Alberta’s NDP leader is “absolutely convinced” there will be a provincial election this spring.
Rachel Notley said premier Jim Prentice would be breaking the spirit of the law by calling an election 14 months before legislation indicates he has to, but he will proceed anyway.
“The driving force behind his decision on timing is actually about what’s good for Jim Prentice and the PCs (Progressive Conservatives). It’s not about what’s good for Alberta,” she said at a budget consultation meeting in Lethbridge Jan. 29.
Prentice has been noncommittal on an election call, but numerous nomination meetings and recent announcements from several MLAs that they won’t run again have fueled rumours of an election call this spring rather than next spring, when an election would have to be called.
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A steep drop in oil prices and ensuing warnings from the premier about budget cuts also have political watchers suggesting the unelected premier will seek a mandate sooner rather than later.
Notley began a “pre-budget tour” in Medicine Hat Jan. 28 that was to include stops in six cities and conclude Feb. 20.
Agriculture wasn’t a primary topic at the first two meetings, but Notley said it has come up.
“We have generally heard from people who are worried in the whole about the issue of food security and the diversity of what we’re growing and whether there’s things that we can do to encourage more diversity and encourage the family farm more effectively,” she said in an interview.
Worker’s compensation and Occupational Health and Safety coverage has also been raised. In Alberta, farm workers are exempt from coverage.
“Our position is that the larger farms should be covered by worker’s compensation and OH & S, and their employees who are not relations should be covered by worker’s compensation and OH & S,” Notley said.
“We’re not looking at the traditional family farm any more. The vast majority of agricultural work that is excluded from coverage by worker’s compensation and OH & S is done by major corporations, which are basically getting a free ride on this issue.”
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