April 15, 2003
News from the Legislature
Alana DeLong, MLA

THRONE SPEECH: The 2003 Speech From The Throne was delivered on February 18, 2003 by Alberta’s Lt. Governor, the Honourable Lois Hole. Some highlights of government initiatives planned for 2003 include:

  • Creating a Sustainability Fund to stabilize government revenues and spending.
  • Allocating $20 million for classroom resources; create a community network of supports for youth that will focus on 5 specific areas of commitment; provide funding for the Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research; Amend the Child Welfare Act to better support children at risk; and introduce legislation to enhance adult learning to respond to workforce trends/needs.
  • Encourage the development of non-conventional energy resources and clean-burning coal technology.
  • Advancing agricultural research.
  • Introducing new legislation to increase competition in the electricity industry.
  • Increasing benefits for low-income seniors who live in lodges.
  • Integrate homeless shelter programs; and facilitate the development of more affordable housing.
  • Increase funding for health; and setting limits on wait times for selected health services and surgical procedures.

    Please contact my constituency office if you would like a copy of the speech or for the status of any bill introduced in this Session.

    QUEEN’S GOLDEN JUBILEE MEDAL: On February 28th, I had the pleasure of presenting the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medals to seven remarkable citizens, in recognition of their outstanding service to their community. My sincere congratulations to each of the following individuals: Druh Farrell, Dale Hodges, Colin Jackson, Bonnie Laing, John Mills, Bev Smith and Sid Wallace.

    $1.8-BILLION SURPLUS TO BE INVESTED IN ALBERTANS’ PRIORITIES: A higher-than-expected provincial surplus for the 2002/03 fiscal year will be applied to address critical infrastructure needs, further debt reduction and to kick-start Alberta’s new sustainability fund. The 2002/03 economic cushion is estimated at $1.8 billion. Of the $1.8-billion surplus, $910 million will go directly into the capital account, that is part of the government’s overall capital plan that will be included in the upcoming provincial budget. The remainder will be divided between debt pay down of $500 million and seed money for the new Alberta sustainability fund. These allocations are based on the principles of the new fiscal framework legislated in the Financial Statutes Amendment Act.

    ALBERTA FINE-TUNES ITS ENERGY MARKETS WITH NEW ELECTRIC UTILITIES ACT: Bill 3, the new Electric Utilities Act (EUA), was introduced in the Legislative Assembly on February 19, 2003 and outlines planned refinements to advance Alberta’s restructured electricity market. Under the Bill, electricity customers have options. First, customers can choose to sign a competitive contract. Secondly, once the current regulated choice that Albertans have called the Regulated Rate Option (RRO), expires, and the customer doesn’t want to sign a contract, the Bill will further provide for a default rate. Most deferral accounts, or “Rate Riders,” will be finished at the end of this year and retail customers can expect lower prices in 2004. The legislation also strengthens the role of the Market Surveillance Administrator that monitors market activity and sets parameters for the creation of an Independent System Operator to combine duties of the Power Pool, the Transmission Administrator and load settlement.
    Should you have any questions or comments, I can be reached at:

    Consituency Office (Calgary):  
    Edmonton:
    Toll-Free:    		 (403) 216-5400
    (780) 415-9459
    310-0000