Alberta Hansard — 11 June 2015, Afternoon sitting (13:30) (Legislature 29, Session 1)

20150611

Alberta — Debates (Hansard)

Province of Alberta The 29th Legislature First Session Alberta Hansard Thursday afternoon, June 11, 2015 The Honourable Robert E. Wanner, Speaker

Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 29th Legislature First Session Wanner, Hon. Robert E., Medicine Hat (ND), Speaker Jabbour, Deborah C., Peace River (ND), Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees Feehan, Richard, Edmonton-Rutherford (ND), Deputy Chair of Committees Aheer, Leela Sharon, Chestermere-Rocky View (

W) Anderson, Shaye, Leduc-Beaumont (ND) Anderson, Wayne, Highwood (

W) Babcock, Erin D., Stony Plain (ND) Barnes, Drew, Cypress-Medicine Hat (

W) Bhullar, Manmeet Singh, Calgary-Greenway (PC) Bilous, Hon. Deron, Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview (ND), Deputy Government House Leader Carlier, Hon. Oneil, Whitecourt-Ste. Anne (ND) Carson, Jonathon, Edmonton-Meadowlark (ND) Ceci, Hon.

Joe, Calgary-Fort (ND) Clark, Greg, Calgary-Elbow (AP) Connolly, Michael R.D., Calgary-Hawkwood (ND) Coolahan, Craig, Calgary-Klein (ND) Cooper, Nathan, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills (W), Official Opposition House Leader Cortes-Vargas, Estefania, Strathcona-Sherwood Park (ND) Cyr, Scott J., Bonnyville-Cold Lake (W), Official Opposition Deputy Whip Dach, Lorne, Edmonton-McClung (ND) Dang, Thomas, Edmonton-South West (ND) Drever, Deborah, Calgary-Bow (Ind) Drysdale, Wayne, Grande Prairie-Wapiti (PC), Progressive Conservative Opposition Whip Eggen, Hon.

David, Edmonton-Calder (ND) Ellis, Mike, Calgary-West (PC) Fildebrandt, Derek Gerhard, Strathmore-Brooks (

W) Fitzpatrick, Maria M., Lethbridge-East (ND) Fraser, Rick, Calgary-South East (PC) Ganley, Hon. Kathleen T., Calgary-Buffalo (ND) Goehring, Nicole, Edmonton-Castle Downs (ND) Gotfried, Richard, Calgary-Fish Creek (PC) Gray, Christina, Edmonton-Mill Woods (ND) Hanson, David B., Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills (W), Official Opposition Deputy House Leader Hinkley, Bruce, Wetaskiwin-Camrose (ND) Hoffman, Hon. Sarah, Edmonton-Glenora (ND) Horne, Trevor A.R., Spruce Grove-St. Albert (ND) Hunter, Grant R., Cardston-Taber-Warner (

W) Jansen, Sandra, Calgary-North West (PC) Jean, Brian Michael, Fort McMurray-Conklin (W), Leader of the Official Opposition Kazim, Anam, Calgary-Glenmore (ND) Kleinsteuber, Jamie, Calgary-Northern Hills (ND) Larivee, Danielle, Lesser Slave Lake (ND) L ittlewood, Jessica, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville (ND) Loewen, Todd, Grande Prairie-Smoky (

W) Loyola, Rod, Edmonton-Ellerslie (ND) Luff, Robyn, Calgary-East (ND) MacIntyre, Donald, Innisfail-Sylvan Lake (

W) Malkinson, Brian, Calgary-Currie (ND) Mason, Hon. Brian, Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood (ND), Government House Leader McCuaig-Boyd, Hon. Margaret, Dunvegan-Central Peace-Notley (ND) McIver, Ric, Calgary-Hays (PC), Leader of the Progressive Conservative Opposition McKitrick, Annie, Sherwood Park (ND) McLean, Stephanie V., Calgary-Varsity (ND), Deputy Government Whip McPherson, Karen M., Calgary-Mackay-Nose Hill (ND) Miller, Barb, Red Deer-South (ND) Miranda, Ricardo, Calgary-Cross (ND) Nielsen, Christian E., Edmonton-Decore (ND) Nixon, Jason, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre (W), Official Opposition Whip Notley, Hon. Rachel, Edmonton-Strathcona (ND), Premier Orr, Ronald, Lacombe-Ponoka (

W) Payne, Brandy, Calgary-Acadia (ND) Phillips, Hon. Shannon, Lethbridge-West (ND), Deputy Government House Leader Piquette, Colin, Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater (ND) Pitt, Angela D., Airdrie (

W) Renaud, Marie F., St. Albert (ND) Rodney, Dave, Calgary-Lougheed (PC) Rosendahl, Eric, West Yellowhead (ND) Sabir, Hon. Irfan, Calgary-McCall (ND) Schmidt, Marlin, Edmonton-Gold Bar (ND), Government Whip Schneider, David A., Little Bow (

W) Schreiner, Kim, Red Deer-North (ND) Shepherd, David, Edmonton-Centre (ND) Sigurdson, Hon. Lori, Edmonton-Riverview (ND) Smith, Mark W., Drayton Valley-Devon (

W) Starke, Dr. Richard, Vermilion-Lloydminster (PC), Progressive Conservative Opposition House Leader Stier, Pat, Livingstone-Macleod (

W) Strankman, Rick, Drumheller-Stettler (

W) Sucha, Graham, Calgary-Shaw (ND) Swann, Dr. David, Calgary-Mountain View (AL) Sweet, Heather, Edmonton-Manning (ND) Taylor, Wes, Battle River-Wainwright (

W) Turner, Dr. A. Robert, Edmonton-Whitemud (ND) van Dijken, Glenn, Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock (

W) Westhead, Cameron, Banff-Cochrane (ND) Woollard, Denise, Edmonton-Mill Creek (ND) Yao, Tany, Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo (

W) Vacant, Calgary-Foothills Party standings: New Democrat: 53 Wildrose: 21 Progressive Conservative: 9 Alberta Liberal: 1 Alberta Party: 1 Independent: 1 Vacant: 1 Officers and Officials of the Legislative Assembly W.J. David McNeil, Clerk Robert H. Reynolds, QC, Law Clerk/ Director of Interparliamentary Relations Shannon Dean, Senior Parliamentary Counsel/Director of House Services Stephanie LeBlanc, Parliamentary Counsel and Legal Research Officer Philip Massolin, Manager of Research Services Nancy Robert, Research Officer Brian G. Hodgson, Sergeant-at-Arms Chris Caughell, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Gordon H.

Munk, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Janet Schwegel, Managing Editor of Alberta Hansard

Executive Council Rachel Notley Premier, President of Executive Council, Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations Deron Bilous Minister of Municipal Affairs, Minister of Service Alberta Oneil Carlier Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Joe Ceci President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance David Eggen Minister of Education, Minister of Culture and Tourism Kathleen T.

Ganley Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Minister of Aboriginal Relations Sarah Hoffman Minister of Health, Minister of Seniors Brian Mason Minister of Transportation, Minister of Infrastructure Margaret McCuaig-Boyd Minister of Energy Shannon Phillips Minister of Environment and Parks, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Irfan Sabir Minister of Human Services Lori Sigurdson Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education, Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour

June 11, 2015 Alberta Hansard 1 Legislative Assembly of Alberta Title: Thursday, June 11, 2015 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11, 2015 [The Mace was on a cushion below the table] The Sergeant-at-Arms: Order! All rise, please. [The Clerk read the Royal Proclamation dated June 3, 2015, summoning the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta to convene on this date] The Clerk: Please be seated. head: Entrance of the Administrator [The Premier, the Clerk, and the Sergeant-at-Arms left the Chamber to attend the Administrator] The Sergeant-at-Arms: All rise, please.

Her Honour Chief Justice Catherine Fraser, the Administrator for Alberta. [Preceded by the Sergeant -at-Arms, the Administrator of Alberta, the Hon. Chief Justice Catherine Fraser, the Premier, and the Clerk entered the Chamber. Her Honour took her place upon the throne] The Sergeant-at-Arms: Please be seated. Ms Ganley (Provincial Secretary): Hon. members, I am com- manded by Her Honour the Administrator to inform you that she does not see fit to declare the causes of her summoning of the present Legislature of this province until the Speaker of the Assembly shall have been chosen according to law.

She is therefore pleased to retire from this Assembly, to return at a subsequent hour on the next sitting day to declare the causes of her call ing of this Legislature. The Sergeant-at-Arms: All rise, please. [Preceded by the Sergeant -at-Arms, the Administrator and the Premier left the Chamber] The Clerk: Please be seated. head: Election of a Speaker The Clerk: Hon. members, pursuant to the Administrator’s direction and

section 16(1) of the Legislative Assembly Act nominations are invited for the Office of Speaker of this Assembly for the 29th Legislature. Pursuant to Standing Order 11(1) the Speaker shall be el ected according to the procedures set out in

schedule A of the standing orders. Mr. Hinkley: Mr. Clerk, today I rise before the Assembly to nominate the Member for Medicine Hat, Robert Wanner, as our new Speaker. Mr. Wanner has a long -standing history as a dedicated public servant, from the work as commissioner for the city of Medicine Hat to his dedicated leadership in social policy and mediation. Mr. Wanner has shown time and time again to uphold fairness, balance, and co-operation in the name of the greater good. His mantra is the duty and responsibility to serve and use what we have to help others. Mr.

Wanner was a member of the University of Calgary senate for three years and has been a member of numerous boards and community groups. He is an experienc ed mediator and small - business owner and has gained a reputation in both provincial and international communities as a fair, impartial public servant. Mr. Wanner will be a dedicated ambassador for Alberta and a fair, guiding voice for this Assembly. The Clerk: Mr. Wanner, do you wish to accept the nomination? Mr. Wanner: I do so, Mr. Clerk, with humility and a huge sense of responsibility. Mrs. Pitt: Good afternoon, hon. members.

It is a pleasure speaking for the first time in this Chamber. I rise as a private member from Airdrie, as the person selected by my caucus to shadow the minister responsible for the status of women, to nominate a candidate fo r Speaker. Now, we have gathered here from all over Alberta to elect our Speaker – our Speaker – not the government’s Speaker, not the cabinet’s Speaker, not the people’s Speaker but our Speaker, the individual elected by MLAs individually by secret ballo t for all of us.

The Speaker is more than a referee in this place; the Speaker is the protector of our collective and individual privileges. We can’t do our jobs unless we have those privileges protected. It is an important role, and historically Speakers have been arrested and threatened with death for protecting the privileges of elected members. I am hoping that this will be a historic election. We have the opportunity to do something that has never happened in Alberta and to have a circumstance that has never happened anywhere in Canada or even the world. Alberta has never had a female Speaker.

If we elect one today, it will be a first for Alberta. If we elect a female Speaker today, we will also create a first for the world. Tomorrow we will install a female Lieutenant Governor to represent Her Majesty the Queen. A few days ago we installed a female Premier. Alberta’s Chief Justice and the Administrator of the province is also female, as is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. This afternoon, if we elect a female Speaker, the Crown’s representative in all three levels of government, the executive, the judiciary, and the legislative branches, will be presided over by women.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – truly, this is – and I hav e to do my small part to try to make it a reality. With that in mind, I would like to nominate the most experienced female member of this Legislature who is eligible for the job, the Member for Calgary-North West. The Member for Calgary -North West has served a term in this Legislature. She has been a member of cabinet, and she has been a forceful proponent of human rights. She is eloquent and forceful and brave. I think she would be an excellent candidate for Speaker, and I think that she would do brilliantly as Alberta’s first female Speaker.

I hope she will accept the nomination and that you all will vote for her so that Alberta will be the first place in the world where all the senior roles in government are held by women. Thank you. The Clerk: Ms Jansen, do you wish to accept the nomination? Ms Jansen: Mr. Clerk, I thank the member for her kind words and for her wonderful endorsement. I respectfully decline the nomination. The Clerk : Dr. Starke. Dr. Starke: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Fellow members of the 29th Legislature, today we as a group make the first in a long line of decisions entrusted to us by Albertans, and they are watching.

They want to see how this group of individuals, duly elected 37 days ago, makes the first crucial set of decisions.

2 Alberta Hansard June 11, 2015 Now, while some may view the role of Speaker as being largely ceremonial or symbolic, make no mistake: the Speaker’s role is critical, and the first decision is critical. The Speaker has a huge influence on the tone, on the demeanour, and, ultimately, on the smooth functioning and effectiveness of the House of the people. It is with this in mind that I’m honoured to nominate the hon. Member for Calgary-Lougheed, Mr. Dave Rodney, to be Speaker. Prior to entering the political spectrum, Mr.

Rodney was a nationally and internationally recognized educator, author, speaker, and businessman. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, has taught on three continents, and is the only Canadian to have successfully summited Mount Everest twice. Mr. Rodney was fi rst elected to this Legislature in 2004 as Member for Calgary-Lougheed. He is commencing his fourth term, tying him for the second- longest length of service among current members. During his career Dave has co -operated effectively with members on both side s of the House.

He has always placed the interests of Albertans ahead of partisan objectives, and that ability has allowed him to successfully sponsor several pieces of legislation, legislation which has always placed the health and wellness of Albertans at the forefront, including the Smoke -free Places Act and the physical activity credit act. Dave has a deep and abiding respect for and knowledge of the role of the Speaker. Now, what, exactly, is that role?

Well, it means looking after the PRs: our privileges as members, which he must guard; our protocols, that they are adhered to; our procedures, that they are followed correctly; and our precedents, those decisions made by past Speakers that will guide future rulings. The final PR is public relations. The Speaker presides over public functions and observances here in our Legislature. With his experience as a public speaker before 2004 and working with Speakers since 2004, Dave Rodney is eminently well qualified to take on these difficult and diverse roles. That brings us to the decision we have today.

As I’ve said before, Albertans are watching. It’s our job to elect the person best qualified to take on the role of Speaker, and that’s what Albertans expect. They expect us to set aside partisan politics. If there’s one message that should be clear to all of us from this election, it is that Albertans expect us to do things differently. Doing things differently means setting aside political partisanship for the benefit of all Albertans. Voting in lockstep alo ng party lines, adhering to decisions made behind closed doors, especially on nonpartisan issues like this one: well, that’s the old way of doing things.

Albertans rejected that, and that’s why many of you are here. So, colleagues, today we have a choice. We can choose a member with a long and distinguished record of service, with a reputation for nonpartisanship and fairness, with a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of Speaker, or we can keep doing things the old way. It’s our choice. Albertans are watching. This is our chance to show them that we’ve heard their message, that we have listened, and that we have the wisdom and the courage to act on it by electing Dave Rodney as Speaker of the 29th Legislature. The Clerk: Mr.

Rodney, do you wish to accept the nomination? Mr. Rodney: I do, Mr. Clerk, with great respect and appreciation. Thank you. The Clerk: Are there further nominations? Mrs. Pitt: Hello again, hon. members. Thank you for letting me speak again. The Speaker here is more than a referee in this place. The Speaker here is to protect our individual privileges. I am hoping that this will be a historic election because we have the opportunity here right now to do something that has never happened. I say again: we have a circumstan ce that has never happened anywhere in Canada or even the world.

We have the opportunity to elect a female Speaker. If we elect a female Speaker today, we will also create, again, a first for the world. Tomorrow, again, we install a female Lieutenant Governor to represent Her Majesty the Queen to stand beside our female Premier. Alberta’s Chief Justice and Administrator of the province is also female as is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. This afternoon if we elect a female Speaker, the Cr own’s representative in all three levels of government – the executive, the judiciary, and the legislative branch – would be presided over by women.

This is a once -in-a-lifetime opportunity. Please. I am so honoured to be able to do my small part to make this happen. With that in mind and with all due respect for the Member for Calgary - North West , I would like to nominate a female member of the governing party for the job of the Speaker, the Member for Calgary- Varsity. The Member for Calgary-Varsity, like the Member for Medicine Hat, is also a rookie in this Legislature, but she is a lawyer who has demonstrated a love for the law. She’s served as clerk for the Provincial Court.

She understands precedent and the importance of procedure and the value of decorum. She has been active in politics, and, as I understand, she did her share in recruiting to politics some of the members of the Legislature, including some members in the cabinet. She is an active community volunteer, having served on the board of directors for both Alberta Theatre Projects and Friends of Medicare. She has also offered her legal expertise to Calgary Legal Guidance, the Student Legal Assistance Society, and the Elizabeth Fry Society. I think she would make an excellent candidate for Alberta’s first female Speaker.

I hope the Member for Calgary-Varsity will accept the nomination and that you will vote for her so that Alberta will be the first place in the world where all the senior roles in government are women. The Clerk: Ms McLean, do you wish to accept the nomination? Ms McLean: Thank you. I thank the hon. member; however, in my role as deputy whip, which I am very much appreciating – unfortunately, I cannot serve in both roles at the same time. I thank you for your kind words, but I’ll have to respectfully decline. Thank you. The Clerk: Are there further nominations? Mrs. Aheer. Mrs. Aheer: Thank you. Good afternoon.

Hon. members, it is also my pleasure to speak for the first time in this Chamber. I rise as a private Member for Chestermere -Rocky View to nominate a candidate for Speaker. Now, we have come here today from all over Alberta to elect a Speaker, and I truly hope we will have an election, a competitive election. In April 1997 Speaker Kowalski became Speaker on the second ballot in the second Speaker’s election in Alberta to happen by secret ballot. He was not Premier Klein’s choice, but he was the choice of members of the Legislature as the person that they wanted to have protect their privileges.

Protecting our privileges and protecting your privileges is important. Some of the most famous rulings made by Canadian Speakers in recent years have not been about disputes between the opposition and the government; rather, they have been disputes between the government backb enchers and the ever more centralizing role of the Prime Minister’s or Premier’s office. I agree with everything my friend from Airdrie has said about selecting a female Speaker. This is an amazing opportunity, a historic opportunity. However, my choice, again, is amongst the

June 11, 2015 Alberta Hansard 3 government caucus. I would like to nominate a female member of the governing party for the job of Speaker, the Member for St. Albert. The Member for St. Albert, like the Member for Medicine Hat, is also a rookie in this Legislature, but she was for 14 years the executive director of the St. Albert nonprofit Lo-Se-Ca Foundation, a community-based organization that employs 150 people, many of them with developmental disabilities. Two years ago the Member for St.

Albert and Lo -Se-Ca, which stands for love, service, care, were recognized nationally, receiving the Prime Minister’s volunteer award for social innovation for the prairie region. Last year she was named one of the top 100 women in business by the Wanderer, the University of Alberta’s online journal. The Wildrose has worked with the Member for St. Albert, stand- ing up for the rights of persons with developmental disabilities. We always found her thoughtful, fair, and deliberate.

Her management experience, her caring, and – dare I say it? – her patience make her ideally suited to be Alberta’s first female Speaker. I hope the Member for St. Albert will accept the nomination and that you will vote for her so that – I reiterate – as my friend from Airdrie has said, this will be the f irst place in the world where all senior roles in government will be held by women. Thank you. The Clerk: Ms Renaud, do you wish to accept the nomination? Ms Renaud: Thank you very much for your incredibly kind words, but I respectfully decline the nomination. Thank you. The Clerk: Are there further nominations?

I declare the nominations closed. The nominees for the position of Speaker are Mr. Robert Wanner and Mr. Dave Rodney. Voting will commence after the list of nominees is posted in each voting booth. [The lists of candidates were posted] The Clerk: The voting will now begin. Members will vote by printing the first and last name of their preferred candidate on the ballot paper and placing their completed ballots in the ballot box on the Sergeant-at-Arms’ desk. Please proceed from here and from here. [Members voted from 1:57 p.m. to 2:07 p.m.] The Clerk: Have all voted who wish to do so?

There are no negatives there, so I guess that’s a yes. We will retire to count the ballots, and we’ll ring the bells for one minute when we return. [Ballots were counted from 2:08 p.m. to 2:20 p.m.] The Clerk: Hon. members, the number of ballots cast for the election of Speaker, 8 6; the number of spoiled ballots, one; the number of votes required to achieve the 50 per cent plus one majority, 44. The member having received the majority of votes cast, Mr. Robert Wanner. Mr.

Robert Wanner is hereby declared the Speaker of the Legislat ive Assembly of Alberta for the 29th Legislature. [Standing ovation] [The Speaker, with apparent reluctance, was escorted to the chair by Ms Notley and Mr. Jean] The Speaker: Before I begin the prayer, I would like to express to each and every one of you my thoughts and hopes and aspirations, that I know many of you share with each other. I would first of all like to acknowledge the hon. Member for Calgary-Lougheed for putting his name forward. That process is one of the institutions that we must all value as we move forward.

Fellow members of the 29th Alberta Legislative Assembly, I think it’s appropriate as we sit together in this meeting place that we all join together in a moment of silent reflection in memory of Constable Daniel Woodall, who, like many more before him, gave his life in support of the very principles upon which this Assembly exists. Please stand and bow your heads. Thank you, hon. members. Please be seated. [The Sergeant-at-Arms placed the Mace on the table] head: Prayers The Speaker: I would invite everyone to stand for the prayer. Patience will be something that I ask of all of you.

Let us pray and let us reflect together. On this day of a new beginning we ask for guidance in the responsibility we have undertaken and help in fulfilling our duties. As Members of this Legislative Assembly may we faithfully serve all Albertans and, in serving them, serve You. Amen. Please be seated. Statement by the Speaker Working Together The Speaker: With your permission, I would like to make some additional comments. This building has tradition, heritage, and history buried in the very oak and marble that surround us.

It is important to remember that this Assembly started in a school, with wooden floors and wooden desks and chalkboards. The building that we are in now in all its splendour, however, is simply a symbol, a symbol of what well-intentioned people can do when they choose to decide to work together to make a better world.

Hard work, co -operation, persistence, and a dedication to a freedom of thought and life, a freedom that sees diversity as a strength and compassion and public good as the critical veins of our democracy: it is, my fellow Assembly members, these values that give us all hope and confidence in our future, hope that our children will build upon what we may have made and, more importantly, that the long term will build investments for our grandchildren. It is hope and confidence that binds us all together.

Our belief in the Westminster model of parliamentary democracy is what brings us all together in this room as representatives of our citizens. It is not a perfect institution. It has had its failings. It has, however, a tradition that has passed the test of time. As an Assembly of representatives we must together find the balance between preserving that tradition while at the same time judiciously managing the change that is necessary. Change sometimes requires courage.

Our freedom of rights brings with it a humbling sense of responsibility, the resp onsibility to use our collective good judgment to make decisions, to respect this institution, the people we serve, and each other. People have died for our freedom. Our words and our actions and our engagement with each other must always represent our res pect for those who have paid the ultimate price. That is the reason that we are here. It is these essential interests and values that I believe all 86 of us share together. We must find new ways to set aside our positions and focus on our collective interests.

I feel privileged beyond any words that I might be able to find to say that I feel truly honoured to be one of you. I would humbly ask for your patience, your support, and your advice as we move through the next four years together. We must find a way of working together and making this great province and its great people a better place than when we found it. Thank you.

4 Alberta Hansard June 11, 2015 With your permission I would like to introduce my wife, my daughter, my two grandsons, and my son-in-law, who are seated in the fir st row. I hope you give me some licence in terms of the protocol, the sequence of events. If they would stand, I’d appreciate it. head: Election of a Deputy Speaker head: and Chair of Committees The Speaker: Hon. members, pursuant to

section 17(1) of the Legislative Assembly Act and Standing Order 58(1)(

a) nominations are invited for the office of Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of this Assembly for the 29th Legislature. Mr. Shepherd: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to my colleagues for this opportunity to rise in the House and to address you today. I would like to thank the members, our colleagues across the floor, who today have spoken so eloquently about the amazing honour we have as a province in having the representation of a female Premier, a female Lieutenant Governor, and a female Chief Justice.

Indeed, we are incredibly proud to serve as a government that is focused on elevating the status of women in our province. We are also incredibly proud to represent Albertans with the first gender-balanced cabinet and nearly gender -balanced caucus in the history of our province and our nation. As noted by our colleagues across the floor, we are also proud to be the first provincial govern- ment in Alberta to appoint a minister for the status of women.

All of this being the case, it is my honour and pleasure today to have the opportunity to nominate the Member for Peace River, Ms Debbie Jabbour, for the position of Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees for this House. Ms Jabbour brings six years of experience working for the Legislative Assembly with Hansard. In this role she gained a deep and thorough understanding and training in House procedures. She has spent hours reading, transcribing Hansard and observing the workings of this House. As such, she brings a rich depth of experience and knowledge that would serve her well in the role of Deputy Speaker.

This experience along with her work as a provisional psychologist positions her to be a fair and impartial voice in this House in service of us all. Ms Jabbour has a deep passion for public service, as reflected in her commitment to her constituents and her time as a board member of the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Chinchaga Adult Learning Council. It is important to note that in tha t work with the Chinchaga Adult Learning Council she has also developed strong relationships with First Nations in our province. Ms Jabbour has had the privilege and honour of working with them on many issues.

It’s worth noting that a large portion of her constituents are, in fact, from Alberta’s First Peoples, the peoples of Treaty 8. Alberta is, in fact, home to three treaties: 6, 7, and 8. Today we have the honour to stand and meet in this House on Treaty 6 land, which we honour and respect. We have had the honour now of electing a Speaker that comes from Treaty 7 lands. If we choose to elect Ms Jabbour, she would then be a Deputy Speaker with strong ties to the First Peoples of Treaty 8. Ms Jabbour has a deep respect for our parliamentary process and the historic traditions of this House.

It is my hope that our col - leagues across the floor, having shown their enthusiasm for the election of a woman with experience and knowledge, will support and vote for Ms Jabbour. I’m truly confident that given her experience and dedication she would fulfill the role of Deputy Speaker with dignity, confidence, and respect for all members. Thank you. The Speaker: Hon. member, do you wish to accept the nomination? Ms Jabbour: I’m humbled and honoured to accept. Thank you. The Speaker: Are there any other nominations? Dr. Starke: Well, Mr.

Speaker, let me begin by congratulating you on your election as Speaker, and I do want to sincerely thank you that as your first act you called on this Assembly to pay tribute to the police constable that passed away. That was truly a class act, and if that’s a harbinger of things to come, you’re off to a great start. Mr. Speaker, I should also say that in my role as third-party House leader I received some advice from the most seasoned member of our Assembly, the hon.

Member for Edmonton- Highlands-Norwood – the Minister of Transportation, the Minister of Infrastructure, and the Government House Leader – who advised me that in this role in the third party, one which we are somewhat unaccustomed to, we can often be in a position where we can be so darn sure we’re right and still lose and who in his position in many years developed a losing streak that will probably never be equalled and one that, certainly, we have no intention of challenging in any way.

That being said, it is my privilege and honour to nominate for the position of Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees the hon. Dave Rodney, the Member for Calgary -Lougheed. As I said in my past nomination speech, which I will choose not to repeat verbatim, the hon. member has an outstanding record of co -operation on both sides of the House. Mr. Speaker, as you just said, if ever there was a time when the parties need to work together and when there is help required from all sides of the Legislature, this is perhaps that time.

Well, the good news for you is that help is available should the Chamber decide to make that decision and provide you with the hon. member’s considerable experience as a legislator, as a mover and sponsor of legislation which in most cases, I will point out, passed unanimously because of his ability to work with members on both sides of the House. Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to nominate the hon. Member for Calgary-Lougheed, Mr. Dave Rodney. The Speaker: Thank you. Hon. member, do you wish to accept the nomination? Mr. Rodney: Mr.

Speaker, I would like to sincerely, from my heart, congratulate you on your appointment. It would indeed be an honour to work with you, so the answer is yes. The Speaker: Are there any further nominations? I therefore declare, seeing none, that nominations are closed. The nominees for the position of Deputy Speaker are the hon. Member for Peace River, Debbie Jabbour, and the Member for Calgary-Lougheed. Voting will commence after the lists of nom - inees are posted in each voting booth. [The lists of candidates were posted] The Speaker: We have the ballots.

The voting will now begin, please. [Members voted from 2:43 p.m. to 2:55 p.m.] The Clerk: The number of ballots cast for the position of Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees, 84; the number of spoiled ballots, two; the number of votes required to achieve the 50 per cent plus one majority, 43. The member having received the majority of votes cast, Ms Debbie Jabbour. Ms Debbie Jabbour is hereby

June 11, 2015 Alberta Hansard 5 declared Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the 29th Legislature. The Speaker: Hon. member, I wondered if you’d like to make a few comments. Ms Jabbour: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To my colleagues and the hon. members of this House I want to say thank you for entrusting me with this incredible responsibility. I feel privileged to take on the role. It’s a great honour, and I’m going to do my utmost to show respect for the traditions of this House and be a very good Deputy Speaker. Thank you. The Speaker: Thank you, hon. member. head: Election of a Deputy Chair of Committees The Speaker: Hon. members, pursuant to

section 17(1) of the Legislative Assembly Act and S tanding Order 58(1)(

b) nomina - tions are now invited for the office of Deputy Chair of Committees for the 29th Legislature. The hon. member. Ms Gray: Thank you. It is my pleasure to rise and speak in the House for the first time. I’d like my first words to be those of congratulations to you, Mr. Speaker. I am so excited and looking forward to working with you and the hon. members here in this House ove r the next four years. Secondly, let me also offer my congratulations to Ms Debbie Jabbour, our new Deputy Speaker and hon. Member for Peace River. Congratulations on your election as well.

It is my privilege to rise and to nominate the hon. Member for Edmonton-Rutherford, Mr. Richard Feehan, for the position of Deputy Chair of Committees. The hon. member has over 33 years’ experience as a social worker, administrator, instructor, and small- business owner. As an instructor at the University of Calgary in the Faculty of Social Work for the past 11 years he has been committed to creating a just society here in Alberta.

Through his dedicated service to his community, membership on numerous boards and organizations, he has gained skills and experience that I kn ow he will be able to use with great success in the role of Deputy Chair of Committees. I encourage the hon. members of this Assembly to support Richard Feehan, who I know, without reservation, will uphold the respect, impartiality, and wisdom that this role requires. Thank you. The Speaker: Hon. Member for Edmonton-Rutherford, are you prepared to accept the nomination? Mr. Feehan: It is with respect and appreciation that I accept the nomination.

The Speaker: Are there any further nominations? Mr. McIver: Mr. Speaker, we’re pitching a shutout so far, so we thought we’d try it a little bit differently this time. We might have to get used to that, from what I understand. I, too, would like to take the time, Mr. Speaker, to congratulate you, well chosen by this House. I look forward to working with you for the next four years, and I know that you will do an exemplary job. Congratulations. Also to our Deputy Speaker congratulations. We will look forward to benefiting from your guidance when you are in the chair.

I also know that we look forward to nothing but the best, and I know you will deliver. Mr. Speaker, I would like to nominate the hon. Member for Calgary-Lougheed, Mr. Dave Rodney. There’s been a great deal said about the hon. member earlier, so I won’t repeat that other than to say that you know him, you love him, and you trust him. You know he can do the job. This is an opportunity to have the second most experienced person in the House available to work with the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, and I recommend that members of this Assembly support the hon. Member for Calgary-Lougheed.

I think that’s enough from me right now, Mr. Speaker. The Speaker: Hon. member, do you wish to accept the nomination? Mr. Rodney: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With a great deal of humility and just a little bit of trepidation, I must say, I happily accept the nomination. Thank you. The Speaker: Are there any further nominations? I would declare the nominations closed. The nominees for the position of Deputy Chair of Committees are Member Richard Feehan and Member Dave Rodney. Voting will commence after the list of nominees is posted in each voting booth.

If I might, as I am learning the protocol – and that’s the patience part of this process – I would remind the members that out of respect for the chair as you leave the House, you acknowledge the Speaker’s chair, both entering and exiting the House. That’s a symbol of respect to the House and to our peers. [The lists of candidates were posted] The Speaker: Fellow members, if I might, before I call for the vote process, I would like to acknowledge, as we all learn the new procedures and processes, the young people who are our pages in here. As you’ve noticed, a few times during the day I have stood and sat.

Every time that I stand, they stand, and I will be more conscious of that into the future. Mr. Clerk, the vote will begin. [Members voted from 3:18 p.m. to 3:27 p.m.] The Speaker: Have all members voted? Hon. members, as we all learn the protocols and processes of the House, in addition, there were several members, for example, that needed to leave for meetings today. When votes take place, the doors are secured, so as you are planning ahead in any future kinds of instances, keep that in mind.

Again, today’s events are much more informal, but when we are in the House, if you cross from one side to the other of the House, I would respectfully ask that you pass behind the dais. Those kinds of traditions are what preserve this House, and I’d ask that we all practise them. Thank you. [Ballots were counted from 3:28 p.m. to 3:38 p.m.] The Clerk: The number of ballots cast for the position of Deputy Chair of Committees, 84; number of spoiled ballots, one; number of votes required to achieve the 50 per cent plus one majority, 43. The member having received the majority of votes cast, Mr. Richard Feehan. Mr.

Richard Feehan is hereby the Deputy Chair of Committees of the Legislative Assembl y of Alberta for the 29th Legislature. Mr. Cooper: Mr. Speaker, on a point of clarification. It’s my understanding that the Member for Edmonton-Rutherford also is the caucus chair for the NDP caucus. Earlier today we saw the

6 Alberta Hansard June 11, 2015 Member for Calgary-Varsity turn down her opportunity to make history by declining a nomination for the Speaker’s chair, and I’m curious to know if the Member for Edmonton-Rutherford will be stepping down from his role, that we believe would be in conflict with him being the Deputy Chair of Committees. Mr. Mason: We’ll get you an answer in due course. The Speaker: We’ll take that under advisement, and we will get back to the House. Would the hon. member please say a few words to the Assembly. Mr. Feehan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I, of course, would like to begin by offering my congratulations to yourself and to Debbie Jabbour for your election as Speaker and Deputy Speaker. In addition, I would like to express my happiness at sitting in the luckiest row in the Chamber and assure the House that I do intend to honour the traditions of this Chamber with my work co- operatively with everyone on both sides of the House. The Speaker: Members of the Assembly, I’m going to check with the Clerk. Are there other events that need to be business today?

I would take this brief opportunity – as several in the Assembly have already said, there is a series of very significant events, that have happened in sequence in our province, that seldom happen in the manner in which they have. I remind you that tomorrow our new Lieutenant Governor will be in this Legislative Assembly, and I would urge as many of our Assembly members as possible to be a part of that historic event. The House stands adjourned until Monday, June 15, at 3 p.m. [The Assembly adjourned at 3:42 p.m. to Monday at 3 p.m.]

Table of Contents Entrance of the Administrator ........................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Election of a Speaker ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Prayers ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3 Statement by the Speaker Working Together ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Election of a Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees ................................................................................................................................ 4 Election of a Deputy Chair of Committees ..................................................................................................................................................... 5

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Document details

Collection	Alberta — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	20150611
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	L29 S1 20150611 1330 01 han.pdf
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	99703a10f6552d710f82fac72f969d0d55cf2fdb

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