Latest news with #Amery
Hamilton Spectator
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Alberta chief electoral officer warns UCP proposals will hurt investigative ability
EDMONTON - Alberta's chief electoral officer is warning the government that proposed legislation will impair the election commissioner's power to investigate election rule breaking. A controversial bill introduced last month, if passed, will make sweeping changes to voting and referendums in the province, and is making its way through debate in the legislature. In documents sent to Justice Minister Mickey Amery and all legislature members Friday and obtained by The Canadian Press, chief electoral officer Gordon McClure warns that some changes in the bill will reduce the election commissioner's ability to investigate and enforce compliance with election law, including financial contribution rules and limits. A summary of concerns attached to the email says one of the bill's proposed changes would significantly reduce the time period for Elections Alberta to impose sanctions after alleged misconduct occurs — to one year from three. 'None of the significant investigations undertaken by the elections commissioner in the last five years would have been completed if this reduced time period had been in place. Several current investigations will not be completed,' the document says. It adds that Elections Alberta doesn't even receive most complaints about financial compliance within a year because of various financial reporting timelines. McClure writes that some of the bill makes improvements, but other changes 'will deteriorate the service provided to electors, compromise Albertans' trust in the democratic process, and remove elements of transparency and accountability.' The summary says the bill will also introduce a new threshold for investigations, putting the onus on a complainant to 'provide a substantively completed investigation' before the election commissioner can even start looking into a complaint. 'We are not aware of any other jurisdiction in Canada that has imposed a similar standard to initiate investigations,' it says, noting that move would eliminate the majority of compliance work by the election commissioner. And, if the bill passes, it would force the election commissioner to defend their decisions as a 'quasi-prosecutor' before the courts if they are appealed, the document says. McClure points to further concerns about the elimination of vote anywhere provisions, the removal of vouching for voter identification, and the change to timelines associated with special ballots. Amery said in a statement Friday all of the bill's proposals are meant to 'protect our democracy, deliver fair and open elections, and restore confidence in every vote cast by Albertans.' Amery did not directly address McClure's concerns, nor did he say if he would consider walking any portion of the legislation back. 'Alberta's government consulted with Elections Alberta,' he said, adding if the bill passes, Elections Alberta will have the resources it needs to comply. 'These changes are meant to expand opportunities for Albertans to participate directly in democracy, including the expansion of special ballots, giving more flexibility with the types of proof of residence that can be used, and improving recall and citizen initiative processes,' Amery said. The NDP has raised many concerns about the bill, saying it will lead to voter suppression, and introduce 'dark money' by allowing corporate and union donations into the process. Opposition NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir told The Canadian Press on Friday the bill will make the election process less transparent. He said McClure's letter raises serious concerns that the governing United Conservatives are undermining investigations into election law, which would let those who break the rules off the hook. 'If there's nobody to investigate whether the rules were upheld, then those rules don't mean anything. That will certainly impact the trust and confidence that Albertans have in their election system,' he said. The proposed bill has also been making headlines since its introduction because it would lower the threshold for a citizen-led referendum, including on separating from Canada. Critics have said that opens the door to division at a time when the country needs to be united against the trade war tariffs of U.S. President Donald Trump. The day Amery introduced the bill, Premier Danielle Smith said its changes would ensure Alberta's provincial elections are open, secure and accessible. 'Democracy is the foundation of our freedoms and the source of legitimacy for governments at every level. It must be protected, strengthened and defended, and that's exactly what we are doing,' she said. 'I believe democracy thrives when people trust the process.' -With files from Jack Farrell This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Alberta chief electoral officer warns UCP proposals will hurt investigative ability
EDMONTON – Alberta's chief electoral officer is warning the government that proposed legislation will impair the election commissioner's power to investigate election rule breaking. A controversial bill introduced last month, if passed, will make sweeping changes to voting and referendums in the province, and is making its way through debate in the legislature. In documents sent to Justice Minister Mickey Amery and all legislature members Friday and obtained by The Canadian Press, chief electoral officer Gordon McClure warns that some changes in the bill will reduce the election commissioner's ability to investigate and enforce compliance with election law, including financial contribution rules and limits. A summary of concerns attached to the email says one of the bill's proposed changes would significantly reduce the time period for Elections Alberta to impose sanctions after alleged misconduct occurs — to one year from three. 'None of the significant investigations undertaken by the elections commissioner in the last five years would have been completed if this reduced time period had been in place. Several current investigations will not be completed,' the document says. It adds that Elections Alberta doesn't even receive most complaints about financial compliance within a year because of various financial reporting timelines. McClure writes that some of the bill makes improvements, but other changes 'will deteriorate the service provided to electors, compromise Albertans' trust in the democratic process, and remove elements of transparency and accountability.' The summary says the bill will also introduce a new threshold for investigations, putting the onus on a complainant to 'provide a substantively completed investigation' before the election commissioner can even start looking into a complaint. 'We are not aware of any other jurisdiction in Canada that has imposed a similar standard to initiate investigations,' it says, noting that move would eliminate the majority of compliance work by the election commissioner. And, if the bill passes, it would force the election commissioner to defend their decisions as a 'quasi-prosecutor' before the courts if they are appealed, the document says. McClure points to further concerns about the elimination of vote anywhere provisions, the removal of vouching for voter identification, and the change to timelines associated with special ballots. Amery said in a statement Friday all of the bill's proposals are meant to 'protect our democracy, deliver fair and open elections, and restore confidence in every vote cast by Albertans.' Amery did not directly address McClure's concerns, nor did he say if he would consider walking any portion of the legislation back. 'Alberta's government consulted with Elections Alberta,' he said, adding if the bill passes, Elections Alberta will have the resources it needs to comply. 'These changes are meant to expand opportunities for Albertans to participate directly in democracy, including the expansion of special ballots, giving more flexibility with the types of proof of residence that can be used, and improving recall and citizen initiative processes,' Amery said. The NDP has raised many concerns about the bill, saying it will lead to voter suppression, and introduce 'dark money' by allowing corporate and union donations into the process. Opposition NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir told The Canadian Press on Friday the bill will make the election process less transparent. He said McClure's letter raises serious concerns that the governing United Conservatives are undermining investigations into election law, which would let those who break the rules off the hook. 'If there's nobody to investigate whether the rules were upheld, then those rules don't mean anything. That will certainly impact the trust and confidence that Albertans have in their election system,' he said. The proposed bill has also been making headlines since its introduction because it would lower the threshold for a citizen-led referendum, including on separating from Canada. Critics have said that opens the door to division at a time when the country needs to be united against the trade war tariffs of U.S. President Donald Trump. The day Amery introduced the bill, Premier Danielle Smith said its changes would ensure Alberta's provincial elections are open, secure and accessible. 'Democracy is the foundation of our freedoms and the source of legitimacy for governments at every level. It must be protected, strengthened and defended, and that's exactly what we are doing,' she said. 'I believe democracy thrives when people trust the process.' -With files from Jack Farrell This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2025.
Epoch Times
03-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Alberta to Challenge Constitutionality of Ottawa's Net-Zero Electricity Regulations
Alberta is taking Ottawa to the province's Court of Appeal over the federal government's net-zero electricity regulations, arguing the rules overstep provincial jurisdiction and could drive up costs while increasing the risk of power outages. The province 'We will not accept the reckless and dangerous policies—policies that will harm our economy, stifle our energy industry, jeopardize the reliability of our electricity grid, and raise electricity prices for Albertans,' Smith said. The Clean Electricity Regulations are part of Ottawa's plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. They The federal government last December Meanwhile, the current framework, finalized in December 2024, provides interim targets generators must meet by 2035, which Smith has also Related Stories 1/1/2025 11/26/2023 Ottawa 'Cutting pollution in communities across the country is good for our climate, economy, health, and well-being,' Ottawa has also highlighted the potential economic opportunities it says clean energy could create for Canada. 'Building a clean, affordable, and reliable electricity system is at the foundation of Canada's efforts to tackle climate change, and a generational opportunity to drive clean economic growth across the country for decades to come,' then-Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said in a February 2024 During her May 1 address, Smith cited an Ottawa Participants in the engagements included electric utility companies, provincial and territorial governments, indigenous groups, industry associations, environmental non-governmental organizations, unions, researchers and academics, and the general public, according to the government. Alberta currently relies on natural gas for 75 percent of its power generation, according to provincial estimates. The premier has previously Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery 'Canada's constitution is absolutely clear,' Amery said at the May 1 press conference. 'The provinces have exclusive jurisdiction over the development, conservation, and management of sites for the generation and production of electrical energy.' Ottawa Asked why the legal challenge was launched as newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney has yet to take action in office, Amery said the province had raised concerns about the regulations since early 2024 but 'they were ignored.' In its Amery added that Carney had expressed support for net-zero emissions policies both before and during the election campaign. The prime minister, who has been a strong 'We've seen no indication that it is going to change,' Amery said, referring to Carney's advocacy for net-zero policies. 'It is our intention now to refer the matter to the Court of Appeal.'
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Paid their own expenses': Smith defends Alberta justice minister's Stanley Cup Final trip
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith defended this week her government's justice minister's trip to Florida for an NHL playoff game as being on his personal time and not subject to ethics disclosure requirements, while Opposition New Democrats said the province's ethics reporting rules are too lax. On Thursday, former government MLA Scott Sinclair reposted an image of himself on his personal Facebook account with Justice Minister Mickey Amery, the premier's then chief of staff Marshall Smith, and former communications director and now-principal secretary Becca Polak at Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise, Fla. In question period later that day, Opposition house leader Christina Gray asked about the photo and who arranged Amery's trip to the June 2024 game, noting his latest ethics disclosure contained no gifts. 'The staff and minister who travelled to attend the Oilers game in Florida paid their own expenses. That is why there is no disclosure to the ethics commissioner,' Smith responded on Amery's behalf. 'There's no need to. When you pay your own money, on your own personal dime, for your own personal reasons, on your own personal time, it does not have to be disclosed.' Gray followed up by asking who Amery sat with at the game, something Smith replied was 'nobody's business if they are taking a trip with their own personal expenses on their own personal time.' On April 10, Amery was asked by reporters inside the legislature whether he had attended any playoff games. 'I went with my friends, yes,' he responded. 'None funded by any lobbyist, any group.' Three cabinet ministers, including the since-removed Peter Guthrie, have said they had attended Oilers playoff games last spring courtesy of MHCare, the company that was contracted to import children's pain medication from Turkey in late 2022. Multiple investigations have been launched into Alberta's health-care procurement processes. The government has denied wrongdoing. The Conflicts of Interest Act states that no gifts should be accepted unless it is an incident of protocol or a social obligation for MLAs. There is no monetary limit for those gifts, and disclosures are not public. A guide to gifts provided by the ethics commissioner's office last April notes, 'a member still breaches the act by accepting tickets or invitation to events that are not an incident of protocol or social obligation.' Gray said Thursday those rules don't go far enough. 'The ethics rules in Alberta have been updated by the UCP government to disclose less, to allow more, and to be able to do things that didn't used to be able to be done here.' Smith responded by repeating that those rules were not applicable on private trips. 'The minister paid his own expenses on his own time, and when the minister does that, it is not a matter of ethics and it is not a matter of disclosure.' Sinclair said Thursday that he did not repost the image to provoke a reaction, but rather to mark the nearing start of this season's NHL postseason. 'I posted because I'm excited for the playoffs,' Sinclair, a former Junior A hockey player, said. 'Hockey is a big part of my life.' Sinclair was removed from the United Conservative Party caucus in March after voicing concerns over the provincial budget. Both he and Guthrie voted last week in favour of an Opposition motion calling for a public inquiry in to allegations of corruption in health-care procurement, something the government has resisted. Sinclair repeated earlier comments he had made, stating he travelled to the game in Florida with his family at his own cost, followed by a trip to Disney World. 'It was a very expensive vacation that I'm still paying off,' he said, adding he didn't discuss with the two government staffers in the image how they got to the game, and that they were among many Oilers fans he encountered in Florida. 'I don't really have a comment on anybody else.' mblack@ Alberta premier defends ministers accepting Oilers playoff tickets from Parol importer 'Ruthlessly fair': Alberta premier says Oilers Entertainment Group deal shows fairness for Edmonton and Calgary Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.
CBC
11-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Alberta bill requiring minister's approval has cut $10M in grants for non-profits, law foundation says
The Alberta Law Foundation says the provincial government is breaking precedent and meddling with which community-based legal groups receive grants from its fund. The non-profit, which has operated independently of government for 52 years, says the province wants the minister of justice to approve all grants, gifts and funding commitments over $250,000. The measures are proposed in Bill 39, Financial Statutes Amendment Act, introduced last month. Law foundation executive director Byron Chan said the government has already reduced or cut nearly $10 million in funding to 14 Alberta non-profits that were already approved by the foundation's board of directors. Chan told a news conference with the Alberta NDP Thursday that the cuts are hurting community and student legal clinics, Indigenous justice programs, survivors of violence and newcomers to Canada. He said the organizations who submitted grant requests that were cut or reduced by the province were looking for increases to keep up with demand and the cost of living. "Thousands and thousands of Albertans are going to be left with either longer wait times without access to services at all or without an organization that's within their geographic region to be able to access services," Chan said. The government is also cutting the funding it provides Legal Aid from 50 per cent to 25 per cent, leaving the Alberta Law Foundation having to make up the difference. Chan said the foundation funds more than 65 programs and services for people who make too much to qualify for legal aid but who still can't afford a lawyer. He said the cuts will mean many people will be forced to deal with legal issues without representation. Accountability and oversight In Thursday's question period, Justice Minster Mickey Amery said the finances of the Alberta Law Foundation are "very, very healthy." "The organizations are receiving funding from the Alberta Law Foundation will continue to receive that, but there will be transparency, there will be accountability, and there will be oversight," Amery said. Amery said the Alberta Law Foundation held $281 million in reserves as of March 31. Chan said the foundation would no longer be able to help develop the new $100 million Indigenous law institute at the University of Alberta. The project will no longer proceed. Two government-appointed members of the law foundation's board have resigned in protest over the government's involvement, Chan said. Worries about lack of legal help Amery said the Central Alberta Community Legal Clinic received a 40 per cent increase in funding over the past two years. Executive director Kathy Parsons said the clinic is now facing a $500,000 cut in each of the next three years. She told Thursday's news conference that her staff helps people who are dealing with domestic violence, family breakdowns, eviction and other serious issues. She said people are waiting weeks to talk to a lawyer. "If you're a woman facing domestic violence, looking for child support so you can feed your kids or maybe even threatened with losing your housing, you don't have six to eight weeks to find out what you can do about it," Parsons said. Drew Lafond, president of the Indigenous Bar Association, said he is concerned the cuts will hurt Indigenous people and in particular, Indigenous women. "What we're seeing now from the provincial government and the introduction of Bill 39 is distrust in the ability of independent organizations and Indigenous peoples themselves to chart their own destiny," he said. "And that's something that's deeply concerning because it squarely challenges all of the recommendations in over 20 national reports that have been released in the last 30 years." Parsons said the need for these services grows as the economy gets worse. She said the money, which comes from interest from client funds held in lawyers' pooled trust accounts, is not government revenue. "This is the worst time to be pulling funding away from the community legal services Albertans rely on every day to access justice," Parsons said. Parsons said there are five community legal clinics in Alberta. She said the changes would affect tens of thousands of Albertans. Bill 39 is in the second reading stage of debate at the legislature.
