Alberta Legislative Round Up: 13 Bills Passed by the New Government
By Vivian Mak, CCVO Policy Intern
The first sitting of the new government began on May 22 with a Speech from the Throne and just concluded on July 4 with 13 bills passed relating to 55 of the UCP platform commitments. The House will not sit again until October when a budget is expected to be tabled. In this session, there was active involvement from the NDP opposition as they proposed many amendments and filibustered through the night on Bill 2 and Bill 8. To give nonprofits an easy reference to all the legislation, we have provided a brief summary of each bill below:
Bill 1: An Act to Repeal the Carbon Tax
About: This act repealed the $1.4 billion consumer carbon tax which was enacted on January 1, 2017. It also removed the legislation requiring the money collected from the carbon tax to be spent on green projects and introduced the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reductions (TIER) fund for large industrial emitters. Following this repeal, there will no longer be carbon tax rebates issued.
Status: Received Royal Assent on June 4 and was officially passed and proclaimed so Albertans no longer have to pay a provincial carbon tax. However, a federal carbon tax will come into effect on January 1, 2020, the same day that the TIER fund is set to be in effect.
Bill 2: An Act to Make Alberta Open for Business
About: This act will implement a number of new labour legislations relating to reductions to minimum wage for students, how employers can pay out banked overtime, how holiday pay is calculated, the rules of labour unions, etc. To find a comprehensive breakdown of Bill 2, click here.
Status: Passed third reading on division on July 3 and currently awaiting Royal Assent. The new minimum wage tier came into force on June 26 as it has been executed through an Order in Council.
Bill 3: Job Creation Tax Cut (Alberta Corporate Tax Amendment) Act
About: This act plans to cut corporate taxes from 12 to 8 per cent over a four year period starting with a decrease from:
12% to 11% on July 1, 2019
11% to 10% on January 1, 2020
10% to 9% on January 1, 2021
9% to 8% on January 1, 2022
The small business tax rate will stay at 2%.
The UCP believes that the cut will create over 55 000 jobs and attract more business investment to Alberta as it will give the province a competitive advantage over others. The 11% rate, which is now in effect, is the lowest in Canada and the 8% rate in 2022 will be one of the lowest in North America.
Status: Received Royal Assent and came into force on June 28.
Bill 4: Red Tape Reduction Act
About: This act calls for a reduction in regulations “ie. red tape” by one third to create more efficiency. There will be industry panels formed to see where regulations can be cut and a “one-in, one-out” rule that forces a regulation to be removed after a new one is implemented.
Status: Received Royal Assent and came into force on June 28. Albertans can submit suggestions for reducing red tape here.
Bill 5: Appropriation (Supplementary Supply) Act
About: This act requests for additional allowance of the budget to pay for expenses that were not included in the previous government’s budget in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019.
Status: Received Royal Assent and came into force on June 28.
Bill 6: Appropriation (Interim Supply) Act
About: This act requests for additional allowance of the budget to pay for expenses that were not included in the previous government’s budget in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020.
Status: Received Royal Assent and came into force on June 28.
Bill 7: Municipal Government (Property Tax Incentives) Amendment Act
About: This act allows municipalities to offer longer term business tax incentives (to a maximum of 15 years) in hopes of attracting more businesses. The terms and amount of tax relief would be up to each municipality to decide as the tax “cut” would be taken from the city’s share of business tax. It can be offered to new or existing businesses.
Status: Received Royal Assent and came into force on June 28.
Bill 8: Education Amendment Act
About: This act brings back the Education Act that was passed but not proclaimed in 2012. A few key points in the act:
Principals will no longer be required to approve Gay Straight Alliances within a set time frame
The words “gay” or “queer” may not be guaranteed for students to use in a club name
The privacy of students in clubs (ie. GSAs) will follow provincial privacy laws rather than education law
There will no longer be a cap on how many charter schools a city can have (currently set at 15)
Children must be 5 years old by December 31 the year they enter kindergarten (in effect Sept. 2020 if the bill passes)
A minister’s student advisory council will be created and outlined in legislation
You can find a complete list of the major changes here.
Status: Passed third reading on division on July 3 and currently awaiting Royal Assent.
Bill 9: Public Sector Wage Arbitration Deferral Act
About: This act will delay the arbitration process for around 180 000 public sector workers in Alberta. Governments are not usually able to interfere with collective bargaining but this act would give them the ability to do so. This affects all provincial employees who are paid under a collective agreement - drafted between a union and the government. Under this act, no further wage agreements will be discussed until October 31, 2019, which is after the Blue Ribbon Panel finishes their review of the province’s finances.
Status: Received Royal Assent and came into force on June 28.
Bill 10: Alberta Personal Income Tax Amendment Act
About: This act, as the name suggests, proposes minor amendments to the Alberta Personal Income Tax Act.
Status: Received Royal Assent on June 28 and will come into force on various dates.
Bill 11: Fair Registration Practices Act
About: This act authorizes the Minister of Labour and Immigration to make changes in regulatory and professional bodies. The aim is to promote an efficient and fair process for the recognition of foreign academic and professional credentials. To do so, registries are required to provide an interim decision to applicants of whether their credentials will be recognized within six months of the request. Failure to provide a decision in the timeframe will result in a $50 000 fine. Additionally, a Fair Practices Code will come into effect that will clearly outline registration practices for newcomers.
Status: Received Royal Assent on June 28 and will come into force on proclamation.
Bill 12: Royalty Guarantee Act
About: This act enhances investment certainty for parties in the oil and gas industry by providing a royalty structure - legislative framework guarantee (amendments to section 34.1) and other minor amendments to the current act.
Status: Passed third reading on division on July 3 and currently awaiting Royal Assent. Specific changes will come into effect as early as September 1, 2019.
Bill 13: Alberta Senate Election Act
About: This act re-establishes elections for Alberta senators, with the successful candidates recommended to the Prime Minister for appointment. Previously known as the Senatorial Selection Act that was in force from 1989 to 2016, Premier Kenney remarked in his campaign that he would reinstate the act if Federal Bills C-69 and C-48 pass. The election spending maximum is set at $500 000 and individual donations are limited to $4000.
Status: Passed third reading on division on July 3 and currently awaiting Royal Assent. Albertans can expect to vote for senate candidates during the 2021 municipal elections.
Status of Bills Summarized
The government is now taking a break but be prepared to see more changes and a budget release coming this fall when they resume. To find out more and stay updated on the activities of the legislature, click here.