Alberta Hansard — 22 February 2022, Afternoon sitting (15:00) (Legislature 30, Session 3)

20220222

Alberta — Debates (Hansard)

Province of Alberta The 30th Legislature Third Session Alberta Hansard Tuesday afternoon, February 22, 2022 Day 1 The Honourable Nathan M. Cooper, Speaker

Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 30th Legislature Third Session Cooper, Hon.

Nathan M., Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills (UC), Speaker Pitt, Angela D., Airdrie-East (UC), Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees Milliken, Nicholas, Calgary-Currie (UC), Deputy Chair of Committees Aheer, Leela Sharon, Chestermere-Strathmore (UC) Allard, Tracy L., Grande Prairie (UC) Amery, Mickey K., Calgary-Cross (UC) Armstrong-Homeniuk, Jackie, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville (UC) Barnes, Drew, Cypress-Medicine Hat (Ind) Bilous, Deron, Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview (NDP) Carson, Jonathon, Edmonton-West Henday (NDP) Ceci, Joe, Calgary-Buffalo (NDP) Copping, Hon.

Jason C., Calgary-Varsity (UC) Dach, Lorne, Edmonton-McClung (NDP) Dang, Thomas, Edmonton-South (Ind) Deol, Jasvir, Edmonton-Meadows (NDP) Dreeshen, Devin, Innisfail-Sylvan Lake (UC) Eggen, David, Edmonton-North West (NDP), Official Opposition Whip Ellis, Hon. Mike, Calgary-West (UC) Feehan, Richard, Edmonton-Rutherford (NDP) Fir, Hon. Tanya, Calgary-Peigan (UC) Frey, Michaela L., Brooks-Medicine Hat (UC) Ganley, Kathleen T., Calgary-Mountain View (NDP) Getson, Shane C., Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland (UC) Glubish, Hon.

Nate, Strathcona-Sherwood Park (UC) Goehring, Nicole, Edmonton-Castle Downs (NDP) Gotfried, Richard, Calgary-Fish Creek (UC) Gray, Christina, Edmonton-Mill Woods (NDP), Official Opposition House Leader Guthrie, Peter F., Airdrie-Cochrane (UC) Hanson, David B., Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul (UC) Hoffman, Sarah, Edmonton-Glenora (NDP) Horner, Hon. Nate S., Drumheller-Stettler (UC) Hunter, Grant R., Taber-Warner (UC) Irwin, Janis, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood (NDP), Official Opposition Deputy Whip Issik, Hon. Whitney, Calgary-Glenmore (UC), Government Whip Jones, Matt, Calgary-South East (UC) Kenney, Hon.

Jason, PC, Calgary-Lougheed (UC), Premier LaGrange, Hon. Adriana, Red Deer-North (UC) Loewen, Todd, Central Peace-Notley (Ind) Long, Martin M., West Yellowhead (UC) Lovely, Jacqueline, Camrose (UC) Loyola, Rod, Edmonton-Ellerslie (NDP) Luan, Hon. Jason, Calgary-Foothills (UC) Madu, Hon. Kaycee, QC, Edmonton-South West (UC) McIver, Hon. Ric, Calgary-Hays (UC) Nally, Hon. Dale, Morinville-St. Albert (UC) Neudorf, Nathan T., Lethbridge-East (UC) Nicolaides, Hon. Demetrios, Calgary-Bow (UC) Nielsen, Christian E., Edmonton-Decore (NDP) Nixon, Hon.

Jason, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre (UC), Government House Leader Nixon, Jeremy P., Calgary-Klein (UC) Notley, Rachel, Edmonton-Strathcona (NDP), Leader of the Official Opposition Orr, Hon. Ronald, Lacombe-Ponoka (UC) Pancholi, Rakhi, Edmonton-Whitemud (NDP) Panda, Hon. Prasad, Calgary-Edgemont (UC) Phillips, Shannon, Lethbridge-West (NDP) Pon, Hon. Josephine, Calgary-Beddington (UC) Rehn, Pat, Lesser Slave Lake (UC) Reid, Roger W., Livingstone-Macleod (UC) Renaud, Marie F., St.

Albert (NDP) Rosin, Miranda D., Banff-Kananaskis (UC) Rowswell, Garth, Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright (UC) Rutherford, Brad, Leduc-Beaumont (UC), Deputy Government Whip Sabir, Irfan, Calgary-Bhullar-McCall (NDP), Official Opposition Deputy House Leader Savage, Hon. Sonya, Calgary-North West (UC) Sawhney, Hon. Rajan, Calgary-North East (UC) Schmidt, Marlin, Edmonton-Gold Bar (NDP) Schow, Joseph R., Cardston-Siksika (UC), Deputy Government House Leader Schulz, Hon. Rebecca, Calgary-Shaw (UC) Schweitzer, Hon. Doug, QC, Calgary-Elbow (UC) Shandro, Hon.

Tyler, QC, Calgary-Acadia (UC) Shepherd, David, Edmonton-City Centre (NDP) Sigurdson, Lori, Edmonton-Riverview (NDP) Sigurdson, R.J., Highwood (UC) Singh, Peter, Calgary-East (UC) Smith, Mark W., Drayton Valley-Devon (UC) Stephan, Jason, Red Deer-South (UC) Sweet, Heather, Edmonton-Manning (NDP) Toews, Hon. Travis, Grande Prairie-Wapiti (UC) Toor, Devinder, Calgary-Falconridge (UC) Turton, Searle, Spruce Grove-Stony Plain (UC) van Dijken, Glenn, Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock (UC) Walker, Jordan, Sherwood Park (UC) Williams, Dan D.A., Peace River (UC) Wilson, Hon.

Rick D., Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin (UC) Yao, Tany, Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo (UC) Yaseen, Hon.

Muhammad, Calgary-North (UC) Vacant, Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche Party standings: United Conservative: 60 New Democrat: 23 Independent: 3 Vacant: 1 Officers and Officials of the Legislative Assembly Shannon Dean, QC, Clerk Teri Cherkewich, Law Clerk Trafton Koenig, Senior Parliamentary Counsel Philip Massolin, Clerk Assistant and Director of House Services Nancy Robert, Clerk of Journals and Committees Janet Schwegel, Director of Parliamentary Programs Amanda LeBlanc, Deputy Editor of Alberta Hansard Chris Caughell, Sergeant-at-Arms Tom Bell, Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Link, Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Terry Langley, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms

Executive Council Jason Kenney Premier, President of Executive Council, Minister of Intergovernmental Relations Jason Copping Minister of Health Mike Ellis Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Tanya Fir Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction Nate Glubish Minister of Service Alberta Nate Horner Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development Whitney Issik Associate Minister of Status of Women Adriana LaGrange Minister of Education Jason Luan Minister of Community and Social Services Ric McIver Minister of Municipal Affairs Dale Nally Associate Minister of Natural Gas and Electricity Demetrios Nicolaides Minister of Advanced Education Jason Nixon Minister of Environment and Parks Ronald Orr Minister of Culture Prasad Panda Minister of Infrastructure Josephine Pon Minister of Seniors and Housing Sonya Savage Minister of Energy Acting Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Rajan Sawhney Minister of Transportation Rebecca Schulz Minister of Children’s Services Doug Schweitzer Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation Tyler Shandro Minister of Labour and Immigration Travis Toews President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance Rick Wilson Minister of Indigenous Relations Muhammad Yaseen Associate Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism Parliamentary Secretaries Martin Long Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Tourism Jacqueline Lovely Parliamentary Secretary to the Associate Minister of Status of Women Nathan Neudorf Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Parks for Water Stewardship Jeremy Nixon Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Community and Social Services for Civil Society Searle Turton Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy Dan Williams Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Culture and for la Francophonie

STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Chair: Mr. Rowswell Deputy Chair: Mr. Jones Allard Eggen Gray Hunter Phillips Rehn Singh Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future Chair: Mr. Neudorf Deputy Chair: Ms Goehring Armstrong-Homeniuk Barnes Bilous Frey Irwin Rosin Rowswell Sweet van Dijken Walker Select Special Child and Youth Advocate Search Committee Chair: Mr. Schow Deputy Chair: Mr. Jones Goehring Lovely Nixon, Jeremy Pancholi Sabir Smith Turton Select Special Committee to Examine Safe Supply Chair: Mr.

Jeremy Nixon Deputy Chair: Mrs. Allard Amery Frey Milliken Rosin Stephan Yao Vacant Vacant Vacant Vacant Standing Committee on Families and Communities Chair: Ms Lovely Deputy Chair: Ms Sigurdson Amery Carson Frey Gotfried Hunter Loewen Pancholi Reid Sabir Smith Select Special Information and Privacy Commissioner Search Committee Chair: Mr. Walker Deputy Chair: Mr. Turton Allard Carson Dang Dreeshen Ganley Long Stephan Standing Committee on Legislative Offices Chair: Mr. Rutherford Deputy Chair: Mr.

Milliken Allard Ceci Long Loyola Rosin Shepherd Smith Sweet van Dijken Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services Chair: Mr. Cooper Deputy Chair: Mr. Schow Allard Dang Deol Goehring Long Neudorf Sabir Sigurdson, R.J. Williams Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members’ Public Bills Chair: Mr. Rutherford Deputy Chair: Mr. Jeremy Nixon Amery Dang Frey Irwin Long Nielsen Rehn Rosin Sigurdson, L. Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing Chair: Mr. Smith Deputy Chair: Mr.

Reid Aheer Armstrong-Homeniuk Deol Ganley Gotfried Loyola Neudorf Renaud Stephan Williams Standing Committee on Public Accounts Chair: Ms Phillips Deputy Chair: Mr. Reid Armstrong-Homeniuk Lovely Pancholi Renaud Rowswell Schmidt Singh Toor Turton Walker Select Special Committee on Real Property Rights Chair: Mr. Sigurdson Deputy Chair: Mr. Rutherford Frey Ganley Hanson Milliken Nielsen Rowswell Schmidt Sweet van Dijken Yao Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship Chair: Mr. Hanson Deputy Chair: Member Ceci Dach Feehan Ganley Getson Guthrie Lovely Rehn Singh Turton Yao

February 22, 2022 Alberta Hansard 1 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Tuesday, February 22, 2022 3 p.m. 3 p.m. Tuesday, February 22, 2022 The Sergeant-at-Arms: Order! The Clerk: Good afternoon. [The Clerk read the Royal Proclamation dated February 10, 2022, summoning the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta to convene on this date] The Clerk: Please be seated. [The Sergeant-at-Arms left the Chamber] The Sergeant-at-Arms: Order! Mr.

Speaker. [Preceded by the Sergeant -at-Arms, the Speaker, accompanied by the officers of the Assembly, entered the Chamber and took the chair] head: Prayers The Speaker: Lord, the God of righteousness and truth, grant to our Queen and to her government, to Members of the Legislative Assembly, and to all in positions of responsibility the guidance of Your spirit. May they never lead the province wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideas but, laying aside all private interests and prejudices, keep in mind their responsibility to seek to improve the condition of all. Amen.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would now like to invite the Royal Canadian Artillery Band brass quintet to play our national anthem. I ask that in observance of the COVID -19 public health guidelines you please refrain from singing. Please be seated. Well, good afternoon, hon. members. It’s an absolute pleasure to see you back in the Chamber and distinguished guests and others. You know, there’s something very special about hearing the Canadian national anthem played by the brass quintet here in the Chamber. I’d also like to mention, hon. members, that you will have noticed a pin on your desk.

The pin commemorates the platinum jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. While I will provide further remarks about this historic milestone later, I wanted to inform you that these pins have been provided to you by the Lieutenant Governor, Her Honour the Honourable Salma Lakhani. She will be joining us shortly, and on behalf of all members I would like to thank Her Honour for presenting each of us this special keepsake for such a memorable event. I’d also like to now introduce a musical interlude by the RCA Band brass quintet.

The piece performed is called Grand Valley Fanfare by Eric Ewazen. head: Entrance of the Lieutenant Governor [The Premier, the Clerk, and the Sergeant-at-Arms left the Chamber to attend the Lieutenant Governor] [The Mace was draped] [The Sergeant-at-Arms knocked on the main doors of the Chamber three times. The Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms opened the doors, and the Sergeant-at-Arms entered] The Sergeant-at-Arms: Ladies and gentlemen, all rise. Mr. Speaker, Her Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant Governor awaits.

The Speaker: Sergeant-at-Arms, admit Her Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant Governor. [A fanfare of trumpets sounded] [Preceded by the Sergeant -at-Arms, Her Honour the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Salma L akhani, AOE, BSc, LLD, and His Honour Dr. Zaheer Lakhani, their party, the Premier, and the Clerk entered the Chamber. Her Honour took her place upon the throne] Her Honour: Please be seated. Good afternoon, everyone. It’s such a pleasure to be here with all of you today. Before I begin the Speech from the Throne, permit me to make a few brief comments.

Treaty relationships are an essential part of the Crown in Canada, and I am proud to honour them in my role as the Queen’s representative in Alberta. In the spirit of meaningful reconciliation I would like to acknowledge all our First Peoples, who have called this place home for thousands of years and welcomed us here to make our own lives. May we always dwell together on these lands with peace, respect, and understanding.

I would like to offer my most heartfelt thanks to all members of this Assembly, to all elected officials, front-line workers and essential workers, and to my fellow Albertans across our province for your care and commitment toward one another and our shared communities. I’m truly proud of the strength and perseverance that Albertans have shown over the past two very difficult years, and I am confident that we can overcome whatever challenges the future may bring through hard work, careful thought, and mutual respect.

While the pandemic has limited our ability to meet in person, I’m very much looking forward to meeting many more of my fellow Albertans in the months ahead. I am looking to the future with hope and optimism. With that, I will turn to the business at hand. head: Speech from the Throne Her Honour: Hon. Members of the Legislative Assembly and my fellow Albertans: I open this Third Session of the 30th Legislature as Her Majesty the Queen’s representative, doing so as we celebrate her platinum jubilee.

The Crown that I represent has always had a special relationship with the Indigenous peoples of these lands, so as we gather here on traditional Treaty 6 territory, we renew that relationship, rededicating ourselves to the spirit of the treaties and to the essential work of reconciliation. For 70 years Queen Elizabeth II has lived a life of selfless service.

Shortly before her accession to the throne, then Princess Elizabet h famously declared, “My whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.” Her Majesty has kept that commitment with dignity and grace, a stable symbol of enduring traditions and virtues in an ever-changing world. When she spoke to this Assembly during Alberta’s centennial, in 2005, Her Majesty said: When looking back on the story of Alberta, we see it extend well before 1905 . . . Your First Nations Peoples inhabited the prairies over 10,000 years ago, living in harmony wit h nature – then, as they do now.

By the 1800s, these first citizens, along with the Métis, were joined by explorers, homesteaders, and railway workers from all over the world. They had a dream to build homes in a land where freedom reigned. They created a spirit of belonging to a bountiful country under the principles of “peace, order, and good government” and the unifying influence of the Crown. It is a fitting homage to these ancestors that your motto is Fortis et Liber . . . Strong and Free.

2 Alberta Hansard February 22, 2022 The government will introduce the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Recognition Act as Bill 1 to create honours for Albertans who have done remarkab le things caring for their communities, including the presentation of 7,000 medals to recognize 70 years of service. We have all witnessed many such acts of compassion and kindness through the great adversity of the past two years. Much has been lost through the COVID era. Our lives have been disrupted in ways large and small.

But the people of this province have risen to the challenge time and again, proving what it means to be Alberta strong. As restrictions begin to ease here and around the world and as the signs of economic renewal take hold, we can begin to sense the beginning of an Alberta spring. Winston Churchill once said, “Never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in.” These words are hard-wired into Alberta’s character.

Albertans deserve a province that’s just as resilient as they are, and we now have reason to believe that we are on the verge of those better days that once felt so far off. We begin this session with Alberta leading the country in economic growth. For the first time in years more Canadians are now moving to Alberta than leaving. Our taxes are low, our economy is strong, and our quality of life is second to none. This has led to major investments from some of the world’s largest companies, that will create good jobs for Alberta families.

Our economy is diversifying, with record investment into technology companies, big film and television productions across the province, and record manufacturing sales. The government will continue this pos itive momentum through Alberta’s recovery plan, designed to create jobs, diversify the economy, and provide opportunities for every Albertan. Part of that plan will be a renewed effort to tell Alberta’s story to the world, highlighting the many reasons why there is simply no better place on Earth to pursue a dream, raise a family, and build a life.

This campaign will focus on attracting both job-creating investment and hard-working people from across Canada and around the world. The important work of the new Environment, Social, and Governance Secretariat will be part of this effort, showcasing Alberta’s achievements in lowering emissions and improving our reputation as a world leader in responsible energy production.

The government will continue to support the Oil Sands Pathways to Net Zero alliance to achieve their goal of net zero carbon emissions in the industry by 2050 while pressing the federal government to create strong fiscal incentives for investment in carbon capture utilization and storage technology. Bills will be introduced to advance the vision of making Alberta one of the freest and fastest moving economies in North America.

This will include a red tape reduction implementation act to enhance our regulatory environment and advance the goal of reducing Alberta’s regulatory burden by one -third to attract more job-creating investment. A bill will be tabled to promote innovation in the financial services sector by allowing companies to test new products and services. As part of financial services modernization, legislation will make it easier to establish a reinsurer in Alberta, helping to reduce costs and spurring growth in our financial services sector.

To further diversify the economy, the government will create a Clean Hydrogen Centre of Exce llence to help achieve Alberta’s vision of becoming a major global hub in this future multitrillion dollar industry. And it will begin the process of dissolving the Balancing Pool to reduce costs on our economy. The government’s strategy to expand access to broadband Internet will bring high -speed connectivity to rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, ensuring they can participate in the digital economy.

New legislation will solidify Alberta’s position as a modern electricity powerhouse and a magnet f or investment in emerging technology like data storage and cryptocurrency as well as in traditional sectors like forestry and petrochemicals. The bill also clears the way for more self -generation of electricity, allowing major consumers to sell power to th e grid, thus increasing supply and helping to lower prices for Albertans. And to protect consumers from higher utility costs, the government will introduce a natural gas consumer protection program similar to rebate programs used in the past.

The budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 will be tabled later this week, reflecting a dramatic improvement in Alberta’s finances resulting from carefully reducing costs and from dynamic revenue growth across all sectors of the economy. It will focus on building health care capacity, getting Albertans back to work with the skills needed to succeed in the economy of the future, expanding the province’s proven model of school choice, and making key investments to achieve a more diversified economy. During the COVID-19 pandem ic Alberta’s health care system has often been under great stress.

Our brilliant front-line health care workers have gone above the call of duty over the past two years. We all owe them a debt of gratitude. Despite having one of the best funded health care systems in the world, COVID has revealed shortcomings that we simply must address. First and foremost, that means building greater capacity while getting more value for our immense health care spending. To do so, the government will accelerate the Alberta surgical initiative, significantly increasing the number of surgeries performed in chartered surgical facilities in order to reduce wait times, that have grown during COVID.

Major capital investments will expand and modernize hospital capacity, including completion of the Calgary cancer care centre, a historic expansion of the Red Deer regional hospital, and expansion of Edmonton’s Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute. The government will increase health care capacity by expanding intensive care while training and recruiting more key health care workers. This will make our system more resilient for potential future waves of COVID-19.

The government will improve care for Albertans with a new continuing care act, implementing recommendations of a recent review to make the system more responsive and sustainable. A bill will propose sanctions for health practitioners who perform the misogynistic practice of female genital mutilation. It’s part of the government’s broader effort to protect vulnera ble women and girls from sexual violence. The government will implement the recommendations of a report from the Member for Peace River on improving access to palliative care.

Patients facing end-of-life decisions must know that there are life-affirming options to physician-assisted suicide. Improvements will focus on beginning palliative care as soon as possible and keeping individuals in their homes and communities with support from those they know and love for as long as possible. Keeping Albertans saf e is as vital as keeping them healthy. Acting on recommendations from the Human Trafficking Task Force, chaired by Paul Brandt, the government will expand its efforts to combat the scourge of this modern form of slavery.

This work will complement recommend ations from the Alberta Joint Working Group on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Amendments to the Missing Persons Act will equip law enforcement with new tools to find victims of human trafficking and bring their captors to justice. Many v ulnerable women and girls have inadequate support during pregnancy, which can affect their child’s health and life chances. To assist low -income mothers and improve health outcomes for their babies, the government will significantly

February 22, 2022 Alberta Hansard 3 increase and expand prenatal benefits to mothers receiving AISH and income support. The government will ensure full implementation of the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act and Motion 501 to simplify and accelerate the adoption process, connecting children with loving parents eager to be their forever families. Upcoming changes to the Employment Standards Code will provide extra job protection to workers on two fronts.

The three - day bereavement leave currently offered when a family member passes away will be extended to em ployees who experience a miscarriage or stillbirth, recognizing the pain and grief experienced by parents who lose an unborn child. The 20-day limit for unpaid military reservist leave will be removed, recognizing that reservists often train for longer per iods. We must honour and support those who serve our country in uniform.

Amendments to the Police Act will address the recommendations of the Police Act review, strengthening local policing and holding officers accountable to the communities that they serve. New legislation will broaden the services and supports for victims of crime, and a new regional approach will ensure that victims in all parts of Alberta can access support. Right -to-know legislation will allow more information to be shared with the public about individuals on bail, probation and parole, and criminals pending deportation.

These measures will complement the implementation of Clare’s law, allowing people to be informed if their partner has a violent criminal record. The Minister of Education will introduce legislation to strengthen protection for schoolchildren, ensuring that staff who are found to have engaged in misconduct face the full force of the law. The bill will ensure that investigations into teacher misconduct are conducted by an independent body, ending the conflict of interest which allows the union representing teachers to regulate its own members.

With this reform Alberta will join the rest of Canada and teachers will join all other professions in having an independent process for disciplinary issues. Parents know what is best for their kids, and Albertans have long supported pluralism as a key principle in our education system. That is why the government will bring forward a package of regulatory improvements to help create new charter schools and better support existing charters to realize the promise of the Choice in Education Act.

A growing number of Alberta families are choosing home - schooling as the best choice for their families, but many home - schooled children with special needs cannot access services that are available in the public school system. Access to specialized services will be expanded to home education families through a new program to ensure all children in Alberta, regardless of educational choice, receive the supports they need to be successful. Alberta is a pluralistic society, united in its diversity.

All Albertans deserve to live free of fear and prejudice, yet too often we see people from minority communities targeted by acts of hatred. To addres s this, the government will launch a review of recent apparently hate-motivated incidents, working with police to identify common patterns and to make recommendations on how better to prevent such crimes in the future. Last summer some 50 Christian churche s in Canada, many of them in Alberta, were destroyed or damaged by arson, vandalism, and other forms of hate- inspired violence.

These were attacks on the constitutionally protected freedom of religion and our belief in peaceful pluralism. That is why the government will more than double the size of the security infrastructure program, which was launched last year to upgrade security for community facilities targeted by hate crimes, including mosques, synagogues, gurdwaras, mandirs, and other vulnerable facilities. Last October 62 per cent of voters endorsed a proposed amendment to the Canadian Constitution regarding equalization.

The government will use that mandate to press for negotiations on equalization this year while also seeking the appointment of Alberta’s elected nominees for the Senate of Canada. Consultations will be completed on the prospect of an Alberta provincial police force, and the government will continue to examine a possible Alberta pension plan as potential reforms to strengthen the province. The effort to build a strong, resilient Alberta will include a program to deepen knowledge of the province’s past and appreciation for what makes Alberta unique.

As part of this effort the Minister of Culture will table a bill creating a process f or the designation of commemorative days and a bill recognizing ammolite as Alberta’s official gemstone. The source of the sacred buffalo stone, or iniskim in the Blackfoot language, ammolite is a unique symbol of the province’s natural beauty and history. Strengthening Alberta’s sense of identity means honouring those who have gone before us to build this remarkable place that we call home.

That is why the government will launch an initiative to memorialize prominent Alberta historical figures by attaching their names to provincial buildings and infrastructure, beginning with the Terrace Building on the Legislature Grounds, which will be named after Chief Poundmaker, the great Cree peacemaker. The building lies near the site of the original Hudson’s Bay Company’s Fort Edmonton. It is fitting that a great chief who was a bridge -builder between the First Nations and European settlers would now dominate that historic site. Recognizing our history also means facing the reality of past injustices.

The Minister of Indigenous Relations will complete consultations with Indigenous communities and will establish a memorial on the grounds of the Legislature, forever to remember the victims of the Indian residential school system. Hon. members, the last two years have tested us all, both as individuals and as a society. Together we have overcome those challenges. Thank you to Albertans for your perseverance and your courage in the face of the storm. Prosperity and opportunity are returning to Alberta.

There is space ag ain for big dreams, the kind of dreams that thrive where the prairies meet the mountains, where opportunities are limitless and everyone’s full potential can be achieved. The clouds are breaking, and the sun is starting to shine through. A stronger and more resilient Alberta awaits for all of us. God save the Queen, and may God bless Alberta. The Sergeant-at-Arms: All rise, please. The Speaker: We will now be led in the playing of God Save the Queen.

The Sergeant-at-Arms: Order! [Preceded by the Sergeant-at-Arms, Their Honours, their party, and the Premier left the Chamber as a fanfare of trumpets sounded] [The Mace was uncovered] [The Premier returned to the Chamber] The Speaker: Please be seated. head: Statement by the Speaker Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee The Speaker: Hon. members and guests, I would like to make some brief remarks about a very important anniversary that we are

4 Alberta Hansard February 22, 2022 celebrating this year. As Her Honour so eloquently noted, this year is the 70th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II, and we are therefore celebrating the platinum jubilee of the reign of Her Majesty. Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952, becoming the Queen of the United Kingdom and the Head of the Commonwealth. Subsequently Canada and other Commonwealth nations passed legislation to recognize the Queen as their sovereign, and hence Queen Elizabeth II is not only the head of state, but she is the Queen of Canada.

The Queen’s reign is the longest of any monarch in the history of the United Kingdom. This reign has been characterized by service and dedication to Her Majesty’s people at home and abroad and to the fundamental principles that underpin our system of government.

On Coronation Day Her Majesty uttered these i mportant words. “Parliamentary institutions, with their free speech and respect for the rights of minorities, and the inspiration of a broad tolerance in thought and expression – all this we conceive to be a precious part of our way of life and outlook.” A s we celebrate the platinum jubilee, let us be thankful for Her Majesty’s continued service and dedication to the principles that we each hold so dear.

To commemorate and celebrate the jubilee, we have launched and dedicated a jubilee website highlighting information about Her Majesty and the history of jubilee celebrations. The site also provides an opportunity for Albertans to offer messages of congratulations or to share memories, videos, or photos of monarch moments that they, the Albertans, may have experienced over the number of years. I would invite each and every one of you to check out the website. So in this jubilee year we are thankful for the 70 years of service to Canadians and to Albertans. God save our most gracious and noble Queen.

Hon. members, I have two brief notes before we proceed to the remainder of the Routine. As just a brief reminder, there will not be a reception held in the rotunda at the conclusion of today’s events, as was noted in your program. head: Tablings The Speaker: I also have the honour of tabling a copy of the speech given so graciously by Her Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant Governor. head: Introduction of Bills The Speaker: The hon. the Premier has the call. Bill 1 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Recognition Act Mr. Kenney: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I request leave to introduce Bill 1, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Recognition Act. This being a money bill, Her Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant Governor, having been informed of the contents of this bill, recommends the same to the Assembly. [Motion carried; Bill 1 read a first time] head: Motions The Speaker: The hon. the Premier. Mr. Kenney: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move that the speech of Her Honour the Honourable the Lieutenant Governor to this Assembly be taken into consideration on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. [Motion carried] The Speaker: The hon. the Government House Leader has the call. Mr.

Jason Nixon: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and through you to Her Honour congratulations on a well -delivered throne speech. A tremendous amount for members to digest. As such, I move that we adjourn the Legislative Assembly of Alberta until tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. [Motion carried; the Assembly adjourned at 3:54 p.m.]

Table of Contents Prayers ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Entrance of the Lieutenant Governor .............................................................................................................................................................. 1 Speech from the Throne ................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Statement by the Speaker Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Tablings .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction of Bills Bill 1 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Recognition Act ......................................................................................................... 4 Motions........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

Alberta Hansard is available online at www.assembly.ab.ca For inquiries contact: Editor Alberta Hansard 3rd Floor, 9820 – 107 St EDMONTON, AB T5K 1E7 Telephone: 780.427.1875 E-mail: AlbertaHansard@assembly.ab.ca Published under the Authority of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta ISSN 0383-3623

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20220222
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	L30 S3 20220222 1500 01 han.pdf
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	1d3d6dd2f1a52427645828431696ab4b6161c38d

Source file is stored in the law ingest library (json).