Reports from the Legislature
MARCH/2010
Speech making in the legislature tends to go in fits and starts. In recent weeks, I have been working on, and speaking to, several pieces of legislation.
Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette asked me to carry his ministry’s amendments to the dangerous goods transportation and handling act through the legislature. Bill 4 is a relatively straightforward bill which amends the existing Alberta legislation to harmonize it with federal legislation. The transportation of dangerous goods is an area of shared jurisdiction between Alberta and Ottawa. Last summer, the federal government changed its legislation. In order to maintain continuity for the industry, and preserve Alberta’s jurisdiction in terms of inspection, interpretation and enforcement of the rules, it was important to make some amendments. I hope that this legislation will pass in spring session.
I have also spoken to private member’s bill 201, the Workers’ Compensation (Firefighters’)Amendment Act 2010. Currently, Alberta legislation has mandated regulations which contain a list of cancers linked to firefighting. Over the years, a body of evidence has grown which shows a link between firefighting and certain cancers. One can imagine that the toxic smoke from a fire cannot be healthy to ingest. This bill seeks that primary site esophageal cancer and primary site testicular cancer be added to the list of qualifying cancers for which firefighters may claim workers’ compensation. Without such presumptions, firefighters would have to “prove” that their occupation caused the cancer. I was very happy to support this legislation.
Speaking of firefighters, I was also privileged to attend Alberta Fire Services Exemplary Service Awards at the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton recently. The Premier, as well as many of MLA’s ,were there to honor a number of long-serving firefighters, and their families. We should all be especially proud of 4 firefighters from the Wetaskiwin-Camrose constituency who were honored. They are Wayne Benson of the County of Wetaskiwin fire department, Karl E. Kilborn and Larry Tall from the Millet Fire Department and Randy Haugen from the Camrose Fire Department.
I had two wonderful opportunities, in the last week or two, to attend luncheons hosted by Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations, Iris Evans. The special guest at the first one was Mr. Matthias Brinkmann, the new Ambassador to Canada from the European Union. The guest at the second luncheon was the new Italian Ambassador to Canada, Mr. Andrea Meloni. Canada and the European Union are presently engaged in discussions about a comprehensive trade agreement. This is very important for Canada, and certainly Alberta, as greater market access is so crucial to us. We discussed everything from agriculture to environment, oil and gas, education and culture. It was interesting to hear how the 27 countries of the European Union, representing almost 500 million people, have taken down so many barriers between themselves. Both of these gentlemen have recently been posted to Canada so it was also very interesting to hear their impressions of our country. .
The work of the First Nations Metis Inuit Workforce Initiatives Committee, which I chair, is almost done. We are hard at work on our report, which is due to be submitted to the Ministers of Aboriginal Relations and Employment and Immigration by the end of March. I start work as Vice Chair of the Premier’s Advisory Council on the Status of Persons with Developmental Disabilities in the coming weeks. I am very much looking forward to learning more about PDD issues.
The spring session will probably not be as long this year as it was last year. Once it ends, I should be more accessible in the constituency for anyone who wishes to meet with me. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to call my office if we can be of assistance.