Alberta Government House Leader Joseph Schow provides a preview of the fall 2022 legislature section. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Sovereignty Act and inflation focus of Alberta legislature fall sitting

Nov 28, 2022 | 11:52 AM

EDMONTON, AB – The Government of Alberta has laid out its priorities for the upcoming legislature sitting.

Government House Leader and Cardston-Siksika MLA Joseph Schow provided more details on a few key policies the United Conservative Party (UCP) plans to introduce over the next few months.

He explains that the two biggest areas of focus will be on addressing the inflation crisis and asserting Alberta’s jurisdictional authority to the federal government.

Schow says the first bill that will be introduced will be the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act (Sovereignty Act).

“This legislation will enable us to protect Albertans from federal laws, policies, and practices that harm our economy or our jurisdiction,” says Schow. “It will send a clear message that we will defend and promote our province’s prosperity and constitutional jurisdiction.”

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He adds that the Sovereignty Act will allow Alberta to participate in the national economy while setting its own path forward.

The provincial government plans to introduce measures aimed at providing relief against high inflation.

Premier Danielle Smith announced the proposed Inflation Relief Act on November 22, 2022. If passed, it would provide relief payments to seniors and families with children, increased funding to those receiving disability supports, indexing of provincial tax brackets, and relief on utilities and gas, among other measures.

Expected to take effect in early 2023, Schow believes it will make a real difference for families across the province.

“It will empower several government departments to immediately begin the process of delivering much-needed assistance to Albertans, keeping utility costs manageable and ensuring AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped), income support, and senior’s benefits keep up with the rising cost of living,” says Schow.

Some of the other priorities outlined for the Government of Alberta in the upcoming legislature session include fulfilling the new agreement with the Alberta Medical Association, amendments to make the court system more efficient, ensuring police officers have the tools they need to keep communities safe, and ending so-called “squatter’s rights.”

The upcoming legislature session will be the first under Danielle Smith’s leadership as premier.

The government enters the session with a projected budget surplus of $12.3 billion, which Alberta’s finance minister says was largely driven by high revenues from bitumen royalties, corporate income tax, and other revenue streams.

The fall 2022 legislature session in Alberta begins on Tuesday, November 29, 2022.

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