Premier Jim Prentice has prorogued the fall legislative session by two weeks to allow time for byelections and a new throne speech while killing controversial pension legislation introduced under former premier Alison Redford.

An Order-In-Council passed Thursday will see the legislative session starting at 3 p.m. on Nov. 17, instead of the originally scheduled Oct. 27 start date. Prentice has promised not to shorten the session, meaning government will sit for 20 days and wrap-up the week before Christmas on Dec. 18.

"We will start the fall sitting of the Legislature with a Speech from the Throne to outline the Prentice Government's agenda to address the priorities of Albertans," said Government House Leader Diana McQueen in a statement.

At least three byelections will be held in October/November so Prentice, as well as unelected cabinet ministers Stephen Mandel and Gordon Dirks, can attempt to win a seat in the legislature. Elections Alberta says a byelection will be held 28 days after the writ is dropped for any vacant constituencies and results would be announced 10 days afterwards.

"Premier Prentice has told Albertans that members of Cabinet who are not currently MLAs will seek seats in byelections so they can represent Albertans and the government in the Legislature -- he will make good on that promise and details regarding the byelections will be available soon," said McQueen.

The move also means that all remaining Redford-era legislation is toast.

Prorogation brings to an end all business and legislation on the Order Paper including the controversial Public Sector Pension Plans Amendment Act (Bill 9) and the Employment Pension (Private Sector) Plans Amendment Act (Bill 10).

"Bills 9 and 10 will not be reintroduced under the Prentice government," the government said.

"We're very pleased about that and it comes after months and months of lobbying very hard," said Guy Smith, President of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) that represents over 21,000 public sector workers in the province.

AUPE and other public-sector unions had argued for months that former finance minister Doug Horner's proposed changes to address the sustainability of the plans were not needed. Smith says Prentice could still choose to interfere with the plans. New Finance Minister Robin Campbell has also been tasked with addressing the plans' sustainability.

"One of the things we're trying to build is joint-sponsorship of those plans... there's still some steps we need to take but in the meantime, I think our members are relieved," Smith said.

The move also ends planned amendments to Alberta's Condominium Property Act that would make it mandatory for developers to be more transparent about condo fees. A task team of Albertans, chaired by Sherwood Park MLA Cathy Olesen, was reviewing implementation options.

matthew.dykstra@sunmedia.ca

@SunMattDykstra