Monday, December 15: The UCP government announces new policy relating to wetlands that allows farmers to engage in “low-impact activities” (cultivating, direct seeding, spraying) on wetlands holding water for less than 17 weeks annually. Kennedy Halvorson of the Alberta Wilderness Association says the new policy is consistent with other provincial changes that “constantly put the environment last.”
Read more: Damming the Rivers
Tuesday, December 16: Skate Canada announces it will no longer host major figure-skating events in Alberta, citing the province’s recent legislation “on the participation of transgender athletes in sport,” which doesn’t meet the organization’s standards for safe and inclusive sport.
Read more: The War on Trans Youth
Wednesday, December 17: The Alberta government raises the cost to apply for a citizen-initiated referendum by 5,000 per cent—from $500 to $25,000—to “discourage frivolous applications.”
December 17: Elections Alberta approves two additional recall petitions, for UCP MLAs Mickey Amery (Calgary-Cross) and Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk (Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville). A total of 22 UCP MLAs, nearly half of the 47-member caucus, are now facing recall.
Read more: The UCP Want More Control
Thursday, December 18: Alberta Party leader and MLA Peter Guthrie announces that Elections Alberta has approved the party’s request to rebrand as the Progressive Tory Party of Alberta. This is the Alberta Party’s second attempt at renaming, with the UCP’s Bill 15 preventing their initial request to become the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party.
Read more: What’s in a Name?
December 18: Dr. Vivien Suttorp is announced as Alberta’s new permanent chief medical officer of health. Suttorp was the lead medical officer of health for Alberta’s South Zone for the last 17 years.
The Week in Alberta is updated weekdays by 4:30pm MT.
