February already! The first month of the year is always a little different than the rest. For my colleagues and me, January was time to take a breath and think about the year ahead. Spring legislature session starts this month, and we want to strategize and be prepared. Reinvigorated after the holiday break, we’re ready for the next big push as we represent Albertans and their interests in Edmonton
As you may recall, the last week of legislature was very intense as I joined my colleagues in the Official Opposition to push the UCP to prioritize the needs of everyday citizens. Unfortunately, we saw the government insist on passing legislation that we nick-named the Gravy Train bills. These removed the spending limits on gifts MLAs can receive and axed salary caps for boards and commissions. It’s an unfortunate irony that this is what our government decided to do in their final hours before Christmas when they knew so many Albertans were struggling to put gifts under the tree.
A major focus for us this month has been housing, a crisis that is affecting renters, owners, and property owners alike. While the striking images we’ve seen of homeless encampments being cleared in the middle of a deep freeze are hard to get through, this is a problem that can truly hit any Albertan. My hardworking colleague, Janis Irwin, MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood, has put forward Bill 205, the Housing Security Act. The Bill proposes an immediate cap on rent increases of two per cent per year for two years.
While high rents are often associated with cities, I know that many in small towns and rural areas are struggling as well. On January 17, I joined Janis at an online consultation where we heard the concerns of Albertans of all backgrounds. We know that Bill 205 doesn’t address every aspect of the housing crisis, but it’s an important first step – first of many.
In the past few months, I’ve also learned a little more about how MLAs can work together across party lines to best serve the people of Alberta. We’re all there to serve our constituents and it’s been great to develop positive relationships with other MLAs whose constituents face similar issues to ours. Question Period is a bit of political theater, but there are opportunities to get work done more behind the scenes. My job is to represent the people of Banff-Kananaskis and I will work with anyone who will help me to do that!
This dry warm winter has already got all of us talking about summer. My colleagues and I have to already started with Ministers about wildfire preparedness and drought relief. With a Members Statement and a letter to the editor, I’m working to bring forward the needs of our communities and secure government support for firesmart programs and wildfire support. We know that we’re heading for another significant drought, which will intensify wildfire risk. What we need to do now is get prepared. I have been working on actionable strategies with Heather Sweet, Opposition Critic for Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development, and will continue to prioritize this throughout spring.
Every email that you send, phone call to my office, or conversation we have at an event helps me understand my constituents and their needs more. Especially during this time of planning and strategizing, I want to hear from you! What should I talk about? Which issues should I raise when I and our province’s eighty-six other MLAs gather in Edmonton this spring? Write me a letter or an email, or come by the Banff-Kananaskis Constituency Office. Encourage your friends and family to do the same, no matter what the issue is.
Though I’ll be up in Edmonton at the legislature Monday to Thursday when sitting resumes, I’ll also be resuming MLA on Tour this month and hope to see you soon!
Sarah Elmeligi
