 ]

Bill 4 — Tax Statutes Amendment Act, 2023 ($) (Horner) First Reading — 55 (Nov. 1, 2023 aft., passed) Second Reading — 159-63 (Nov. 7, 2023 aft.), 155-56 (Nov. 7, 2023 aft.), 187-90 (Nov. 8, 2023 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole — 309-13 (Nov. 22, 2023 aft., passed) Third Reading — 336 (Nov. 23, 2023 aft., passed) Royal Assent — (Dec. 7, 2023 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on various dates; SA 2023 c13 ]

Bill 5* — Public Sector Employers Amendment Act, 2023 (Horner) First Reading — 55-56 (Nov. 1, 2023 aft., passed) Second Reading — 156-57 (Nov. 7, 2023 aft.), 190-97 (Nov. 8, 2023 aft.), 265-72 (Nov. 21, 2023 aft.), 403-09 (Nov. 28, 2023 aft.), 430-35 (Nov. 29, 2023 aft., passed)

Committee of the Whole — 456 (Nov. 30, 2023 aft., passed), 519-22 (Dec. 5, 2023 aft., recommitted), 559-62, 563-64 (Dec. 6, 2023 eve., passed with amendments on division)

Third Reading — 515 (Dec. 5, 2023 aft., recommitted to Committee of the Whole), 564-55 (Dec. 6, 2023 eve.), 575-83 (Dec. 6, 2023 eve., passed on division)

Royal Assent — (Dec. 7, 2023 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on Proclamation; SA 2023 c12 ]

Bill 6 — Public Health Amendment Act, 2023 (Amery) First Reading — 90 (Nov. 2, 2023 aft., passed) Second Reading — 157-58 (Nov. 7, 2023 aft.), 313-20 (Nov. 22, 2023 aft.), 435-38 (Nov. 29, 2023 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole — 456-62 (Nov. 30, 2023 aft., passed) Third Reading — 462 (Nov. 30, 2023 aft., passed) Royal Assent — (Dec. 7, 2023 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on December 7, 2023; SA 2023 c11 ]

Bill 7 — Engineering and Geoscience Professions Amendment Act, 2023 (Sawhney) First Reading — 111 (Nov. 6, 2023 aft., passed) Second Reading — 158-59 (Nov. 7, 2023 aft.), 273-74 (Nov. 21, 2023 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole — 400-03 (Nov. 28, 2023 aft.), 423-24 (Nov. 29, 2023 aft., passed) Third Reading — 514-15 (Dec. 5, 2023 aft., passed) Royal Assent — (Dec. 7, 2023 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on December 7, 2023; SA 2023 c7 ]

Bill 8 — Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2023 (Amery) First Reading — 209 (Nov. 9, 2023 aft., passed) Second Reading — 299-307 (Nov. 22, 2023 aft.), 438-41 (Nov. 29, 2023 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole — 515-18 (Dec. 5, 2023 aft.), 546-52 (Dec. 6, 2023 eve., passed) Third Reading — 564 (Dec. 6, 2023 eve.), 569-75 (Dec. 6, 2023 eve., passed on division) Royal Assent — (Dec. 7, 2023 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on various dates; SA 2023 c8 ]

Bill 9 — Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2023 (Schow) First Reading — 478 (Dec. 4, 2023 aft., passed) Second Reading — 513-14 (Dec. 5, 2023 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole — 546 (Dec. 6, 2023 eve.., passed) Third Reading — 590-92 (Dec. 7, 2023 eve., passed) Royal Assent — (Dec. 7, 2023 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on December 7, 2023; SA 2023 c9 ]

Bill 10 — Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 ($) (Horner) First Reading — 673 (Mar. 12, 2024 aft., passed) Second Reading — 705-16 (Mar. 14, 2024 aft.), 868-73 (Mar. 26, 2024 aft.), 904-05 (Mar. 27, 2024 aft.), 899-901 (Mar. 27, 2024 aft.), 970-75 (Apr. 9, 2024 aft.), 1003-05 (Apr. 10, 2024 aft., passed)

Committee of the Whole — 1005-09 (Apr. 10, 2024 aft., passed) Third Reading — 1040-43 (Apr. 11, 2024 aft., passed)

Bill 11 — Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 (Ellis) First Reading — 685 (Mar. 13, 2024 aft., passed) Second Reading — 976-90 (Apr. 9, 2024 aft.), 1009-15 (Apr. 10, 2024 aft., adjourned)

Bill 12 — Consumer Protection (Life Leases) Amendment Act, 2024 (Nally) First Reading — 727 (Mar. 18, 2024 aft., passed) Second Reading — 1015-22 (Apr. 10, 2024 aft.), 1043-46 (Apr. 11, 2024 aft., adjourned)

Bill 13 — Real Property Governance Act (Guthrie) First Reading — 779 (Mar. 21, 2024 aft., passed)

Bill 14 — Appropriation Act, 2024 ($) (Horner) First Reading — 791 (Mar. 21, 2024 aft., passed) Second Reading — 855-63 (Mar. 26, 2024 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole — 887-93 (Mar. 27, 2024 aft., adjourned), (Mar. 27, 2024 aft., passed) Third Reading — 920-24 (Mar. 28, 2024 aft., passed) Royal Assent — (Mar. 28, 2024 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on March 28, 2024; SA 2024 c1 ]

Bill 15 — Appropriation (Supplementary Supply) Act, 2024 ($) (Horner) First Reading — 841 (Mar. 25, 2024 eve., passed) Second Reading — 863-68 (Mar. 26, 2024 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole — 893-99 (Mar. 27, 2024 aft., adjourned), 901-04 (Mar. 27, 2024 aft., passed) Third Reading — 924 (Mar. 28, 2024 aft, passed), 920 (Mar. 28, 2024 aft.) Royal Assent — (Mar. 28, 2024 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on March 28, 2024; SA 2024 c2 ]

Bill 16 — Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 (Nally) First Reading — 935-36 (Apr. 8, 2024 aft., passed)

Bill 17 — Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence Act (Williams) First Reading — 959 (Apr. 9, 2024 aft., passed)

Bill 18 — Provincial Priorities Act (Smith) First Reading — 993 (Apr. 10, 2024 aft., passed)

Bill 201 — Alberta Health Care Insurance (Access Fees) Amendment Act, 2023 (Brar) First Reading — 90 (Nov. 2, 2023 aft., passed) Second Reading — 114-25 (Nov. 6, 2023 aft.), 234-37 (Nov. 20, 2023 aft., reasoned amendment agreed to on division; not proceeded with)

Bill 202 — Education (Class Size and Composition) Amendment Act, 2023 (Chapman) First Reading — 209 (Nov. 9, 2023 aft., passed) Second Reading — 237-46 (Nov. 20, 2023 aft.), 358-64 (Nov. 27, 2023 aft., defeated on division; not proceeded with)

Bill 203 — Foreign Credential Advisory Committee Act (Dyck) First Reading — 111 (Nov. 6, 2023 aft., passed) Second Reading — 364-70 (Nov. 27, 2023 aft.), 479-86 (Dec. 4, 2023 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole — 730-43 (Mar. 18, 2024 aft., passed) Third Reading — 805-12 (Mar. 25, 2024 aft., passed on division) Royal Assent — (Mar. 28, 2024 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on June 28, 2024; SA 2024 cF-16.5 ]

Bill 204 — Municipal Government (National Urban Parks) Amendment Act, 2023 (Lunty) First Reading — 332 (Nov. 23, 2023 aft., passed) Second Reading — 486-92 (Dec. 4, 2023 aft.), 649-58 (Mar. 11, 2024 aft., passed on division) Committee of the Whole — 812-17 (Mar. 25, 2024 aft.), 938-48 (Apr. 8, 2024 aft., passed on division)

Bill 205 — Housing Statutes (Housing Security) Amendment Act, 2023 (Irwin) First Reading — 510 (Dec. 5, 2023 aft., passed) Second Reading — 658-62 (Mar. 11, 2024 aft.), 948-50 (Apr. 8, 2024 aft., adjourned)

Bill 206 — Child and Youth Advocate (Parent and Guardian Advisor) Amendment Act, 2024 (Cyr) First Reading — 917-18 (Mar. 28, 2024 aft., passed)

Bill Pr1 — St. Joseph’s College Amendment Act, 2023 (Sigurdson, L) First Reading — 289 (Nov. 22, 2023 aft., passed; referred to the Standing Committee on Private Bills), 421 (Nov. 29, 2023 aft., reported to Assembly; proceeded with)

Second Reading — 455 (Nov. 30, 2023 aft., passed) Committee of the Whole — 515 (Dec. 5, 2023 aft., passed) Third Reading — 530 (Dec. 5, 2023 aft., passed) Royal Assent — (Dec. 7, 2023 outside of House sitting) [Comes into force on December 7, 2023; SA 2023 c14 ]

Bill Pr2 — Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta Amendment Act, 2024 (Justin Wright) First Reading — 918 (Mar. 28, 2024 aft., passed; referred to the Standing Committee on Private Bills)

Bill Pr3 — Providence Renewal Centre Amendment Act, 2024 (Calahoo Stonehouse) First Reading — 918 (Mar. 28, 2024 aft., passed; referred to the Standing Committee on Private Bills)

Bill Pr4 — Rosebud School of the Arts Amendment Act, 2024 (Petrovic) First Reading — 918 (Mar. 28, 2024 aft., passed; referred to the Standing Committee on Private Bills)

Table of Contents

Prayers ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1023

Introduction of Visitors ............................................................................................................................................................................ 1023

Introduction of Guests .............................................................................................................................................................................. 1023

Members’ Statements Eastern Slopes Land Management ....................................................................................................................................................... 1024 Federal Government Spending in Alberta ........................................................................................................................................... 1024 Government Policies ........................................................................................................................................................................... 1025 Federal Policies ................................................................................................................................................................................... 1025 Life Leases .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 1025 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Anniversary ............................................................................................................................................. 1034

Oral Question Period Continuing Care Standards .................................................................................................................................................................. 1026 Bill 18 ................................................................................................................................................................................... 1026, 1029 Wildfire Management and First Nations Communities ....................................................................................................................... 1027 Federal Postsecondary Research Funding ........................................................................................................................................... 1027 Life Lease Housing.............................................................................................................................................................................. 1028 Technology Innovation in Agriculture................................................................................................................................................. 1028 Life Lease Regulation .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1030 High-speed Internet Service for Rural Alberta .................................................................................................................................... 1030 Alberta Technology and Innovation Strategy ...................................................................................................................................... 1031 Rural School Construction and Modernization .................................................................................................................................... 1031 Access to Menstrual Products .............................................................................................................................................................. 1032 Support for Health Care Workers ........................................................................................................................................................ 1032 Drought Preparations ........................................................................................................................................................................... 1033

Tabling Returns and Reports .................................................................................................................................................................... 1034

Tablings to the Clerk ................................................................................................................................................................................ 1035

Orders of the Day ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 1040

Government Bills and Orders Second Reading

Bill 12 Consumer Protection (Life Leases) Amendment Act, 2024 ........................................................................................... 1040 Third Reading

Bill 10 Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 ...................................................................................................................... 1043

Alberta Hansard is available online at www.assembly.ab.ca For inquiries contact: Editor Alberta Hansard 3rd Floor, 9820 – 107 St EDMONTON, AB T5K 1E7 Telephone: 780.427.1875 E-mail: AlbertaHansard@assembly.ab.ca Published under the Authority of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta ISSN 0383-3623