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'It was a long four years': UCP MLAs glad to be on government side of legislature

'It was a long four years': UCP MLAs glad to be on government side of legislature

Returning UCP MLAs say it was a long four years sitting in opposition against the former NDP government, and they're looking forward to getting to work as the first session of the 30th Alberta legislature starts.

"It's good to be back," said Transportation Minister Ric McIver, who was re-elected in Calgary-Hays on April 16. "I tell you, it was a long four years."

"It matters a great deal to me what decisions are made, and I disagreed with a large number of decisions made in the last four years. We didn't have the ability to stop those decisions."

McIver and Mike Ellis, who was elected for the third time in Calgary-West, are among the veterans in the UCP caucus.

Ellis said Tuesday's swearing-in had particular significance.

"This one here is specifically filled with hope and optimism, and I was really excited."

The government will lay out its agenda in a speech from the throne on Wednesday. The first three bills come as no surprise as they were highlighted throughout the spring election campaign. The first bill to repeal the carbon tax by the end of May is expected to be introduced on Wednesday.

Bill 2 is the Open for Business Act, which will repeal some changes made to labour laws under the previous government. It is also expected to bring a $13-an-hour youth minimum wage into effect and bring back secret ballots for all union certification votes.

Bill 3 lays out the schedule announced last week for bringing the corporate tax down from 12 to eight per cent by Jan. 1, 2022.

Education Act

Government House Leader Jason Nixon hinted that a bill to make it easier for newcomers to Canada to fill jobs based on their past experience is coming, as well as a bill to enact the UCP's campaign promises on education.

Asked if that included a proclamation of the Education Act, which was passed but never enacted into law by a former Progressive Conservative government, Nixon replied: "In general, that is the promise I am referring to."

The Education Act would roll back provisions in Bill 24 passed by the NDP that prohibit parental notification when a child joins a gay-straight alliance.

Nixon said the government is still committed to repealing the NDP's farm safety legislation, but said it will first consult with the agriculture community on a bill to replace it.

The end of the carbon tax also raises questions about the future of projects funded by that revenue. Nixon said anything approved as of April 10, the last intake date, will go forward. He said capital projects like LRT expansion will continue.

Nixon said the UCP will focus on large emitters, having them pay into the new Technology Innovation Emissions Reduction or TIER program. Some of the money will go toward developing technology to reduce emissions.

With fierce wildfires forcing Albertans from their homes in northern Alberta, Nixon was asked if his government was in "crisis mode" over climate change.

"In crisis mode? No, certainly not," he said. "We're not in crisis mode. We're focused on actually being able to address emissions."

Controversial MLAs

The swearing-in ceremony for the United Conservative Party MLAs was the first event in a jam-packed opening day of session. MLAs will choose a new speaker and deputy speaker on Tuesday afternoon.

Among the 63 government MLAs were two who faced controversy during the election campaign. Peter Singh, the MLA for Calgary-East, had his business searched by the RCMP in relation to an investigation into allegations of voter fraud during the 2017 UCP leadership vote.

Singh has said through his lawyer that he did nothing wrong.

Mark Smith, the MLA for Drayton Valley-Devon, was re-elected with 71 per cent of the vote on April 16, despite the emergence of a sermon where he likened homosexuality to pedophilia and suggested gay love is not real love.

In his speech following the ceremony, Premier Jason Kenney praised the youth and diversity of his caucus, though only 15 of the 63 MLAs are women.

The 24 members of the NDP Official Opposition took their oaths of office in a separate ceremony last week.