Tag: Danielle Smith

Alberta to Use Shuttles, Taxis to Transport Some Patients in Effort to Improve EMS

The Alberta government is hoping to improve ambulance response times by having community shuttles and wheelchair-accessible taxis transport some patients. Premier Danielle Smith announced a provincewide program Wednesday to free up some ambulances and paramedics so they can respond to emergency calls more quickly. “Starting today, Alberta Health Services will use alternate modes of transportation for non-emergency transfers of…


AB Premier Appoints MLA Tracy Allard as Parliamentary Secretary for Civil Liberties

EDMONTON—Alberta cabinet Grand Prairie MLA Tracy Allard has been appointed the province’s parliamentary secretary for civil liberties, a new position that the premier said would advise to cabinet on how property and civil rights can be addressed in legislation. Danielle Smith discussed the new position on Dec. 17 during her weekly Saturday radio show, saying…


Alberta Passes Amended Sovereignty Act After Late-Night Legislature Debate

The Alberta government, in a late-night session of the provincial legislature, voted 27-7 to pass the Sovereignty Act, with amendments that clarified any changes made to laws have to return to cabinet for debate. The bill moved to a third and final reading and was approved at 1 a.m., with all of the United Conservative…


Alberta’s Proposed Sovereignty Act Simply Asserts Existing Constitutional Powers: Lawyer

EDMONTON—Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s Sovereignty Act, having just made it through first reading in the legislature, has generated both praise for its stated purpose of providing a “constitutional shield” against overreach by Ottawa, and suggestions that the bill is unconstitutional and undemocratic. The act’s stated purpose is to “protect Albertans from federal legislation or policies that…


Alberta UCP Votes to Put Forward Amendments to Sovereignty Act

EDMONTON—The United Conservative Party, which leads the Alberta government with a majority, said on Dec. 5 it is putting forward two amendments to Bill 1, the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act, to clarify clauses that raised public concerns. The party said it will change the bill to ensure any changes that the cabinet…


Alberta’s Sovereignty Bill Will Be Amended to Clarify Process, Says Premier Danielle Smith

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said amendments will be made to her province’s new sovereignty bill as it goes through the legislature process, amid criticism the bill wasn’t clear about how laws will be rewritten if required. “The nature of the problem is that Alberta gets treated differently than the rest of the country. And Alberta…


Trudeau Reacts to Sovereignty Act Tabled in Alberta

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Nov. 30 he’s paying close attention to the sovereignty bill tabled in Alberta this week and that all options are on the table, while also qualifying he doesn’t want to clash with the province. “We’re gonna look at this very, very closely and think about the implications,” Trudeau told…


‘Nuke and Rebuild’: Will Smith’s Plan to Reform Alberta’s Health System Work?

The firing of Alberta’s health board and appointment of a sole administrator by Premier Danielle Smith is seen by some as a welcome sign of a much-needed overhaul to the province’s health system, while others say putting such a weighty task on the shoulders of just one person could be a recipe for failure. Dr….


‘Nuke and Rebuild’: Will Premier Smith’s Plan to Reform Alberta’s Health System Work?

The firing of Alberta’s health board and appointment of a sole administrator by Premier Danielle Smith is seen by some as a welcome sign of a much-needed overhaul to the province’s health system, while others say putting such a weighty task on the shoulders of just one person could be a recipe for failure. Dr….


Alberta Premier Fires Health Services Board, Brings On Full-Time Administrator

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced Thursday that the Alberta Health Services (AHS) board has been replaced with a full-time experienced administrator, who previously held the role, to make immediate changes to the health care system. Dr. John Cowell has been appointed to carry out health care reform promises made during Smith’s election campaign, the premier said…