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MLA Rick Wilson update

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There’s always plenty of excitement when a session starts up again at the Legislature.

The Throne Speech on Oct. 30 officially opened the First Session of the 31st Legislature. You can keep track of all that’s going on at the Legislature by searching www.assembly.ab.ca. There’s lots of information on the website including the Assembly Calendar; information on each Bill introduced as well as the ongoing status of each one, and information on Committee Meetings. There’s a link to online, live coverage of session activities as well as to Hansard, the written transcripts of every word spoken in the House.

Bill 1 has already passed the third reading, and at least ten other bills are at various stages of the process. Bill 1 is the Taxpayer Protection Amendment Act. Its purpose is to protect Alberta families and businesses from future tax rate increases.

Any personal or corporate income tax increases will require consultation with Albertans through a referendum. The same rule will also apply to the reduction of personal income tax bracket thresholds and basic personal, spousal, and equivalent-to-spouse credit amounts. Alberta families and businesses are currently paying the lowest overall taxes in the country; this legislation will help make sure that doesn’t change.

The Government of Alberta has recently made some important announcements, too.

While more work still needs to be done to make Alberta’s auto insurance industry affordable and sustainable in the long term, some short-term reforms will address the pressing issue of automobile insurance rates in the province.

You may recall that to protect Albertans from rising auto insurance rates, we implemented a rate pause on private passenger vehicle insurance from January 2023 until the end of the year. The new announcement will ensure that starting Jan. 1, 2024, Albertans with good driving records will only see their rates increase to account for Alberta’s inflation. As well, we are proposing to amend the regulations of the Alberta Automobile Insurance Rate Board (AIRB) — the independent agency established by the Minister of Finance to deliver efficient rate regulation for auto insurance companies and to educate Albertans about the marketplace.

One proposed amendment would give the AIRB the authority to direct insurers to return a portion of premiums to drivers during exceptionally profitable years. Another amendment would permanently require insurers to provide most Albertans with premium payment plans so that they would not have to pay their insurance premiums upfront for the entire year. Auto insurance pricing is a complex issue; further measures are currently underway to seek long-term, sustainable solutions to address the affordability of auto insurance in Alberta.

A new web tool on alberta.ca has been launched to help cut red tape for non-profits. Non-profits make a positive difference in the lives of Albertans on a daily basis. They bring together people of every age, race, and gender to educate, shelter, heal, inspire and nurture — creating a great quality of life in our communities.

We heard feedback that non-profits were encountering difficulties in navigating information about services provided by the Alberta Government. In response, we have created a one-stop access to funding, information and support to help charitable and non-profit organizations start, manage, and build capacity. Check it out here: https://www.alberta.ca/grants-funding-and-supports-for-non-profits.

Albertans can now access two online surveys on how to improve election processes and accountability for locally elected officials.

Municipal councils are an important part of democracy and have a direct impact on all Albertans. To strengthen the local election process and improve trust in locally elected officials, the Alberta Government is seeking input from the public and stakeholders on the Local Authorities Elections Act and the Municipal Government Act.

Input from the surveys, open until Dec. 6, will help inform potential changes to the two acts. The surveys are available here: https://www.alberta.ca/local-elections-and-councillor-accountability-engagement.

A new trial process will save Albertans time and money when pursuing some legal actions.

While going to court allows Albertans to resolve their legal disputes, court cases can be time-consuming and expensive. So, the Province is amending the Alberta Rules of Court regulation to replace a seldom-used summary trial process for civil and family matters in the Court of King’s Bench with a new streamlined trial process.

A streamlined trial differs from the two other forms of trial (regular trial and trial by jury) by relying primarily on written evidence rather than oral evidence. Parties have a joint responsibility to prepare materials for the court that identify the real issues in dispute and agree on the relevant and material facts and records.

This amendment will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and will help create a more efficient process and reduce time spent in the courtroom.

I had the great privilege of participating in the Memorial Service in Millet on Remembrance Day this year. It was incredibly hopeful to see so many young people in attendance pay tribute to those who served and continue to serve our beautiful country in times of war, conflict, and peace. My heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers who shared in arranging this event to ensure that the sacrifices of others in the pursuit of peace and democracy are never forgotten.

The holiday season is quickly approaching, so I’m holding an Open House at my constituency office (5019 50th Street, Wetaskiwin) on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.

Everyone is invited to stop by for a coffee and treat between 4 and 7 p.m. If you are able, please bring a non-perishable item for our food bank collection.

Please note that Open House events don’t work so well for private conversations; if you have a specific issue you’d like to discuss, please call my constituency office (780-360-8003) to arrange a separate appointment. I hope to see you on the eighth! I am looking forward to celebrating the joy of the season with you!

Hon. Rick Wilson is the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin. His constituency office can be reached by email at Maskwacis.wetaskiwin@assembly.ab.ca, or by phone at 780-360-8003.