Latest news with #RicMcIver
Calgary Herald
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Breakenridge: Province needs to stay in own lane on bike infrastructure
A cycle track is shown in front of businesses on 11th Street S.W. in Calgary. Photo by Brent Calver / Postmedia Network Municipal elections in Alberta are just over three months away, when voters will elect municipal governments to make decisions in areas that are municipal responsibility. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors This is stating the obvious, perhaps, but sometimes the obvious isn't as obvious as it should be. The question of jurisdiction has become an especially important matter in Alberta politics these days. The province has been quite public and insistent that its jurisdiction be acknowledged and respected, by both Ottawa and municipal governments. But that should be a two-way street — Alberta's government should stay in its own lane, too. Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again Not that municipal politicians haven't overreached. Last year, Calgary city council devoted far too much time discussing Alberta's Local Authorities Election Act and the issue of voting rights for non-citizens. As then-Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver put it, 'I'll save us all some time. Only citizens of Canada can vote in municipal elections. That will not be changing.' Say what you will about McIver (who is now Speaker of the Alberta legislature), but he at least had some understanding of these jurisdictional divisions, having previously served as a municipal politician. Last year, amid concerns that the province might intervene in municipal bike lane decisions, McIver wrote that his government 'respects the autonomy of municipalities to make decisions about local projects and priorities,' including 'control over their local roads and transportation infrastructure.' Maybe that respect is not universally shared by those in the Alberta government. Despite everything on his plate that actually does pertain to his portfolio, Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen has become preoccupied with municipal decision-making on bike lanes. Earlier this year, Dreeshen called on Edmonton and Calgary to rethink bike lanes, and specifically called on Edmonton to cancel a planned project. At a town hall event, when asked if Alberta would consider removing bike lanes like Ontario is doing in Toronto, Dreeshen said the option is 'on the table.' Dreeshen also wrote a June 27 letter to Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek expressing concerns over Calgary's approach to bike lanes, although he didn't single out any specific project or proposal. To be clear, the Alberta government is not being asked to fund any of these projects, nor have either Calgary or Edmonton done anything that exceeds their authority.
Globe and Mail
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith set to shuffle her cabinet
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is set to shuffle her cabinet days after the legislature broke for the summer. New ministers are scheduled to be sworn in by Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani on Friday afternoon in Calgary. Smith is not taking questions from reporters following the swearing-in. At an earlier, unrelated announcement, she said the main aim is to fill the vacancy left by former municipal affairs minister Ric McIver, who is taking on the role of Speaker of the assembly. 'As a result, once you move one cabinet minister, you have to start moving a few others,' said Smith. Former Speaker Nathan Cooper left the job earlier this week and is stepping down this summer as the United Conservative Party member for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills to become the province's new representative in Washington. The shuffle comes in the wake of controversy over a bill that passed debate in the final hours of the spring legislature sitting. The legislation lowers the bar for citizens to initiate a referendum question, including whether Alberta should secede from Canada. The bill, along with last month's federal election, have renewed interest in separatism among some Albertans fed up with another Liberal government in Ottawa. Smith has said she supports Alberta remaining in Canada but she doesn't want to see the province's separatist movement grow into a large, mainstream political party. She's also said the bill is about giving Albertans a say on whatever issue is important to them through direct democracy. The province could see a separation referendum as early as next year, if the requisite 177,000 signatures are collected by petitioners. Justice Minister Mickey Amery offered an amendment to address concerns from First Nations over the bill, declaring no referendum would interfere with treaty rights. That change didn't satisfy some First Nations chiefs in the province, who said separating from Canada threatens their treaty relationship with the Crown.
Edmonton Journal
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Ric McIver elected as new Alberta Speaker hours after resigning from cabinet
Article content Alberta MLAs have elected veteran politician Ric McIver as the fifteenth Speaker of the province's legislative assembly in a vote that came hours after his resignation from cabinet was announced. McIver won with a majority of votes early Tuesday over New Democrat MLA Heather Sweet, the only other MLA nominated for the role. As is tradition, McIver feigned resistance while being forcibly escorted to the Speaker's chair by Premier Danielle Smith and Opposition house leader Christina Gray as gleeful MLAs clapped and cheered them on.
CBC
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Ric McIver voted in as new Alberta legislature Speaker
Calgary legislature member Ric McIver is the new Speaker of the Alberta legislature. McIver resigned as municipal affairs minister early Tuesday and soon after was voted into the Speaker's job by his peers, defeating Opposition NDP candidate Heather Sweet. After the vote result was announced, McIver was ceremoniously dragged to the Speaker's chair by Premier Danielle Smith and Opposition NDP house leader Christina Gray. Some jovial heel dragging on McIver's part meant Gray dropped his elbow and started pushing him from behind while Smith led the way. The dragging is a parliamentary tradition that dates back hundreds of years to when the Speaker's role was viewed as both unappealing and perilous, given that they risked incurring the wrath of the sovereign. In his first speech from the Speaker's chair, McIver said he was grateful for the new post. "I've committed to everybody on both sides to honour the traditions of this place, to be non-partisan and to help us get through the business of the day every day," McIver said. "If we have a little fun, great ... better fun than nastiness." The Speaker's role is to be the non-partisan referee during question period and debate. WATCH | Why Nathan Cooper resigned as Speaker: Why the legislature Speaker is becoming Alberta's U.S. representative 5 days ago Duration 1:52 After mistakenly thanking Sweet by name in his speech, breaking the parliamentary tradition of referring to members only by their titles, McIver urged colleagues to bear with him as he learns the ins and outs of the role. "See? I'm already breaking the rules," he said. "Despite the fact I've watched this show for this important place for almost about 13 years, that doesn't mean I won't mess it up. But with your help, I'll fail along until we get better at it." Since being elected in 2012, McIver served as municipal affairs minister under two premiers, while also doing stints as transportation minister, infrastructure minister and jobs minister. The Speaker's job became vacant last week after Nathan Cooper announced he was stepping down in order to represent Alberta's interests in Washington D.C.
CTV News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Alberta cabinet minister Ric McIver voted in as new legislature Speaker
Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith make an announcement at a press conference in Edmonton, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson)
