Right now they're talking about making UCP nomination contests "impartial and fair." Good goal, say "No" speakers, but the resolution is too vague. "Yes" speaker says they looked at the media reports from last election. They didn't look good. As media person: can confirm. #ableg
Should the UCP be known as the "United Conservative Party of Alberta"? This is up for debate now. Currently it omits "of Alberta." Apparently people confuse the UCP with the CPC, says "Yes" person. #ableg
Wouldn't cost much to change this name, says Yes person. #ableg
We're on to policy proposals now. First up: opposing "intrusions" by Ottawa on democratic rights of Albertans. They're proposing another referendum, to change Section 121 of constitution granting AB right to export resources without restrictions. #ableg
The purpose of having a referendum is to get media attention, says Yes speaker. But a No speaker says we need proper wording in there for proper understanding on how constitution is amended like majority of provinces and more than 50 per cent support. #ableg
It passes! #ableg
Next up, a "more equitable federal-provincial transfer system." A Yes speaker says they need to renegotiate all the transfers and equalization. #ableg
Passed! #ableg
Next up, policy 3 is looking at ensuring environmental decisions. It says any Alberta interest group including lobbyists and NGOs shouldn't be a "legitimate" stakeholder if they "primarily" receive foreign funding. #ableg
A No speaker urges that Steve Allan be allowed to finish his inquiry into foreign funding in Alberta. Another No speaker says lots of groups in the province receive foreign funding - many who the members would likely support. Yes says Fraser Institute wouldn't be impacted. #ableg
That passes. After one No speaker receives some jeers from the crowd when he says his own organization could be impact by this. #ableg
Policy 4 is about incorporating financial literacy concepts into the K-12 educational curriculum. #ableg
A No speaker says "We already have all of this in the curriculum." She's been a teacher for decades. Kids have debit cards and understand money. Yes speaker says in school Calgary Board of Education has a budgeting problem - case in point. #ableg
"I disagree with such personal little stories," says the many decades experienced teacher. Teachers are doing a great job, she says. Who's going to develop this? She asks. #ableg
It passes! Almost no Nos, if any. #ableg
Hearing there are at least hundreds of protesters outside the venue. @andrew_jeffrey is out there with them while I track these policies. #ableg
@andrew_jeffrey Next up, ensure Alberta upholds principles in Canada Health Act. #ableg
@andrew_jeffrey That does NOT pass. First one. #ableg
@andrew_jeffrey And we're done for the morning on policies. Five out of six passed. #ableg
Popped out to see the protesters. Tons are here waayyy out at the airport. “Jason Kenney has got to go!” they chant. #ableg
We're back for the afternoon session of policy debate. First up: Policy 6 on ensuring timely delivery of surgeries by removing caps placed on the number of surgeries allowed to be performed in a given time period. #ableg
A surgeon takes the No mic and warns on budget implications. A Yes speaker says caps already being discussed at AHS level of government so he wants to make sure it's not already happening. #ableg
"Republic of Alberta" is something I've heard and seen a handful of times here. There's a guy wearing a hat decorated with that speaking right now. I believe those were popularized during the sprout of Wexit recently? But I'm not sure. #ableg
Anyway, Policy 6 was rejected. #ableg
Policy 7: "Recognize that parents are the major stakeholders in education." #ableg
A No speaker wants to remove the word "the" because the child is the major stakeholder. #ableg
There's quite a bit of debate over the word "the" in this amendment. Some say the child is the major stakeholder, so the word "the" should be removed. But someone says it has to stay otherwise school boards could fall under umbrella too. #ableg
Don't take out "the" says @michaelaglasgo. It undermines parental authority. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo We're voting on the word "the" in the motion. It is defeated. The "the" remains. Still THE major stakeholders in education for parents. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo Now @DanDWill stands to say families are the foundation. Teachers are there to help. "Surely we should not nationalize the family," he says. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo @DanDWill A No speaker says this motion is an overstep and they should vote it down. The Yes microphone has a long line though and speakers are giving impassioned speeches which receive lots of cheers and claps. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo @DanDWill A No speaker says: does this mean a 17 year old has less say than their parents? Some in the crowd laugh and say, "yep!" But he says the student could be getting pushed down a road in life they don't want. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo @DanDWill A No speaker says "I personally believe that the student is the most important person in the education system." #ableg
@michaelaglasgo @DanDWill A No speaker says the NDP will call this party out for outing gay kids again. He gets boos. The moderator says he will not stand any booing and threatens to remove people. "Give him respect," moderator says. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo @DanDWill This No speaker says "We do not need a policy that reaffirms that what we are doing as parents... that we're doing on an everyday basis." Opposition will see this as UCP trying to hurt GSAs and out gay kids again, he says. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo @DanDWill A Yes speaker says those comments were out of order since its assuming people who support this motion have motives they may not have. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo @DanDWill "The NDP already tried all that and look where we are," a Yes speaker responds to the last speaker who outlined issues around GSAs and how the NDP slammed the UCP in the past for hurting LGBTQ kids in those clubs. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo @DanDWill A Yes speaker says he's sick and tired of letting the NDP hijack the conservative convention. He points out there's hundreds protesting outside - don't let them in, he says. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo @DanDWill A grade 11 student stands at the Yes mic and says parents should be the final authority. Time to vote on the most debated policy yet. #ableg
This next one is huge. Here’s a photo. #ableg 
This policy wants ideology out of the classroom which is... interesting. No speaker says this could effect religious schools. I've noticed the Education Minister and others talking a lot about this recently. #ableg
"Watch out what this does people," a No speaker says. Someone in the crowd says "climate science is a religion." A Yes speakers says he's willing to strike the word "ideological" from the text. #ableg
Someone says vote No because ideology is how all political parties start. The crowd murmurs. Hard to read this crowd right now, but they're voting on the amendment to remove the word "ideology." The amendment motion is defeated. No change to motion. #ableg
"It sounds like we're trying to create a Utopia here," a No speaker says. The wordsmithing of this could have been more concise, says one of the writers of the policy. This is really about energy literacy, she says. That's their main goal with this proposal. #ableg
She says they want to stop the "fake news" and let kids make informed decisions. #ableg
They vote and it's very close. They show their cards again, for and opposed. Motion passes to some muted claps. #ableg
Next proposal is repealing the former NDP government's Bill 30. It changed health and safety workplace regulations. #ableg
This motion passes. #ableg
Next policy is to advocate for Senate reform. They wanna have a review on Senate reform in Alberta because there's an imbalance in the Senate. #ableg
They mostly all vote in favour of this. #ableg
Next one: funds following patients for medically necessary services and make options for services transparent. #ableg
A No speaker says he likes the principal of the proposal but they've already discussed the Canada Health Act and how it includes "medically necessary," he says. Doesn't like it in this one either. #ableg
A Yes speaker says this reduced wait times. You could go to Saskatchewan and get a procedure if you needed to, for example, he says. The motion is voted on and receives almost total support. #ableg
MLA @michaelaglasgo stands to introduce the next policy: support a 10% flat tax. Reduce 1 % each year until the tier reaches 10%, the policy states. Also, increase basic tax exemption to $25,000 by increasing the base rate by $4000 with incremental bumps up to $25,000 #ableg
@michaelaglasgo A No speaker says we already cut the carbon tax and introducing a flat tax would jeopardize the path to balance. @michaelaglasgo stands to say this policy doesn't give a timeline for when the flat tax comes in, they just want to support a flat tax. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo Motion voted on and is rejected. NO flat tax, Alberta. At least not according to current party policy. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo Next up: oppose any federal law and amend any provincial law that contravenes rights and freedoms of Canadians. A No speaker says this just creates a need to review all the laws already on the books - a needless expense, he says. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo A Yes speaker says it is an inspirational or aspirational policy. It should go without saying, he says of the policy, but unfortunately these rights are under attack. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo It passes. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo Next up: "ensuring an adequate supply of affordable housing with supportive care for seniors."
It's too close to call on the vote, so they have to count. #ableg
It's too close to call on the vote, so they have to count. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo The final count on Policy 14 sees it passed narrowly. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo Next up the controversial education voucher system policy. The person introducing says they didn't base this on the American system. This is per-student funding which follows kids to schools. It's controversial because critics say it puts public bucks in private system. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo Lots of people lined up at the No mic. Good crowd at the Yes mic as well. An amendment is introduced, change the word "equal" to "equitable." We have to teach our students how to think not what to think, says Yes writer of policy. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo Amendment application is rejected by moderator. So No speaker says a disabled child or someone who has high learning needs gets same funding. It needs to be equitable, not equal, he says. #ableg
@michaelaglasgo "The difference between equal and equitable is huge," says another No speaker. Cost implications are also huge here, he says. There's six different systems in Alberta, he says. We already have a voucher system, he says. He thinks everyone will be funded at highest rate with this.
Yes speaker says there’s no doubt kids will receive different funding based on needs, all good. #ableg
A No speaker says they have to take it easy with choice in education, which she does agree with, but so many different varieties of schools could be problematic. Also different schools systems have criteria for accepting kids except public. #ableg
A Yes speaker says the voucher system is only opposed by the ATA and points out they're out there picketing "and they're getting paid for it." There were hundreds of protesters outside the building around noon. #ableg
Vote on this voucher system: it's a close vote for sure so they do it twice. Speaker cant call it so they have to actually count. #ableg
UCP motion for school voucher system passes, but it was a close vote with 307 voted in favour and 267 rejected. Policy 16 on identification being required during an election also passed. #ableg
Sorry got caught trying to chase some people down. Back at it with Policy 18 that says add an infrastructure section to the current education policy declaration. Also, develop non-partisan criteria to evaluate building schools in Alberta. #ableg
A Yes speaker says he just spoke with Infrastructure Minister and he's already looking at this stuff. So stay tuned. #ableg
The motion is rejected. #ableg
Now they're debating a policy that creates an Education Quality Council of Alberta - a la Health Quality Council. #ableg
They vote and the motion is defeated. #ableg
Next policy says "identify stakeholders as an integral component in environmental stewardship." Want to recognize them for balancing conservation, restoration of biodiversity and a prospering economy. #ableg
