Добавил публикация
- Premier Danielle Smith announced that the Government of Alberta is ordering Edmonton to roll back its infill rules, and plans new province-wide limits on infill development. Within three months, Edmonton must revert its rules on housing types, density, and height to those in place before its 2024 zoning changes, and restore the minimum on-site parking requirements it had before 2020. The City will also have 18 months to review its land use bylaws, while Calgary was directed to finish its own ongoing bylaw review next year. Smith cited concerns from residents about utilities, traffic, parking, and property values, and Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams said the changes will be made through a cabinet order in council and described them as a "pause" or "reset". Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi accused Smith of overriding the democratic will of Edmontonians, saying infill is a municipal responsibility. Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack, who defeated several challengers who backed tougher infill rules in last October's election, warned that the Premier is underestimating the consequences and that the move could cause tremendous chaos.
- Federal Defence Minister David McGuinty visited Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, alongside Premier Danielle Smith, to highlight $8 billion in ongoing federal military spending in Alberta. The spending includes $550 million to establish the western operating base for the Royal Canadian Air Force's CC-330 Husky fleet, nearly $4 billion to support fighter capabilities at the Cold Lake base, and over $580 million over three years for maintenance and repairs across Alberta's military bases. McGuinty described Confederation as "a bargain of reciprocity" and said Alberta will help lead the way in leaving Canada stronger. Smith said the Province and Ottawa have been working together to use existing military assets in Alberta to help meet the federal target of spending 5% of gross domestic product on defence by 2035. She said she hopes announcements like this one will give people more confidence to vote to remain in Canada.
- The Government of Alberta is walking back some of the changes it made over the summer to benefits for people with disabilities, citing community feedback. Eligible couples where both people receive Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) or the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) will again receive full benefit amounts. Assisted Living and Social Services Minister Nathan Neudorf said couples were considering divorce to get back to full payment, which he called not the intended outcome. ADAP launched in July, and the Province says about 45,000 Albertans were moved onto it from AISH, while about 35,000 remain on AISH. The Province says ADAP clients can earn up to $45,240 a year before losing benefits, and that those moved from AISH will receive a transition benefit covering the difference in monthly benefits until December 31st. It has also shortened the non-medical application process for moving to ADAP by 75% and now lets nurse practitioners sign off on medical reports.
- The Alberta Court of Appeal has ruled that the federal Impact Assessment Act, which sets out how the environmental, economic, health, and social effects of projects like ports, mines, and pipelines are reviewed, is still unconstitutional. In a 4-1 decision, the court found that although Ottawa modified the law after the Supreme Court struck down much of it in 2023, the new version still infringes on provincial jurisdiction. Among other things, the court said the act still lets Ottawa stop a project in provincial jurisdiction if it has even the smallest impact on federal jurisdiction. It was the Province's second challenge to the Act, and Ontario and Saskatchewan both backed Alberta in the case. The ruling comes as Ottawa tries, through the newly tabled Bill C-39, to move the assessment of pipeline and energy transmission projects from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to the Canada Energy Regulator. Ottawa has said the Regulator will still be bound by the Impact Assessment Act when it carries out those reviews. The office of federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin said the government is reviewing the decision and considering next steps.
- Premier Danielle Smith is brushing off the Opposition NDP's court challenge to her government's new voter list rules, and says legislation is coming this fall to add safeguards on voter information. The rules, published in September, allow Elections Alberta to give political parties only the number of voters in each voting area and municipality, instead of lists with full names, addresses, and phone numbers. Smith says elections officials called for the restrictions after a major data breach earlier this year, and that the NDP asked for the restrictions too, which the Opposition denies. At a court hearing, the NDP argued that the Government is acting beyond its power and undermining the democratic purpose of a voter list. Smith says she hopes to win the NDP's support for the coming legislation.