Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[puffnstuff]

https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/mbe.../3m4qpan44ec2l

This morning at the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices...UCP majority introduces a motion starting a search committee for a new auditor general.
NDP MLA David Sheppard says Doug Wylie wants to stay on two more years. Wylie is reviewing the allegations of inappropriate health contracting.

UCP MLA Scott Cyr says Wylie could always reapply for his job. The five UCP MLAs on the committee pass the motion: Cyr, Lovely, De Jong, Dyck, Petrovic.
The four NDP MLAs on the committee vote it down: Sheppard, Miyashiro, Wright and Chapman.

FYI his term is currently set until April of 2026

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/mbe.../3m4qpan44ec2l

This morning at the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices...UCP majority introduces a motion starting a search committee for a new auditor general.
NDP MLA David Sheppard says Doug Wylie wants to stay on two more years. Wylie is reviewing the allegations of inappropriate health contracting.

UCP MLA Scott Cyr says Wylie could always reapply for his job. The five UCP MLAs on the committee pass the motion: Cyr, Lovely, De Jong, Dyck, Petrovic.
The four NDP MLAs on the committee vote it down: Sheppard, Miyashiro, Wright and Chapman.

FYI his term is currently set until April of 2026

Is this something to be concerned about or just a regular course of business for the government? It's great that Wylie would like an additional two years but since 1986 the AG has regularly served an 8 year term and the AG Act states that the term shall not exceed 8 years.

[Fuzz]

I think it's only fair the Premier, who is responsible for all of this, should personally have to sit at the back of her train car and count and validate every signature herself. A camera can monitor her, and the citizens can make sure she isn't cheating.


This was her idea, her expense, and her failure that got us here. Let her be the one who has to suffer. Taking tax dollars form the vulnerable(which is exactly where they'll find it) to pay for this is not acceptable.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I think it's only fair the Premier, who is responsible for all of this, should personally have to sit at the back of her train car and count and validate every signature herself. A camera can monitor her, and the citizens can make sure she isn't cheating.


This was her idea, her expense, and her failure that got us here. Let her be the one who has to suffer. Taking tax dollars form the vulnerable(which is exactly where they'll find it) to pay for this is not acceptable.

Since I live in High River I'd be happy to supervise as she counts the votes. As long as i could have one of them long wooden pointers with a rubber tip so I can rap her hands when she tries to skip over some votes.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Par for the course. Fascists aren't going to give up power to democratic institutions, even ones of their own making.

I hope Elections Alberta finds a way to punish the UCP for this.

For example, I hope they prioritize the recall petitions over the FC petition. As much as we want the FC petition to move ahead, it is also effective in blocking the separatist question if it just sits with Election Alberta for a few years to slowly count the signatures.

The recall petitions should be counted with urgency so that Elections Alberta can get away from this nonsense.

[Geraldsh]

I wonder if they can use volunteers to do the validating? How do they vet the validators?

[aaronck]

Originally Posted by Geraldsh

I wonder if they can use volunteers to do the validating? How do they vet the validators?

I assume by who they intend on voting for...

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by aaronck

I assume by who they intend on voting for...

That is quite the insinuation against Elections Alberta.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Is this something to be concerned about or just a regular course of business for the government? It's great that Wylie would like an additional two years but since 1986 the AG has regularly served an 8 year term and the AG Act states that the term shall not exceed 8 years.

Yes the initial appointment may not exceed 8 years, but they are eligible for reappointment.

(2) Subject to section 5, the Lieutenant Governor in Council shall
appoint the Auditor General, on the recommendation of the
Assembly, for a term not exceeding 8 years.
(3) An Auditor General is eligible for reappointment under
subsection (2).

So it may not be unreasonable to form the committee to recommend the next appointment, it might also be reasonable to simply recommend reappointment given the ongoing scandals. But it will probably be hard to ever find an opportune break amidst the many many scandals that calgarygeologist is somehow not completely embarrassed about. (seriously, how are you not so ashamed of your party?)

[WideReceiver]

Originally Posted by Wolven

I hope Elections Alberta finds a way to punish the UCP for this.

For example, I hope they prioritize the recall petitions over the FC petition. As much as we want the FC petition to move ahead, it is also effective in blocking the separatist question if it just sits with Election Alberta for a few years to slowly count the signatures.

The recall petitions should be counted with urgency so that Elections Alberta can get away from this nonsense.

I want the FC matter is settled quickly. It’s a pall hanging over the province and is harming our reputation and business viability.

[Ashartus]

Health care workers vote 98% in favour of strike - I'm guessing it wouldn't have been that high if the UCP hadn't pretty much declared war on unions with the teacher strike.

[troutman]

https://livewirecalgary.com/2025/11/...anding-clause/

Calgary’s Criminal Lawyers Defence Association (CDLA), along their colleagues at the Criminal Trial Lawyers Association, Southern Alberta Defence Lawyers’ Association, and Red Deer Criminal Defence Lawyers Association sent an evening statement condemning the province’s use of the notwithstanding clause in Bill 2 on Nov. 4.

“The Alberta government has chosen not only to exempt this legislation from constitutional labour protections, but also from an entirely unjustified, seemingly unrelated, and broad range of other fundamental freedoms and protections guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” said the joint statement.

Among those rights identified by the lawyers as having been preempted by the government included the right to freedom of expression, the right to counsel, the right to equal protection and benefit of the law, the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure, and the the fundamental right to life, liberty, and security of the person.

The joint statement also decried the government exempting teachers from the fundamental rights enshrined in the Alberta Human Rights Act and Alberta Bill of Rights.

“As organizations of criminal defence lawyers, whose role is to protect and preserve the rights and freedoms we all cherish and rely on, we are profoundly concerned by the extraordinary use of the notwithstanding clause by the government,” said the statement.

“When governments seek to normalize the removal of robust Charter protections, it imperils all rights, including those that shield citizens from arbitrary or unjust state action within the criminal justice system.”

Alberta teachers no longer feel free to exercise fundamental rights like freedom of expression to challenge the government.

“They’ve got no rights right now. I think many are even afraid to sort of speak out in their private lives, or to attend protests or speak with their MLA anything that looks like job related action,” she said.

A teacher who was caught shoplifting for example would have the full protection of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but a teacher who protested the government would have none under Bill 2.