Alberta Minute: New Ambulances, Patio Pooches, and the Legislature Wraps Up

Alberta Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Alberta politics.

This Week In Alberta:

• The Legislature is now on break for the summer. It is currently scheduled to return at the end of October, though this is by no means final, and could be changed - especially with the prospect of a new Premier with a new agenda. Despite the Legislature not sitting, the work of our MLAs continues, with committees continuing to meet (see below), local and constituency meetings, and more.
  
  
• Though the Legislature has finished, committees are continuing, with the Standing Committee on The Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund meeting this morning from 7:45 am to 9:45 am to discuss the fund’s third-quarter report. There will also be a meeting of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing on Tuesday from 10:00 am to 11:30 am to discuss the allocation of speaking and business time in the Legislature.
  
  
• Restaurants in Alberta no longer need approval from Alberta Health Services to allow dogs on their patios. However, restaurants are not obligated to allow dogs. Choice! What a novel concept! If you want to dine with your dog this summer, call your favourite restaurant to make sure they are participating before showing up with Fido.

Last Week In Alberta:

• The Legislature wrapped up an eventful spring sitting that, amongst other things, saw the ousting of Premier Kenney after he significantly underperformed (his own) expectations in his long-delayed leadership review. The Premier's popularity was in trouble before COVID, but the government's infringements on civil liberties were clearly a bridge too far for about half of the UCP's own supporters.
  
  
• The government announced the procurement of nine ambulances, the creation of 100 new EMS positions, and the extension of 70 temporary positions in an effort to combat paramedic and ambulance shortages. The ambulances will be deployed in Calgary and Edmonton in June with a further 10 added to the fleet in September. The Health Sciences Association of Alberta says that it will be difficult to fill the new positions and that more needs to be done to address ambulance red alerts and paramedic burnout.

• It was announced that Tyler Shandro, Alberta’s Minister of Justice, will be brought before the Law Society of Alberta to face a disciplinary hearing related to three complaints. One complaint alleges he confronted a neighbour in public over criticism of the health-care system, another alleges he used his ministerial position to obtain the cell phone numbers of members of the public. A final allegation suggests he responded to the writer of an email addressed to his wife by threatening to refer the person to the authorities if future emails weren't addressed to him. The three-day hearing will be held in October.

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