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Luff had hoped to move an amendment allowing her to continue on the public accounts committee, which reviews auditor general reports and provincial accounts. She argued it’s against best practice in parliamentary procedure to boot her from the committee.

“The fact that the government and the official opposition are working together right now to prevent me the opportunity to speak and to provide amendments is absolutely abominable, Madam Speaker. This is a tragedy,” she said.

“I stand on the side as an independent because I feel that the democratic processes of this house do not work as they are intended to work, and this is absolutely an example of that.”

Clark then jumped into the fray, accusing the NDP and UCP of “working hand in hand” to further their political interests.

“It is truly a remarkable day when two parties, the government party … (and) official Opposition somehow find it in their hearts to come together when it is time for committee reassignment when it serves their own political interests,” he said.

Pointing to the fact Nixon jumped to his feet before Larivee even moved the motion, Clark accused the two major parties of having “colluded” before the debate.

“They had a plan, this nefarious little plan in the backrooms of this building, the kind of thing that Albertans absolutely hate and reject,” he said.

Clark added that when Premier Rachel Notley and house leader Brian Mason were in opposition, they were on every single committee.