If the first two weeks of the fall session are anything to go by, the final three will be jam-packed with bills and announcements. Here’s what we’ve seen so far and what could be in the pipeline.



The bills

The provincial government wasn’t shy about lobbing legislation into the chamber after Alberta’s politicians returned to the legislature Oct. 31. Seven bills hit the table over the eight days of sitting and, with the NDP focused on its climate leadership plan, it’s no surprise that two of those concerned the environment. Bill 25 will limit oilsands emissions to 100 megatonnes per year, while Bill 27, the Renewable Electricity Act, will add 5,000 megawatts of renewable electricity capacity to the grid by 2030.



Also thrown in the mix this session was legislation to modernize the province’s vital statistics act, including adding an X gender marker alongside male and female, two new tax credits, further movement on the government’s agencies, boards and commissions review, and a change to occupational health and safety that makes harassment policies mandatory for all Alberta businesses. There was also a bill that passed happily through the legislature in a single day, without a word of dissent, declaring Sept. 7 Alberta’s annual Ukrainian-Canadian Heritage Day.



Announcements galore

From a curriculum review to cash for apprentices, a school nutrition program and $10 million for 18 new affordable daycare centres, many government announcements this session have come under the umbrella of the government’s Future Ready plan.





The NDP has also announced $500,000 in grants for organizations that support women and girls, and finally signed an agreement with the Alberta Medical Association to try to stem the ballooning cost of health care. A scathing report by the auditor general about the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped program left the government pledging to fix it. Two ministers have travelled to Asia to try to increase Alberta’s trade connections.



What’s to come

The reviewed Municipal Government Act is still working its way through the house.



The government has promised this session it will unveil legislation around election financing.



There are rumours the NDP could introduce legislation to retroactively change Power Purchase Arrangement contracts signed 16 years ago. The government has done little to dispel those whispers during repeated questions from the opposition in the house. We can probably expect more movement on the climate plan, too.



Also worth keeping your eye on is the Progressive Conservative Party’s leadership battle and the vibe from that party and the NDP now that longtime PC MLA Sandra Jansen has crossed the floor to the government side.



egraney@postmedia.com



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