Alberta gov changes election date, enhances emergency response legislation
https://tnc.news/2024/05/10/alberta-gov-election-date-emergency-response/
Alberta’s next election, initially scheduled for May, will now move to October.
This change comes with Bill 21, the Emergency Statutes Amendment Act, introduced in the legislature on Thursday. Other changes in Bill 21 are set to improve how the provincial government responds to emergencies, such as floods, droughts, and wildfires.
“In Alberta, the likelihood of floods and wildfires is highest between May and July,” said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
She cited numerous examples, such as the Slave Lake fire in May 2011, the “devastating floods” in June 2013, the Fort McMurray wildfire in May 2016, and last year’s record wildfire season in Alberta, which began in early May.
“We need to be able to assure that no matter which region of the province is affected by an emergency, we are able to have an all-hands-on-deck approach,” said Smith.
Alberta’s last election was held on May 29, 2023, but the election period began on May 1. Five days later, severe wildfires forced Smith to activate the Emergency Management Cabinet Committee and declare a state of emergency.
Over 45,000 Albertans, including electoral candidates — who had to pause their campaigns, were displaced from their homes.
Thanks to an election occurring during an emergency crisis, ministers were restricted in what they could do during this procedure due to election protocols. For example, Smith, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis, and Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen were subject to daily fines of $5,000 because they were forced to use government resources during a campaign period to battle the wildfire crisis. Continue…