The New Democratic Party (NDP) and the United Conservative Party (UCP) have both held a majority government for one full term in Alberta, and the two are vying to break the tie on May 29.
Here’s a look at the policies of the two governments during their tenure in some key areas.
But a note of caution. According to political science professor Geoffrey Hale of the University of Lethbridge, making sense of the last eight years in Alberta politics can be daunting.
“Given the political and economic roller coaster that Alberta has been on over the last eight years, both within government mandates and across governments, past performance is only one indicator of future performance," he said in an email to The Epoch Times.
“It is hard to say which Rachel Notley or which Danielle Smith will be on display in different (future) contexts, given that both have engaged in a fair bit of shape shifting over time.”
NDP Government, 2015 to 2019
Economy
Brought in the $15-an-hour minimum wage for most employees by 2018, progressively increased from the minimum of $10.20 an hour in effect as of September 2014.Raised the tax on corporations by 2 percent, from 10 percent to 12 percent.
Then-Alberta Premier Rachel Notley speaks on May 8, 2018. The Canadian Press
Scrapped the province’s 10 percent flat tax and brought in targeted tax increases for high-income earners, with those making up to $125,000 remaining at a personal income tax rate of 10 percent while the highest-earning category, those making $300,000 and higher, paying at a rate of 15 percent.
Made Workers’ Compensation Board or private insurance coverage mandatory for farm and ranch operations based on specified criteria, and allowed farm workers to join unions and bargain for wages.
Finances
Ran repeated deficits, with heavy spending on infrastructure and public services at a time when oil prices were low. The situation led to warnings or credit rating downgrades by major rating agencies.Froze salaries for management and non-unionized employees at Alberta’s agencies, boards, and commissions. Negotiated wage freezes with public sector unions without labour strife.
Invested billions in public infrastructure projects.
Did not cut public service spending, and did not lay off public sector workers or roll back salaries.
Energy
Undertook a nine-month long review of royalty rates being paid by oil and gas companies to fulfill a campaign promise of ensuring Albertans get their fair share. At the end, kept the existing structure intact.Supported pipeline expansions like the Trans Mountain Pipeline, which was purchased by the federal government in 2018.
Introduced the Climate Leadership Plan, to reduce carbon emissions and encourage investment in renewable energy.
Announced that coal-fired power plants would be phased out.
Introduced a provincial carbon tax, starting at $20 per tonne of emissions and rising to $30 per tonne. The government expressed hoped that these measures would give Alberta “social licence” to build pipelines.
Health Care
Rolled back cuts to health care introduced by the previous Progressive Conservative (PC) government prior to the May 5, 2015, election.Approved new health infrastructure projects like a new cancer facility on the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary.
Increased funding for various human services initiatives to support children in care, indigenous children, and vulnerable families, including enhancing counselling and other community supports at women’s shelters.
Rejected a $3 billion project to expand private laboratory services in Edmonton.
Created supervised drug injection sites.
Education
Rolled back cuts to education introduced by the previous PC government, including freezing tuition for post-secondary education.Increased funding for schools. Reduced school fees, including eliminating specific instructional supplies and materials and transportation fees. Set up a school nutrition pilot to provide daily snacks, breakfast, or lunch to kids in 33 schools and later expanded the program to 200 schools.
Invested in a classroom improvement fund to create more jobs for teachers and support workers.
Introduced legislation to create gay-straight alliances in schools, including a measure to bar teachers from informing parents if their child joins one. Brought in guidelines to advise students to choose their own pronouns, eliminate requirement of separate sport activities based on gender, and to leave it to the discretion of the individual to use either male or female washrooms and change rooms.
Added dozens of new and modernized school projects.
UCP Government, 2019 to 2023
Economy
Introduced the Job Creation Tax Cut, which lowered general business tax from 12 percent to 8 percent.Under the Red Tape Reduction initiative, made changes to over 80 pieces of legislation, legislation items, or sets of legislation between 2019 and 2023 to reduce overlap and duplication.
Kept minimum wage at $15.00 per hour for most employees; the increase was brought in by the NDP.
The Farm Freedom and Safety Act rolled back some of the changes brought in by the previous NDP government. The UCP’s FFSA allowed farms more flexibility on rules like hours of work and holiday pay, and gave them a choice in insurance coverage, while exempting smaller farms from workplace insurance requirements.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Then-Alberta Premier Jason Kenney meet on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Dec. 10, 2019. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick
Held a provincial referendum in 2021 on removing equalization from Canada’s Constitution, under the argument that Alberta pays more than its share. Just under 62 percent of Albertans voted yes, but because changing the Constitution requires the consent of at least seven provinces and the federal government, nothing has changed.
Finances
Used a number of public-private partnerships (P3s) to build schools and some larger infrastructure projects.Ran deficits in 2019–2020 and 2020–2021, but this was attributed in part to the pandemic, which led global oil prices to plunge. Government has had budget surpluses and started paying down debt since 2021–2022—helped by rising oil prices.
Energy Sector
Repealed the provincial carbon tax on May 30, 2019. It had been set at $30 per tonne of CO2 emissions as of 2018.Challenged the federal carbon tax in court but lost at the Supreme Court in March 2021.
Challenged Bill C-69, the Impact Assessment Act, dubbed as the “no more pipelines” act, in court. The province was victorious at the Alberta Court of Appeal, and the case was argued in the Supreme Court in March of this year. Alberta was joined by most other provinces in arguing the bill exceeded federal jurisdiction. It’s not clear when the court will release its decision.
Created the Canadian Energy Centre, commonly called “the war room,” to counter myths about Alberta’s oil and gas sector and highlight the achievements of the industry.
Launched a public inquiry into anti-Alberta energy campaigns, headed by Calgary forensic accountant Steve Allan. The inquiry found that between 2003 and 2019, over $1.28 billion of foreign funding was sent to “Canadian-based” environmental initiatives, including anti-pipeline campaigns.
Health Care
Funded various initiatives to attract more doctors and nurses.Launched initiatives to cut down on surgical wait times.
Continued to expand options for the provincial opioid addiction strategy.
Increased the number of ICU beds.
Expanded the number of nurse practitioners.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith holds a press conference in Edmonton on Oct. 11, 2022. Jason Franson/The Canadian Press
Expanded drug treatment courts to provide treatment-based support for people dealing with addictions.
Education
In the process of bringing in new curriculum for K–6 education, which the government says will bring a renewed focus on literacy, numeracy, and practical skills.Rolled back an NDP rule that did not allow teachers to inform parents when their child joined a gay-straight alliance.
Affirmed that parents have primary responsibility for the education of their children.
