The Legislative Update resumes this week after a two-week hiatus for RMA’s Fall Convention, where the Premier and several Cabinet ministers attended and answered questions from rural municipal leaders, and the Legislature’s constituency week, during which MLAs were out of the Legislature and working in their constituencies.
Notable visitors to the Legislature this week included representatives from the Alberta Lung Association, Alberta Canola, Uncles & Aunts at Large, the Regional Land Trusts of Alberta, Prairie Land School Division board, and students from schools across the province. All guests received the Legislature’s warm welcome.
Members’ Issues and Related Bills or Activities
Bill 30 – Service Alberta Statutes Amendment Act, 2024
Honourable Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction
If passed, Bill 30 would amend the Condominium Property Act, the Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act (PPCLA), and the Public Works Act (PWA). Of most consequence to RMA’s members would be the Bill’s amendments to the PWA, which would extend the PPCLA’s rules and processes to Government of Alberta construction projects, including proper invoicing provisions and 31-day billing cycles unless testing or commissioning is required. The amendments would also clarify that as of Spring 2025, all new contracts would align with the legislative requirements, and all existing contracts would continue as written until project completion.
In the coming weeks, RMA intends to review Bill 30 to gauge how it will impact municipal construction and infrastructure projects. Bill 30 passed its second reading on November 20.
Bill 31 – Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2024
Honourable Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice, Solicitor General of Alberta
If passed, Bill 31 would amend multiple pieces of legislation. Of most relevance to RMA’s members would be the amendment of the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act to add two more electoral divisions, increasing the number of constituencies (and MLAs) from 87 to 89. The Bill would also legislate public reporting of crime data, amend the definition of essential infrastructure within the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act to repeal the Regulation, provide for electronic certification of documents filed with Alberta’s courts, and remove the requirement to justify the making of an affirmation instead of swearing an oath.
Bill 31’s second reading was adjourned on November 19.
Bill 33 – Protection of Privacy Act
Honourable Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation
Bill 34 – Access to Information Act
Honourable Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction
As they are closely linked, RMA is currently reviewing Bills 33 and 34 together to gauge their impact on member municipalities and any impacts on municipal property assessment across the province.
If passed, Bill 33’s Protection of Privacy Act would mandate public bodies (including rural municipalities) to create their programs and services with protection of privacy in mind. The proposed Protection of Privacy Act would provide the strictest penalties in Canada for misusing Albertans’ personal information, permit the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) not to proceed with an investigation in certain circumstances, implement requirements for privacy management programs, impact assessments, and breach reporting, and mandate the notification of Albertans if their personal information is involved in a privacy breach.
Bill 34’s Access to Information Act would recognize electronic records, allow public bodies (including rural municipalities) to extend timelines during times of emergencies, and clarify definitions and processes. The Act also purports to further empower public bodies to proactively disclose information outside the access to information process.
Both Bills’ second readings are on the Order Paper for November 21.
Bill 35 – All-Season Resorts Act
Honourable Joseph Schow, Minister of Tourism and Sport, Government House Leader
Bill 35’s All-Season Resorts Act claims to incentivize the responsible, sustainable development of all-season, year-round resorts in Alberta. The Act would establish a new All-Season Resorts Branch in the Ministry of Tourism and Sport for all-season resort developments on Alberta’s provincial Crown lands, and purports to establish a clear, straightforward resort development approval process for proponents to follow, enable the development of year-round tourism products in Alberta, and support a growing visitor economy by attracting private capital into the development of tourism products.
RMA is currently reviewing the Act to determine if and how it will impact land use planning and economic development in member municipalities and hopes to provide more information in next week’s Legislative Update. Bill 35 passed its first reading on November 7.
Other Notable Legislative Action
Bill 24 – Alberta Bill of Rights Amendment Act, 2024
Honourable Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice, Solicitor General of Alberta
If passed, Bill 24 would amend the Alberta Bill of Rights by expanding freedom of expression to cover non-verbal and non-written forms of expression, protect Albertans against unwanted medical care and restrict vaccination mandates in the public sector, affirm firearms ownership as a right, make it more challenging for the government to appropriate property, and grant the courts the power to order injunctions or award damages where provincial policy violates Albertans’ rights.
Amendments to Bill 24 were introduced and debated at the Committee of the Whole (CW) on October 30, with the CW debate being adjourned again on November 20. Its third reading is on the Order Paper for November 21.
Bill 28 – Meat Inspection Amendment Act, 2024
Honourable R.J. Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation
Bill 28 proposed much stricter penalties for illegal meat sales, which pose serious risks to both human and animal health and could potentially jeopardize the province’s livestock and meat processing industry. If passed, the amount of time for investigating and laying charges would increase from one to two years, and the penalty for contravening Alberta’s Meat Inspection Act and its regulations would increase tenfold from $10,000 to $100,000.
Bill 28 passed its third reading on Wednesday, November 20, and is expected to receive Royal Assent.
Bill 32 – Financial Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 (No. 2)
Honourable Nate Horner, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance
If passed, Bill 32 would amend 10 pieces of legislation and implement a new legislative framework for indexation of the tax system and social programs. Aside from these changes and others made to home financing rules and legislation, including the introduction of Halal mortgages, the changes most relevant to RMA’s members include the implementation of an electric vehicle tax of $200 annually and other provisions for the administration of the tax, including rules for refunds and exemptions for governments, diplomats and First Nations bands and individuals.
Bill 32’s second reading was adjourned on November 6.
Bill 209 – Reconciliation Implementation Act
Brooks Arcand-Paul, MLA for Edmonton-West Henday, Opposition Critic for Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation
Bill 209 proposes to create a framework for reconciliation and commit the Provincial Government, through the Minister of Indigenous Relations, to work with Indigenous nations to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action. If passed, it would also mark a departure from existing common-law duties to consult.
Bill 209 currently awaits its second reading alongside Private Members’ Public Bills 211, 212, and 214.
On the Order Paper: Upcoming Bill Introductions
Bill 23 – Miscellaneous Corrections Statute Amendment Act, 2024
Honourable Joseph Schow, Minister of Tourism and Sport, Government House Leader
Standing and Select Special Committee Meetings
November 18:
Standing Committee on Legislative Offices
The Committee approves the budgets of the Officers of the Legislature, including the Auditor General, Chief Electoral Officer, Child and Youth Advocate, Ethics Commissioner, Information and Privacy Commissioner, Ombudsman, and Public Interest Commissioner, and reviews officers’ salaries on an annual basis. The committee also reviews officers’ requests for proposed changes to legislation and forwards the recommendation to the appropriate ministry.
November 19:
Standing Committee on Public Accounts – Ministry of Technology and Innovation
The Standing Committee on Public Accounts reviews the reports of the Auditor General of Alberta and the public accounts of the province. On November 19th, the Committee reviewed the Ministry’s 2023-2024 Annual Report.
Joseph Kay
Policy & Research Analyst
587.689.5484
joseph@RMAlberta.com
Wyatt Skovron
General Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@RMAlberta.com