Alberta throne speech opens new legislative session amid challenges for UCP

Increasing capacity in the health-care system, reducing surgery wait times, and increasing jobs across Alberta are just some of the items the UCP government is promising to address in its latest legislative sitting.

The details were laid out in the throne speech Tuesday, coming just two days ahead of the UCP’s budget on Thursday.

Among the promises are the UCP’s pledge to ensure hospitals and health-care are prepared for potential future pandemic waves, after COVID-19 pushed the system to a near breaking point.

The throne speech, delivered by Lt. Gov. Salma Lakhani Tuesday afternoon, kicks off a legislative sitting which is expected to be like no other.

“This budget underscores that we’ll be moving forward with Alberta’s surgical initiative, designed to do more surgeries, more quickly, getting people out of the backlog and getting people out of pain,” Premier Jason Kenney said ahead of Thursday’s unveiling.

Another session of the Alberta Legislature begins today with the Speech from the Throne.

This session, we’re accelerating Alberta’s Recovery Plan ????.

Every Albertan deserves an opportunity to build the life of their dreams. pic.twitter.com/3H4GOq7RJk

— Jason Kenney ???????????????????????? (@jkenney) February 22, 2022

A throne speech outlines the government’s direction for the coming months. This time around, Kenny and his government are facing some controversial choices and difficult decisions.

In addition to other pledges, the upcoming budget is expected to highlight how the provincial government will use energy royalties, given the sudden increase in oil prices.

Some experts have said those royalties can be enough to catapult Alberta back into surplus.

The UCP government will also be releasing a report into expanding an open-pit coal mine in the Rocky Mountains.

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The focus on jobs in the upcoming budget coincides with the province’s pandemic recovery plans. In a statement, Kenney says Alberta’s Recovery Plan is one that will “diversify the economy and create opportunities for every Albertan.”

Opposition critical

While the premier touts his party’s fiscal plan as one to help get the province back on track, Alberta Opposition Leader Rachel Notley says Kenney’s proposal to increase surgeries by for-profit clinics is doubling down on a disastrous policy that led to disruptions and surgical cancellations during the COVID-19 pandemic

“Now rather than acknowledging their failed incompetent leadership, they’ve decided to use those failures instead as justification to carve up and hollow out our health-care system,” she said after the speech from the throne.

As the new legislative sitting begins, Kenney is facing some personal political challenges, including a byelection in a northern riding where his party’s candidate has said he will work to unseat the leader.

The premier also faces an internal party leadership review in mid-April.