Thread by @EmmaLGraney

Back to my old beat for just a brief moment: The UCP government has tabled a bill that will, in part, fire the election commissioner... who is currently investigating the UCP. #ableg #cdnpoli

Finance Minister Travis Toews says it's a cost-saving measure. The commissioner, hired by the NDP to the displeasure of the UCP, has handed out more than 200 fines and letters of reprimand since he started last year - the vast majority over UCP-related donations. #ableg #cdnpoli

Here's a great story my former colleague @clareclancy did about Gibson's hiring, by the way. It gives you a sense of how much the UCP did not want the guy there and the political backstory of his time in Alberta. edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/… #ableg #cdnpoli

@clareclancy Gibson also fined three UCP MLAs and three former NDP MLAs for over-contributions to their parties. edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/… #ableg #cdnpoli

@clareclancy Toews, by the way, says the duties of Election Commissioner Lorne Gibson will be rolled back into the work of Elections Alberta. Chief electoral officer Glen Resler can totally hire back Gibson if he wants, Toews says. #ableg #cdnpoli

@clareclancy Back to my regular beat! The gvt is also making "red tape reduction" changes on the energy file, including repealing the Small Power Research and Development Act (contracts under the act are concluded, they say, and another reg supports market-based renewables) #ableg #cdnpoli

@clareclancy It's also rejigging the Hydro and Electric Energy Act to remove some requirements for small scale and low-impact hydroelectric development. Yeah no I didn't know hydro was a thing in Alberta either, but here we are. #ableg #cdnpoli #RenewableEnergy

@clareclancy Aaaaaanyhooo, here's the story on the UCP government tabling a bill to, in part, fire the election commissioner who is currently investigating the UCP. Written by my excellent colleague @ByJamesKeller theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta… #ableg #cdnpoli