It’s musical chairs under the dome amid realignment of parties, MLAs
The gaping chasm between government and opposition benches healed itself for a brief moment Monday during the first day of the fall session.
Just before 5:30 p.m., MLAs voted to kill a bill that would have scrapped daylight time in Alberta.
Only six MLAs wanted to keep the bill alive, against the 46 NDP and opposition members who stood united in support for its execution.
The free vote followed a particularly raucous question period that included countless pointed barbs directed at newly elected United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney, and both the NDP and UCP having their wrists slapped.
First off, questions from New Democrat backbenchers Graham Sucha and Brian Malkinson about Kenney’s planned funding cuts earned the attention of Speaker Robert Wanner, who warned the governing party to stick to questions about policy.
UCP MLAs Ric McIver and Prab Gill later faced Wanner’s ire for being too loud.
In the political equivalent of being sent to the principal’s office for disciplinary action, Wanner has requested a meeting with all house leaders over behaviour during Monday’s question period.
Earlier, the UCP front bench got an overhaul with Kenney announcing his leadership team Monday afternoon just before MLAs headed into the chamber.
Leela Aheer was appointed deputy leader, Jason Nixon house leader, Ric McIver whip, Angela Pitt deputy house leader and Prab Gill deputy whip.
All were vocal Kenney supporters in the leadership race except Aheer and Pitt, who publicly backed former Wildrose leader Brian Jean. They are also the only two women in the UCP caucus.
Jean wasn’t in the morning UCP caucus meeting, spending time with his family instead.
He spoke briefly with reporters on his way into the house, saying he has been in politics for the long haul already and will continue to “make decisions in Albertans’ best interests.”
Changes to the UCP are also being made behind the scenes.
Kenney confirmed more political staffers have been laid off to ensure the Opposition can operate inside its budget. Others will be replaced by people he said were “critical” members of his team over the last 16 months during the unity campaign.
“A large number of (staffers) with the legacy parties will continue, but obviously there will be some staffing changes,” he said.
Monday marked the first time the new UCP caucus sat together on the floor of the legislature.
Missing from their ranks were Calgary South-East MLA Rick Fraser, now an independent, and Vermilion-Lloydminster MLA Richard Starke, who remains under the Progressive Conservative banner.
Strathmore-Brooks MLA Derek Fildebrandt also sat in the independent corner Monday, after leaving the UCP following a series of questions over his expenses and a court case.
Wanner called the number of independents “unprecedented” in Alberta.
Fildebrandt said Monday he plans to work with the UCP caucus on legislation and raise issues important to his constituents. He said he will discuss returning to the UCP with Kenney once his court case is resolved.
Soon the UCP will also be missing Dave Rodney. He is quitting his Calgary-Lougheed seat to pave the way for a byelection so Kenney can pursue a seat in the legislature.
Members from all sides of the political divide Monday congratulated Rodney on his 13 years of service.
Also on Monday, Calgary-Mackay-Nose Hill MLA Karen McPherson officially joined the Alberta Party.
McPherson left the NDP early this month to sit as an independent. On Monday, she said she felt she could do better work for her constituents by being in opposition.
She took her time deciding where to go after shedding her New Democrat skin, talking long and hard with her constituents before deciding on the Alberta Party.
Her move doubles the number of that party, formerly a oneman show in the form of Leader Greg Clark, MLA for Calgary-Elbow.
He said he’s thrilled McPherson has joined his team, and hopes it leads to official party status.
When asked why she left the NDP, McPherson wasn’t interested in throwing insults at her former team. Instead, she put her departure down to a “different approach.”
Both she and Clark also said there is an increasing polarization in Alberta politics and they don’t want the province to devolve into an us-or-them choice.
A large number of (staffers) with the legacy parties will continue, but obviously there will be some staffing changes.