Back on Bill 70-watch tonight (thankfully from my warm and sunny balcony).

The evening sitting starts with debate on Bill 51 in committee of the whole.

(This is bill for citizen-initiated amendments)

Justice Minister Kaycee Madu in introducing an amendment o his bill. #ableg
Just deleted a tweet that had an amusing, unintentional typo, LOL

(that Madu introduced a minister to his bill -- he introduced an amendment) #ableg
Peace River MLA Dan Williams is describing himself as a "gravel worker" before he became an MLA.
While it was true he worked for Knelsen Gravel in La Crete while he was running for the UCP in the last election, Williams worked for Kenney prior to that.

prrecordgazette.com/news/local-new…

#ableg
Justice Minister Kaycee Madu is now defending his bill against NDP critiques that citizen referenda could be used to strip minority groups of their rights. #ableg
NDP amendment to Bill 51 now to put third-party advertising spending limits for citizen-initiated referendums to $30,000.
#ableg
Independent MLAs Loewen and Barnes have also flagged future amendments to this bill. #ableg
Justice Minister Kaycee Madu is calling this amendment "much ado about nothing." He says Alberta already has "robust" laws for elections financing. #ableg
He is calling on the house to vote against the amendment.

The UCP majority votes against it. NDP votes in favour. A division is called

"Ring the bells." #ableg
Loewen and Barnes vote with the government on defeating this amendment. #ableg
NDP MLA @SPhillipsAB introducing another amendment to Bill 51 -- to prevent citizen-initiated referendums held at the same time as municipal and school trustee elections #ableg
Justice Minister Kaycee Madu, sponsor of Bill 51, is urging MLAs to vote against the amendment.

he says anything the government can do to get people to the ballot box is a good thing. #ableg
UCP MLA Jason Stephan asks MLAs to reject the amendment as it increases red tape.

Amendment is defeated.

#Ableg
Independent MLA Todd Loewen now proposing an amendment to Bill 51.
He wants the thresholds to be lowered for petitions. #ableg
Both he and fellow independent Drew Barnes argue the thresholds for citizen-initiated referendums and recall are way too high for ordinary citizens to reach.

cbc.ca/news/canada/ed…

#ableg
Loewen is citing thresholds in California which are much lower than what is proposed in Bill 51.

#ableg
UCP MLA Dan Williams says lowering the thresholds is concerning to him. he wants MLAs to "have faith" in the thresholds in the bill #ableg
Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes, who has joined forces with Loewen on these amendments, standing to speak in favour of Loewen's amendment.

Barnes says let's err on the side on giving people a say.
#ableg
This could be an interesting vote.

Will backbench MLAs vote with Loewen and Barnes, who are appealing to grassroots, Wildrose values? Or will they be whipped to vote with the UCP caucus? #Ableg
UCP MLA Jason Stephan from Red Deer South starts his remarks by asking "do I have 20 minutes, Madam Speaker?" #ableg
This speech from MLA Jason Stephan...could take many tangents. #ableg
Stephan is SUPPORTING the Loewen amendment.

"we are a party of the grassroots."

He says the thresholds in bill 51 are too high.

#ableg

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More from @MBellefontaine

3 Jun
.@jkenney keeps asking NDP MLAs were ever on the Skypalace patio while they were in government.

There wasn't a pandemic when they were in government.

#ableg
@jkenney Kenney reads the rules allowing outdoor gatherings to 10 people.

He neglects to add the part about needing to socially distance. (which is in the rules).

#ableg
NDP MLA Thomas Dang asks about the 40-oz of Jamieson's Whiskey on the table..

Health Minister Tyler Shandro says the booze and food was paid for privately (not expensed). #ableg
Read 6 tweets
3 Jun
🚨🚨A UCP MLA is speaking in favour of an amended proposed by two former UCP MLAs. Will anyone else follow? #ableg
Yes, Stephan may be the only UCP MLA who votes in favour of the Loewen and Barnes amendment.

But this is remarkable in a UCP caucus that is usually very uniform in its votes.

#ableg
Justice Minister Kaycee Madu thanks Loewen for his amendment but says government is following recommendations from an MLA committee #ableg
Read 60 tweets
2 Jun
MLAs are continuing their debate on Bill 66 which essentially walks back Bill 10 which was widely criticized as an overreach of government powers.
UCP MLAs Shane Getson: "I don't care what the oppostion is doing. There is one bus driver. That's the premier. He has the keys."

"That's the way the system works." #ableg
Getson is talking about how to not engage in polarization and save it for the fall, all while insulting the opposition.

"Talk about the good things."

#ableg
Read 22 tweets
1 Jun
1. Debate is now getting spicy in the legislature tonight over Bill 68 which "clarifies" the rights of cabinet ministers to speak out on referendum issues as MLAs #ableg
2. NDP says the bill could allow ministers to use their budgets for partisan purposes to influence election outcomes.

Justice MInister Kaycee Madu says that isn't the case. The NDP says the bill is silent on that issue so it should be amended. #ableg
Here is background on Bill 68.

cbc.ca/news/canada/ed…

#ableg
Read 4 tweets
10 Mar
Right now at the legislature -- the estimates for executive council, the ministry headed by Premier Jason Kenney.

NDP Leader @RachelNotley is there.
So is @jkenney #ableg
@RachelNotley @jkenney Kenney starts off with a ten-minute address talking about the ministry's estimates in the budget.

He says the new ESG office will transfer $2M and 11 FTE staff from Energy to Executive council. #ableg
Read 36 tweets
9 Mar
Watching finance estimates. Minister Travis Toews, under questioning by @SPhillipsAB, said the "historic capital spend" announced yesterday included KXL investment. The pipeline was cancelled by U.S. president in January #ableg
Phillips has been grilling Toews over the KXL deal. UCP MLAs have made two points of order in a row. Both have been denied by chair, UCP MLA David Hanson.

MLA Bilous confirms that these points of order are eating up Phillips' questioning time. The clocks keep running #ableg
Phillips wants to know where the KXL exposure of $1.3 billion is in the actual budget documents.

Toews says there will be "additional clarity" in the year end fiscal report. (which usually comes out in the summer).

He says he is being "fully transparent" with deal. #ableg
Read 6 tweets

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