I've successfully made it to Sunday. Almost. We're just waiting for this "bear pit" session to start. It doesn't involve any real bears that I'm aware of. But basically people from the floor can give ministers and Kenney a piece of their minds as they are on a stage. #ableg
They want people to keep it to questions and not statements. Premier Jason Kenney is taking the stage and receives a standing ovation. There's maaayyybe 800 or 900 people here today. #ableg
"This is an accountability session," says Kenney. He welcomes his cabinet and introduces all his ministers. #ableg
This is quite an interesting thing to do. Every single minister in the government and Kenney are ready to take questions from total random UCP members about the government thus far. #ableg
First speaker says he appreciates Kenney listening to the grassroots. 93 % of last resolutions passed at last AGM ended up in their platform and policies, says Kenney. #ableg
Another speaker brings up the supervised consumption site in Lethbridge. She asks when is change going to come? She says she sees addicts and violence in the city. Minister Luan says they established a review panel. #ableg
Kenney says they're doing everything they can to "exit" the addiction cycle. #ableg
Speaker asks about P3s to Infrastructure Minister Panda. He says they will pursue those options. The NDP left us in a big fiscal mess, he says, so they had to look at private partners to help in these projects. #ableg
There's a long line at the mic of around 20 people. #ableg
A man with a very detailed question about natural gas is being answered by Minister Savage who calls bill C69 a "devastating" piece of law for Alberta. She wants changes to that legislation and filed a constitutional challenge. #ableg
A speaker asks about the Alberta provincial police and wants to know when they can start. RCMP provides services on contract, he says. He says these contracts can be terminated any year and notice of termination can be given. #ableg
Would you consider a referendum early next year on this? Kenney says "if the people" decide is key part of the question. Minister of Justice says rural crime is a big issue and if will is to move to provincial police, "it can be done." #ableg
He says we have to do it methodically if it's the will of the people. #ableg
A speaker bringing up Bill 207 the conscience rights bill brought in by private member Dan Williams. It receives some applause from the crowd. Critics say it could infringe on access to abortion or assisted dying. Controversial bill that isn't going to 2nd reading. #ableg
Minister Shandro says conscience rights is something he absolutely supports. He wants to continue engaging with health care professionals. He can't speak to the process of Bill 207 and what comes next for it though. #ableg
A speaker says at university he was marginalized for being a conservative. Advanced Ed Minister says "we do see instances like that occurring." The speaker said he was told by a professor once to vote for anyone but not conservative. #ableg
He also says they are working to strengthen free speech on campuses. Kenney adds that professors aren't usually allowed to partake in partisan promotion through teaching. Advanced Ed Min says it's important to look at that and enforce those rules. #ableg
Still around 20 people in the line waiting to ask questions. Another speaker asks about culture wars and activists. How can we protect our religious freedoms? Minister of Education says they are working on their choice in education act. Parents primary educators, she says. #ableg
A speaker says this AGM has been "a breath of fresh air." He says difficult cuts do need to be made but asks how can we not consider making a decision to some controversial health care stuff like remove funding for abortion services? #ableg
Crowd murmurs and one guy says "I disagree." Health Minister says his job is to make sure Albertans have access to health care services. That includes procedures that have been legal in this country, he says. It's a legal health care service and he has a responsibility. #ableg
No overall cuts in health-care says Kenney. Some reallocation and some challenging decisions though, he says. Sounds like this guy isn't getting his desire to see abortion services funding cut. #ableg
A guy says they could make a UCP website where members could interact, share opinions and find solutions. Could they do that? #ableg
Kenney thinks that's a great idea. "We need to engage grassroots members more directly" on things like governance rules, says Kenney. #ableg
A speaker says natural gas minister has saved "thousands of jobs" and garnered "millions in investment." You did something "miraculous," the speaker said. How did you do it? #ableg
Nat Gas Minister had like, 200 stakeholder meetings, says Kenney. Crazy workload. Some called it a "miracle" that he got consensus from employers that saved lots of jobs. Zero media attention, says Kenney. Gets a standing O on that one. #ableg
The Nat Gas Min stands and gives credit to his team. Shoutout to the industry too because they had to get alignment between up, down and mid-stream companies, he says. #ableg
Three part question here from a speaker. Asks first about P3s, then about new Federal Infrastructure Minister and TMX pipeline. #ableg
There's like 30 people in this line and this dude just asked a three-parter of several ministers. The gist of the answer is that Trans Mountain is something their always fighting for. Kenney says about 2000 people working on it now which is good. #ableg
Minister Panda says he'll make it clear to Catherine McKenna his priorities. They'll look at getting federal money too, he says. #ableg
How do we get illegal guns off the street? Asks Justice Min. Could you install covert metal detectors in the most dangerous areas and get these illegal guns off the street? #ableg
Justice Min says they've put money toward this with Alberta law enforcement response team. They also need to get convictions, he says. They inherited 25-30 prosecutor vacancies which they're trying to fill, he says. #ableg
Another speaker asking about forestry and it's potential. What are you doing to ensure forest companies have long term access to sustainable fibre? Ag Minister says they're talking to forestry communities to figure out how to cut more trees. #ableg
Question is about education. She saw the protesters outside but she wants to know what they'll do to counter misinformation? It's the Calgary Board of Education cutting teachers, she says, not the minister. Will CBE be held accountable? #ableg
"Yes, somebody will be held accountable," says Education Minister Adriana LaGrange. That was their first go to, says minister. The $1.2 billion budget they have is huge, she says. #ableg
She says he's put the CBE on notice and will have an independent review as well as governance review. They'll be held accountable for the decisions they've made, LaGrange says. #ableg
Question to Minister of Labour, are we actually adding to the number of people unemployed by cuts? Kenney says the total reduction is 2.8 per cent over four years. We have best compensated public service, he says. Don't need significant layoffs. Some positions cut tho, he says.
"The numbers being floated in the media right now will not be the actual numbers," guesses Kenney. Those numbers have ranged in recent days from 5500 to 6000 with jobs cut out of AHS and AUPE. #ableg
Minister of Labour Copping says they are putting in policies to create jobs. Unemployment is stubbornly high, he says. "It's going to take some time," says Copping. #ableg
Finance Min Toews says budget 2019 will bring Alberta into alignment and fiscal responsibility. He wants to right-size this government because a larger public sector wont position the province for future prosperity. #ableg
A guy asking about Bill 207 conscience rights legislation again. Why was bill 207 allowed to be received with amount of misinformation that it was? #ableg
He wants to know why leadership wasn't more clear about protecting charter rights in Alberta. Speaker asks why the response from Minister of Health not to address the bill head on. Criticizes the Mins for saying they haven't read it, and sidestepping. #ableg
Shandro says he's referring to a Calgary Herald article that said he hasn't read Bill 207. But Shandro says he supports conscience rights but he also opposes discrimination and also supports access. He respects the process for private member bills. #ableg
Shandro says he doesn't sit on the committee looking at the bill. He supports access to health care, conscience rights and opposes discrimination. Shandro says he doesn't think those have to be mutually exclusive. Kenney says Bill 207 is not a government bill. #ableg
Kenney says on private members bills, in his government, MLAs wont be told how to vote. #ableg
Speaker asks about referendum on equalization and transfer payments. Kenney says if we don't get TMX, repeal of Bill C69, then Alberta will have a referendum on equalization in 2021 concurrent with municipal election. #ableg
A speaker comes up and says he was angry with Trudeau winning the election. What will you do if they don't reciprocate on inter-provincial trade? #ableg
Kenney says be believes in unilateral free trade. They've removed exemptions so out of province companies can bid on projects here, he says. Can build more at lower cost, says Kenney. #ableg
Kenney says not giving up the benefit, but leading by example. Ontario, NB and other provinces in conversation with Alberta about joining the Canadian new west trade thingy, he says. #ableg
Kenney asked about public service. He says his experience has been "very positive" with the public service. Some folks though were partisan NDP appointees who were "thanked for their service." But speaker clarifies and says he's asking about feds. #ableg
Minister Savage says that "the last four years have been disastrous for our province," and cites federal moves like Bill C69 and C48. Savage says they're looking forward now with changes to C69 and reversal of C48, plus completion of TMX. #ableg
Kenney says they're doing rapid round, 20 seconds for quick questions to ministers. First speaker already blows through that. #ableg
First Q on nurses, second on Chicago principles, third on fair deal panel and budget, missed the fourth, fifth on registered nurses and AHS maintaining nurse staff. That's all they'll take on questions. #ableg
That's a wrap. Busy weekend for everyone involved. We just had a press conference with Jason Kenney. I've moved to the filing room to write and then it's back to Edmonton. #ableg
