Two community organizations to be dissolved under Bill 22
Posted November 19, 2019 12:41 pm.
Last Updated November 20, 2019 4:05 pm.
EDMONTON (660 NEWS) – Along with seeking to scrap the election commissioner, a new bill proposed by the Alberta government will dissolve a couple of community organizations.
Bill 22 seeks to dissolve Alberta Sport Connection and disestablish the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation.
Alberta Sport Connection provides funding and support for more than 80 groups, including Special Olympics Alberta and the Alberta Schools’ Athletics Association (ASAA).
The organization also provides annual funding for several sport development centres in the province.
The Historical Resources Fund provides cash for museums in the province, including The Glenbow Museum.
Financial reports from this year show both the Alberta Sport Connection and the Historical Resources Fund were given a combined $30 million and both generated revenue for the province.
A government official said this is a move to reduce red tape, and the duties of the organizations will be handled under a different banner.
They also indicated it would save about $800,000 over the course of four years.
NDP leader Rachel Notley is firing back at the proposed bill calling it an “abuse of power and an assault on democracy,” specifically taking issue with abolishing the office of the Election Commissioner.
In Bill 22, Jason Kenney has proposed to fire the very person investigating his UCP leadership race for fraud.
This reeks of the corruption and entitlement of the old conservatives. In fact, it's far worse.
Read my full reaction below.#ableg
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) November 19, 2019
Notley is asking Lieutenant Governor Lois Mitchell to deny assent for the bill, and NDP Caucus House Leader Deron Bilous is calling for an emergency debate in the legislature.
“This attack on our democratic principles and the disregard for accountability certainly constitutes an emergency,” Bilous said in a release.
“This government’s introduction of the closure motion prior to the introduction of the bill represents a first in the history of the Alberta legislature and is an unprecedented and outrageous oppression of members’ legislative rights.”
WATCH: Government of Alberta removing elections commissioner
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