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But Notley is enthusiastic about sparring with the former MP in question period come 2018.

“I’m quite looking forward to countering some of the things that have been said over the last six months,” she said.

“There have been a plethora of things that just aren’t true, so it will be a welcome opportunity to have a conversation on the facts.”

Missing ministers

As the fall session plodded along this year, the NDP front bench became pockmarked with empty seats.

One of those spots belonged to Justice Minister and Attorney General Kathleen Ganley, who took maternity leave with the birth of her first child. (That was another highlight for Notley, a self-declared lover of babies. She says Ganley was the first attorney general in Canada to give birth while in office).

But the rest of the bare chairs cycled through cabinet ministers, with anywhere from four to 10 absent from the house on the same day.

Notley said that was a conscious decision.

Rather than sitting in question period, ministers were out in the province “engaging with Albertans, talking to their stakeholders, doing the work of government,” she said.

Looking to 2018

With the province facing a $10.3-billion deficit for the 2017-18 fiscal year, next year will be a political test for the NDP.

Notley said the plan is to focus on recovery, job creation, economic stability and investment in the energy sector and other industries working to diversify.

It will also be about the “compassionate belt-tightening” that made its way into government parlance late this year.

“There may be opportunities for us when we’re looking at … how we can re-profile or re-prioritize certain types of spending that doesn’t have an immediate or long-term impact on that family sitting around the table,” she said.

“It’s none of this holus bolus, 20 per cent and off we go. It’s much more strategic.”

egraney@postmedia.com

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