By The Canadian Press

Wildrose Opposition Refers to Opening of Legislature as “Gong Show”

Mar 10, 2016 | 5:31 AM

EDMONTON:   The first day of the new Alberta legislative sitting on Wednesday, opened with allegations of rule-breaking and even a do-over.

The morning session started with MLAs set to vote for a new deputy chair of committees.

As per house rules, once the vote begins, pages are told to block the doors so that only those already in the chamber can cast their ballot.

Opposition house leader Nathan Cooper says many NDP members didn’t show up and his caucus lost a vote it likely could have won.

Cooper says additional members — including government house leader Brian Mason — flooded in from the N-D-P side, ignoring the rule to stay out during voting.

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There Wildrose Party complained, however, and Speaker Bob Wanner nullified the first vote and called for a revote, which the NDP won.

Mason apologized to the Speaker and the sergeant at arms, saying he takes responsibility for his mistake.