By Chris Brown

Spring agenda

Politician recall legislation part of UCP’s spring plans

Feb 24, 2021 | 2:05 PM

The spring session of the Alberta legislature will include legislation for citizen-initiated policy changes and recalling elected officials.

Government House Leader Jason Nixon says the first several weeks after MLAs return to the legislature on March 8 will be spent getting the Thursday budget through all the necessary estimates steps to move forward.

“We see that absolutely as critical and the most important thing that the legislature can do right now to help as we face the COVID-19 pandemic as well as an unprecedented economic situation in our province is to make sure that we have a stable budget passed that will be able to fund our health-care system and make sure that the government can continue to operate,” he said.

After that, the United Conservative government will begin to put forward legislation toward the end of March.

“There will be some key themes around that beginning with the Citizen Initiative Act which will give Albertans the power to petition government to legislate policy or constitutional proposals once a certain number of signatures is met on a specific issue,” Nixon said.

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“We will also be introducing the Recall Act, which will establish the process to enable a voter to remove an MLA, municipal councillor, mayor, trustee or school board trustee form office between elections.”

Nixon says the intent is for the Recall Act to take effect this term.

The Freedom to Care Act to recognize non-profits’ contributions to the province and set up provisions to inform them of regulatory exemptions available is also in the UCP’s plans.

As well, vital statistics changes made last year will be extended from the sex offenders list to all dangerous offenders, making them ineligible to change their legal names.

Nixon also said a promised referendum on equalization will be on the municipal election ballot in October.