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What's New – the Latest From Dave's Office February 15, 2012: Response to Budget So I've had a few days to think about the new provincial budget, and here's what occurs to me: There is no point in debating this budget. Provincial budgets are made up of two parts. There is the actual budget for the next twelve months; and then there are the projections for the 24 months to follow.  Usually, the actual budget has at least a nodding acquaintance with the truth. Governments outline how much revenue they can reasonably expect to collect this year; how much they plan to spend, and on what; how much of a surplus or deficit will be left once expenses are subtracted from revenue; and then they have a plan that they will follow, more-or-less, most of the time, provided nothing happens to make the roof cave in.It's the budget projections for next year and the year after that can get wackily fantastic and where governments can pretty much just make stuff up if they want because, after all, they're just projections - our best guesses, the consensus estimate of the experts we consult, et cetera, et cetera. And by the time the year after next actually gets here and that thing none of the experts foresaw has gone sideways to throw the projections out of whack, the government can throw up its hands and say, "Who knew?" So, let's just accept that those projections for fiscal 2014-15 - that provincial revenues will be ten billion dollars higher than they are today without so much as a penny in tax increases; that the streets will be paved in gold and it won't matter if there's a water shortage because we'll all be swimming in milk and honey - are just Stuff The Government Made Up. Let's just set that part of the budget aside, because it doesn't matter, and focus on the part that does: the actual budget for the next twelve months. I think the Premier has got the actual budget largely right. Here's what I mean. The spending commitments made for the next twelve months - on a $400 monthly increase in payments to AISH recipients, on raises for vastly underpaid PDD contracted agency workers, on access to primary health care, on education, and on seniors - reflect much of what Albertans have been telling me that they want from their government. Of course, they've been telling me this for the last ten years! So there's not much to debate in the actual budget. This leads us back to the part of the budget that contains the projections of another Full-On Boom within two years while economies all around us end up in the ditch. I suppose you could debate those rosy projections and the question of whether the government that came up with them was smoking something; and, if so, whether they imported it from BC or grew it here at home and, although they didn't mention it in the budget, have a secret plan to decriminalize and tax it - wait a minute, I forgot, that's federal jurisdiction. But again, these projections don't matter. Why? Because as soon as this budget is passed, the government is going to call an election. Here, however, is what does matter about the part of the budget that will follow the election: Throughout his budget speech, Finance Minister Ron Liepert repeatedly returned to another theme I've been hearing from Albertans for the last decade or more, and which is now loud enough that the government has concluded it finally has to at least pay lip service to it: we have got to start saving our non-renewable resource revenues and stop wasting our inheritance. So in that speech, there was much talk about the need to start saving; about the need to generate more sustainable, predictable revenue streams; and about the need to have an authentic province-wide conversation with Albertans about what that should look like. This means after the election, they're going to want to talk to you about possibly putting your taxes up. I agree we need to talk. The Alberta Party Caucus was the first to propose the conversation, a year ago. We have said repeatedly that to get this province's finances on a sound footing so that the next generation will be better off than we are - not worse off - we all need to discuss what programs and services we expect from our government; how to save for the long-term - and how much; and, if there's a shortfall between what we're paying in taxes today and what it costs to deliver the programs and services we demand, what we're prepared to do to make up the difference. It's not going to be an easy discussion. But Albertans are smart, tough, inventive, and we're focused on solutions. Albertans are the people who are ending homelessness. We know this awesome province has almost unlimited potential, and we know we've come through a decade or more of being led by politicians who set the bar far lower than what we are capable of achieving. I'm sure Alison Redford will try to tell you she needs a mandate from you to take you through that conversation.But she doesn't. By law, she has almost another year to go before she has to call an election. If she is truly serious about holding a province-wide Big Listen, she has up to eleven months to have the conversation with you now. Then she can go to the polls and seek your approval to set Alberta on a new and more stable course that you helped design. That would be doing politics differently. That would be Putting Albertans First. December 6, 2011 - RELEASE - Bill 205 Passes Second Reading, then Dies on Order Papers After a debate that featured strong multi-party support, Private Member's Bill 205 - the Municipal Government (Delayed Developments) Amendment Act, 2011 passed 2nd Reading in the Alberta Legislature. Drafted by Dave Taylor, Alberta Party MLA for Calgary-Currie, Bill 205 would have amended the Municipal Government Act (MGA) so that municipalities can more effectively deal with significantly stalled, suspended or delayed developments. "This is a good piece of legislation and it's clear my colleagues recognize that," says Taylor. "I'd like to thank everyone who has supported the bill so far." Bill 205 became not only practical, but necessary following discussions with various community representatives regarding the blight of undeveloped properties scattered across the province. The Bill will give municipalities the clear authority to demand the improvement of the appearance and usage of a site within a specified timeframe. The Currie community of Cliff Bungalow-Mission has lived with one of Alberta's worst delayed developments -nicknamed the "Pit" - for 10 years now, although residents were recently promised that construction will be well underway before the end of 2011. "It's good to see something happening for the community, but a decade is ten years too long," says Taylor. "I hope to see the momentum behind this Bill continue for the sake of everyone living with a stalled development that is currently disrupting the attractiveness and the continuity of their neighbourhood." Here is the Record of Debate on Bill 205 from Alberta Hansard. Since debate on Bill 205 was not be completed, Mr. Taylor asks all those that have shown support to please contact the Minister of Municipal Affairs Doug Griffiths, mailto:comments@gov.ab.ca and ask that his department bring Bill 205 back as a Government bill in 2012. Bill 24: Health Quality Council of Alberta Act Click here for Bill The Government proclaims that this Act will ultimately require the Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) to report annually to the Legislature and allow the HQCA to appoint independent panels to conduct inquiries at the request of Cabinet. Results will be made open to the public, have the power to compel evidence and subpoena witnesses, enable details of personal health information to be heard in private and require the panel to present its report directly to the Legislative Assembly. "For many years, the Health Quality Council of Alberta has worked successfully to build and foster a culture of continuous quality improvement in our health care system," said Fred Horne, Minister of Health and Wellness. "This Bill delivers on Premier Redford's commitments for an independent inquiry into health system issues, and to strengthen HQCA's role in the health care system." Comment from Dave: Alison Redford promised the people a full, judge-led public inquiry into what's going on in health care. That is exactly what the people want, and exactly what the Public Inquiries Act can deliver. She doesn't need this bill to get to the truth; she need this bill to delay getting to the truth until after the next election. Bill 25: Child and Youth Advocate Act Click here for Bill This legislation aims to establish the Child and Youth Advocate as an independent officer of the Legislature and expand the Advocate's mandate to ensure to more adequately support those in the youth criminal justice system. Under the Ministry of Human Services there will also be the establishment of the Child and Family Services for Quality Assurance. "This proposed legislation acts on the Premier's commitment to establish a fully independent Child and Youth Advocate reporting to the Legislature," said Human Services Minister Dave Hancock. "It will also bring about changes for a stronger and broader system to advocate for and support those vulnerable children and youth who are being served in government systems." Current Advocate Del Graff will assume the role of the independent Advocate. Successors to the position will be chosen by the Legislative Assembly. Comment From Dave: On this one, I believe the government has got it right. Implemented properly, this legislation could have an incredibly positive effect. Bill 21: The Election Amendment Act Click here for Bill This bill will create a three-month period in which provincial elections will be held every four years. "Establishing a fixed election period has benefits for all Albertans," said Verlyn Olson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General. "Albertans will be better able to plan to participate or involve themselves in the election process - as voters, as candidates, and as volunteers." Beginning in 2012, a general election will be held between March 1, 2012 and May 31, 2012 and every four years afterwards. Comment From Dave: This is silly. Redford promised a fixed election date and is giving us a fixed election period. This is no longer about democratic renewal. It's about breach of trust. If your kid borrows the car, says he'll have it home at 1AM, shows up at 4 and asks, "What's the problem? I brought it home the same day," I'm betting you're still going to ground him! Bill 23: Land Assembly Project Area Amendment Act, 2011 Click here for Bill The purpose of Bill 23 is to give property owners more clarity when government buys land for long-term, large scale transportation projects like ring roads, power lines or water reservoirs. "These changes give more power to landowners," said Jeff Johnson, Minister of Infrastructure. "We've heard concerns from Albertans about the law as it currently stands, and these amendments address those concerns. When government needs to buy land, property owners deserve to be consulted with, fully compensated, and have full access to the courts. These changes will ensure that they do." The proposed amendments give landowners the option to trigger expropriation of their land, make it clearer that landowners have the option to sell their land to government and then lease it back and provide a better explanation of the types of major transportation or water projects under the Act. Bill 23 determines that the legislation does not override the Expropriation Act and says that no Albertan could receive a jail sentence for violating the Act. Access to the Courts is also enhanced. Comment From Dave: Bill 19 - the original Land Assembly Project Area Act - was wildly unpopular and horribly flawed. Rather than amend it, the government should probably just repeal it. Bill 26: Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2011 Click here for Bill Bill 26, imposes tougher sanctions on impaired drivers, especially repeat offenders. "Not only does Alberta's approach target repeat offenders, it is designed to reduce the number of drivers who become repeat offenders in the first place," said Danyluk. "I have one goal for this legislation - and that is having more Albertans arrive home safe at the end of the day." Drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of over 0.08 will now see their licenses immediately suspended until their criminal conviction is resolved in the courts (which could take years). Upon conviction, they would also have to participate in the Mandatory Ignition Interlock program. Anyone caught driving with a BAC from .05 up to .08 will have their vehicles impounded and licenses suspended for three days. Comment From Dave: There are a lot of countries around the world that have zero tolerance for drinking and driving and at the same time have more liberal liquor laws than we do. So it can be done. But this bill's getting a lot of pushback and only some of it is coming from special interest groups. That suggests this bill was rushed, it may be flawed, and I'd like to see the government pull it and bring something back in the spring. Thoughts on Municipal Funding From Dave October, 2011- I have been following the Alberta Municipalities Association (AUMA) conference and the policy proposals coming out of it. I applaud all efforts to give more stability and control over municipal funding - after all, municipalities represent the most local form of government, and play an important everyday role for most Albertans. I was therefore happy to hear that the prevailing opinion among PC leadership hopefuls is to make more money accessible for cities and towns. One idea put forward at the conference is to allow municipalities to keep their education property taxes, while another was premised on increased funding and decreased restrictions for cities and towns. But though I am encouraged to see an increased focus on municipalities I feel these proposals are also missing a very important aspect. I believe there must be the recognition of a relationship in which municipalities are an equal partner with the province. Rather than the provincial government simply allotting more money, it is necessary to include municipalities in decision making. This will require stable funding that is not simply handed over, but rather is controlled by the municipalities. I am confident that recognizing municipalities as equal partners and giving them decision-making power over their revenues will foster stronger communities across the province. News Release: Taylor calls for clarity on incentives for Bill 50 May 20, 2011- Dave Taylor, Alberta Party MLA for Calgary Currie, is calling on the government to be honest, open and transparent about recently released documents discovered by the Calgary Herald regarding negotiations with the United States over the potential of exporting electricity to south of the border. Taylor is asking for all government members, especially PC leadership candidates, to be clear with their constituents and Albertans about their hand in passing Bill 50. "Back in 2009, I tried my hardest to have Bill 50 pulled," says Taylor. "This fundamentally flawed piece of legislation took away the public consultation process before the approval of transmission lines. Now, that power lies in the hands of Cabinet." Taylor's 2009 amendment to Bill 50 would have restored this independent regulatory process, as it required the need for transmission projects to be determined independently of Cabinet. However, no government or PC member supported the amendment. In addition, no PC or government member voted against the Bill after Third Reading. During Question Period on November 16, 2009, Taylor asked Premier Stelmach to disclose who was lobbying for Bill 50, and which corporations would be benefiting from its passing. Rather than providing the information, the Premier simply pointed Taylor to the Alberta lobbyist registry. "Cabinet refused to release documents when asked, which would have saved them a world of trouble with this new wikileaks mess," says Taylor. "It sure looks to me that the initial purpose behind this gold-plated transmission line was to inevitably sell our power to the United States. The worst sin of all is that Albertans will be paying for the grid to be built." Taylor asks, "How can Albertans be asked to pay for electricity being sent to US markets when they are denied public consultations to determine the need for the infrastructure?" Upcoming Events Date: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 Place: The World The shortest day of the year. Date: December 20 to 28, 2011 Place: The World Happy Hannukah! Date: Monday, December 26, 2011 to Tuesday, January 3, 2012 Place: Calgary-Currie Enjoy the holidays, everyone!. |
