Alberta legislature resumes: Government focuses on economy, Opposition on COVID-19
The first day of the Alberta legislature's fall sitting signalled the government's intention to focus on the economy and the Opposition determined to hold the United Conservatives to account for mismanaging COVID-19.
NDP Leader Rachel Notley accused Premier Jason Kenney and his cabinet of negligently downplaying the fourth wave of COVID-19, then disappearing in the summer as cases soared, resulting in hundreds of deaths and pushing hospital capacity to the breaking point.
“The premier went on vacation. He left Alberta without leadership,” Notley said in question period Monday as she pointed across the aisle at Kenney and his cabinet.
“Where was your health minister? Your deputy premier? Your finance minister? A single solitary adult over there? Where were they?”
Kenney responded that every jurisdiction has had COVID-19 hard times and the NDP's criticism is not helpful to solving the crisis.
“They (the NDP) have always craved an Australian-style hard and brutal lockdown, the consequences of which would require turning this province into a virtual police state,” said Kenney.
The premier has said he didn't react with renewed rules to address the soaring summer case numbers until Sept. 3, because he didn't believe a COVID-19-weary population would follow them.
The numbers have been dropping slowly in recent weeks, but there are still 182 people infected with the virus receiving intensive care.
The health system has had to double its normal amount of ICU beds, forcing the cancellation of thousands of non-urgent surgeries, and call in the military to handle the surge.
Kenney said there will be a review eventually of how his government handled the COVID-19 pandemic. He rejected the NDP's call for an all-party committee with subpoena powers to get to the bottom of what happened over the summer.
Now is not the time to pull medical staff away from their duties, he said.
The legislature is to sit for five of the next six weeks through to the beginning of December. There's to be a one-week break around Remembrance Day.
Government house leader Jason Nixon said there will be 18 to 20 bills focused on creating jobs and diversifying the economy.
“I will be putting forward a very robust legislative agenda inside the legislature. And we will be going very quickly around the clock - morning, noon and night - to be able to fulfil that agenda for Albertans,” Nixon said.
Kenney introduced the first bill Monday to streamline how professional requirements are processed for those from out of province.
“Occupations are regulated inconsistently across Canada, creating a patchwork of credential recognition that holds back skilled and certified workers,” Kenney told a news conference.
The bill would affect more than 100 regulated professions, including nurses, accountants, real estate agents, firefighters, paramedics, engineers, insurance adjusters and horse jockeys.
Professional bodies would have to make a decision on an application within a month of receiving it and establish timely appeals for those rejected.
They would also have to make available online a breakdown of what documents are required to apply and the fees involved.
Kenney said the legislation, coupled with low taxes, high oil prices and COVID-19 receding, would help Alberta's bottom line rebound.
“We are moving, I believe, probably into a strong and sustained cycle of economic growth,” said Kenney. “(But) we are hearing about labour shortages, not just in Alberta, but across the economy in North America, (so) this is going to become an emerging challenge.”
Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda introduced legislation to codify how capital projects are given a green light and a 20-year strategy for capital planning.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Local MP, MLA call on federal government to remove sunken vessel in Saint John River
An MP and an MLA are calling for the removal of a sunken vessel in the Saint John River.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.