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The official Opposition called for an emergency debate on the issue weeks ago, said United Conservative Party house leader Jason Nixon.

“The premier indicated she thought it would be a waste of time to have us back inside the legislature talking about this,” he told a news conference Wednesday. “We are dealing with a serious issues and the idea we have waited five weeks to have this conversation is disappointing.”

Nixon sent Mason a letter Wednesday asking to discuss the motion.

“We are optimistic that both parties can easily come to an agreement on wording,” he wrote.

Cannabis legislation is another government priority for the spring session.

“There’s a lot more work to be done,” Mason said, referencing rules on traffic safety, marketing and the commercial rollout of cannabis.

The NDP plans to introduce about 15 bills this session, including a bill on urban agriculture to promote local food. Finance Minister Joe Ceci is also slated to table the provincial budget March 22.

The floor plan of the legislature will look different Thursday, with newly minted UCP Leader Jason Kenney taking his seat for Calgary-Lougheed. The corner of independents is smaller after both Calgary-Mackay-Nose Hill MLA Karen McPherson and Calgary-South East MLA Rick Fraser joined the Alberta Party.

That party now has three sitting members, including Calgary-Elbow MLA Greg Clark.

Vermilion-Lloydminster MLA Richard Starke sits as a Progressive Conservative after he declined to join the UCP and Strathmore-Brooks MLA Derek Fildebrandt sits as an independent.

Fildebrandt said he will bring forward a private member’s bill to cut MLA salaries by five per cent.

“There is no credible plan in sight for a return to balance budgets,” he said at a Wednesday news conference. His proposal includes salary cuts of about $6,300 for MLAs, $9,500 for ministers and $13,500 for the premier. “All MLAs need to show leadership in this and leadership comes from the top.”