Democracy
As one of the six key values upon which it is committed to building a policy framework, the party states that it believes that:
– public business should be conducted in public
– government should ensure that the legislative process is open, fair, transparent, and inclusive of the people it governs
– our government should foster debate, actively engage citizens, and make itself accountable to the people it serves

Stewardship & Reform
As one of the six key values upon which it is committed to building a policy framework, the party states that it believes that:
– government must use public dollars as effectively and efficiently as possible
– the government should balance the books and set money aside for a rainy day
– this is best accomplished through long-term planning, common sense, and transparency

The party advocates:
– providing stable financial management through a review of government expenditures and the implementation of a balanced and sustainable taxation model to maintain a consistent and reliable revenue stream for the public services Albertans need
– legislation of a renewed savings framework which would commit a portion of resource revenue into funds for revenue stabilization and long-term savings
– making public information accessible to Albertans through an “open-data” framework
– ensuring that government departments are appropriately funded to support “open-data” processes
– implementing policy so that surveys, reports or research paid for by the Government of Alberta will be made public
– ensuring that records of meetings between Government and Lobbyists are public
– legislation to regulate the use of “robocalls” or high volume or other automated calling by political parties, or agents, surrogates or volunteers

Representation
The Party states that it requires its MLAs to:
– engage their constituents in person through community conversations or regular citizen engagement events, such as town halls, regularly throughout their term
– conduct themselves in a professional manner and with integrity, both within and outside the Legislature, and specifically in a manner that is respectful to other members of the legislature and the public
– use technology to engage their constituents, including use of a comprehensive website, which a) will be designed to facilitate communication among constituents and between constituents and the MLA; and b) include content which will make it easier for their constituents to obtain easy access to information about public policy issues; and
– engage their constituents on commonly used internet platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, where appropriate
– vote of their own free will after considering the views of their constituents, the Alberta Party Caucus, the Alberta Party Policies, the merits of the issue, and what is in the best interest of Albertans, with the exception of two scenarios: a) a vote to approve a proposed Money Bill, should the Alberta Party form Government; and b) a vote to support a pre-communicated policy platform issue, promised to Albertans during the preceding election campaign.

The party recommends that:
– MLAs should publish the rationale for the manner in which they cast their vote on major issues

Taxes
The party advocates:
– implementation of a progressive personal income tax in Alberta
– investigation of models for alternate sources for government revenue
– phasing out, over time, Alberta’s small business tax

Intergovernmental Relations
The party advocates:
– supporting regional collaboration between urban municipalities and rural areas
– consulting with municipalities to explore opportunities to improve the Municipal Government Act of Alberta and affiliated regulations to ensure future municipal and regional economic sustainability for all Albertans

Criminal Justice & Public Safety
To improve access to justice, the party advocates:
– providing Legal Aid Alberta with a stable and predictable base of funding, while maintaining its independence from government
– working with the Government of Canada to create and fill more judicial positions at the Court of Queen’s Bench
– assessing Alberta’s courtroom infrastructure and staffing levels to identify specific areas of need and take decisive action to remedy them

The party states that the six principles of the Global Green movement include commitments to:
– non-violence and cooperation between states, inside societies and between individuals
– participatory democracy.  In a healthy democracy all citizens have the right to express their views and are able to directly participate in the environmental, economic, social and political decisions which affect their lives

Stewardship
The party states that its principles of social justice and sustainability bear on public finance policy; and that therefor it advocates:
– avoiding incurring debt that would limit the ability of future generations of Albertans to meet their needs
– making personal income tax rates more progressive, including the following tax brackets and rates, which would be adjusted annually at the rate of Inflation, and to reflect increases or decreases in federal income tax rates:
> $0 to $20,000 0%
> $20,000 – $40,000 4%
> $40,000 to $80,000 7.5%
> $80 000 to $130,000 12%
> $130,000 to $190,000 17%
> $190,000 to $300,000 23%
> $300,000 to $1,000,000 30%
> Over $1,000,000 40%
– reinstatement of 2001 corporate tax rates, which are higher than current rates
– introduction of a sales tax for Alberta
– replacing fines of fixed dollar amounts with day fines that are proportional to the fined individual’s daily income, subject to a basic minimum fine
– imposition of Carbon Taxes on all hydrocarbons, at levels sufficient to discourage consumption of them, and implementation of equivalent taxation of other sources of greenhouse gas emissions insofar as evolving technology for monitoring makes it practically possible to do so
– such a Carbon Tax price level will Include a plan for defined annual escalations over five year horizons; be based on the intention that the pricing plans will be regularly reviewed to balance achieving required reductions in emissions with the intention of being consistent with the efforts of the developed world in general
. use of revenue from the Carbon Tax to offset the impact of the Carbon Tax on lower income individuals; fund research and development of sustainable technologies and governance; pay down debt or add to the Heritage Fund; and reduce taxation from other sources
– action to revise, improve, and reincorporate the Carbon Competitive Incentive Regulation (CCIR) legislation that creates industry standards, based on product and technology for allowable levels of GHG emissions, to create a common ‘best practice’ benchmark for industry participants upon which all GHG costs or credits available are calculated for their facility
– continual monitoring of the status of royalties payable to the provincial government, to optimize Albertans’ share of production
– ensure contribution of 35% of royalties to the Heritage Fund

Social Services
The party advocates:
– automatic annual increases to all financial social supports, indexed to changes in the provincial Low-Income Cut Off measure (LICO)

Democratic Reform
The party advocates:
– a healthy participatory democracy in which all citizens have the right to express their views and are able to directly participate in the environmental, economic, social and political decisions which affect their lives
– respect for all forms of diversity – for example, racial, linguistic, ethnic, sexual, religious and spiritual – within the context of individual responsibility toward all beings
– striking a Citizens’ Assembly to advise and consult on how all dimensions of provincial government operations can be made more genuinely participatory and transparent to Albertans
– making it easier for Albertans to vote by mail ballot, including establishment of a commission to determine how the opportunities for voting by mail can best be increased, and subsequent enactment of legislation to that end.

The party advocates:
– an annual payment of $2 to each registered party for each vote cast for that party in the most recent general election
– replacing the winner-take-all First Past the Post voting system with one that produces results significantly more proportional to the way Albertans cast their ballots
– striking a Task Force to study alternative proportional systems, consult with the public on those options and make recommendations to the Legislature
– ensuring use of any proportional system adopted by the Legislature for at least two general elections after which time a referendum would be held to determine if Albertans are satisfied with the change or want to go back to the old system
– lowering the voting age in provincial, municipal and school board elections to 16
– limiting individual political contributions to a maximum amount to be determined on the basis of further research, such amount being lower than $4000
– adoption of the federal government’s donation framework with a 75% credit available for donations up to and including $400, 50% for the next $350, and 33.3% for the following $525 to a total credit limit of $650 for donations up to and including $1275
– requiring that third- party spending regulations for provincial elections be applied to all municipal and school board elections and by-elections, in addition to any further constraints imposed by municipal election bodies
– making all charges, findings and penalties imposed under the Election Act, as well as any subsequent, related legal proceedings (for example, appeals) publicly available immediately on the web site of the Chief Electoral Officer

Transparency and Accountability
The party advocates:
– implementation of citizens’ initiative and recall legislation, similar to the Recall and Initiative Act put into effect by the Province of BC, thereby encouraging Albertans to have a stronger, healthier voice within our political system
– amending the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to maximize the availability of government-held information to Albertans and remove all unjustifiable exemptions
– amending the Conflicts of Interest Act so that responsibility for reporting meetings between government officials and others would fall on the shoulders of those government officials. (With this change made there would be no need for a Registrar of Lobbyists.) Government officials would be required to display all such meetings in their daily agendas which would be posted in real time on their web sites. Monthly summaries of these meetings with participants and topics discussed included would also be posted
– with the objective of enhancing the free flow of information to the public about what government is doing, establishing an independent, non-ad hoc process for setting MLA and Cabinet Ministers salaries, benefits, and compensable expenses, following a of review how these issues are handled by other Canadian jurisdictions, such as Manitoba, Ontario and PEI
– adopting the “open by default” approach in the gathering, compiling, and processing, of new data. This would require explicit action to be taken by government workers or officials to designate data to be withheld from public disclosure
– in the absence of such action, requiring that data systems and practices would automatically make the data available through “Open Data” processes in accordance with personal privacy legislation

Conflicts of interest
Since the position as currently defined has only to do with conflicts of interest, not ethics, the party advocates renaming the Ethics Commissioner the “Conflict of Interest Commissioner.”

School board elections
The party advocates:
– tightening of the campaign finance and expenditure rules which apply to school board elections
– as a first step, making school board elections subject to campaign expenditure rules that are at least as rigorous as those which apply to municipal council elections

Intergovernmental Relations

The party advocates:
– support for law and public finance reform that will better recognize the key role that city governments play in meeting the needs of Albertans
– amending the Municipal Government Act to give Alberta municipalities the power to require that developers make a certain percentage of their projects affordable housing, including research needed to establish the precise criteria for implementing inclusive zoning
– providing meaningful discussions with the municipalities to develop a definition of grey water leading to further discussions on the secondary use of grey water and storm water runoff
– whereas third-party spending in municipal elections is unregulated, and whereas this allows forfor semi-anonymous, including potentially non-local or foreign, funding to interfere in local democratic processes, legislation of third- party spending regulations for provincial elections to be applied to all municipal and school board elections and by-elections, in addition to any further constraints imposed by municipal election bodies

Sustainable municipalities
The party advocates:
– adoption of a framework which sets and supports sustainability targets for the province including our municipalities
– the framework would be enforced by provincial law, including by means of amendments, if necessary, to the Municipal Government Act

Public Safety:  Courts and Police
The party states that a well-functioning and fair legal system lies at the heart of Canadian democracy, including democracy in Alberta

The party advocates:
– keeping Alberta’s legal system strong where it is still in good shape and improving it where weaknesses are developing or are already evident
– provision of adequate funding for legal aid in Alberta
– banning use of non-disclosure agreements in any situation where victimization of persons or communities have been raised as a formal complaint against a corporation, government body or institution as a means of contributing to a broader culture of democratic transparency

Role & Purpose of Government

The party states that it believes in Five Principles of Governance:
i. Meritocracy – Government by those who have demonstrated their worthiness to use authority well, and who have earned the office that they are entrusted with
ii. Technocracy – Government by those who have great technical knowledge and experience in their area of authority
iii. Efficiency – Producing the most value for Albertans with as little waste as possible
iv. Social Strength – Facilitating the development of a strong, cohesive, undivided nation through a common vision and a shared sense of responsibility
v. Individual Strength – Ensuring members of society are as robust, personally responsible, and well-rounded to ensure that society is exponentially stronger

The party advocates:
– to ensure efficiency, create accountability and promote unity, embracing a unitary system of governance, where authority is delegated from a single government entity, the entity basing its policies and actions on the needs of all Albertans
– ensuring that all members of the Alberta government and public sector are subject to regularly scheduled performance reviews consisting of results-based objective metrics, regardless of position
– ensuring that public servants found to be consistently underperforming are automatically discharged from duty
– ensuring that elected officials found to be consistently underperforming will be sanctioned, up to and including removal from office

Structure of Government
The party advocates establishing three branches of government – Executive, Operational, and Participatory:

The Executive Branch comprised of:
1) The President, who shall serve as head of state and head of government, and who shall be the Chief Executive Officer of Alberta
2) The Director of Justice, who shall serve as the head of the Justice Department, and who shall oversee the administration of justice and legal affairs in Alberta
3) The Director of Finance, who shall be responsible for the Alberta Reserve Bank and mint and shall be the Chief Financial Officer of Alberta
4) The Director of Defense, who shall be responsible for Alberta’s external security, and shall preside over the Defense Department
5) The Director of Industry, who shall serve as the head of the Economics and Productivity Department, and who shall oversee the administration of industrial and corporate affairs in Alberta
6) The Director of Regional Governance, who shall serve as the head of the Regional Governance Department, and who shall oversee the governance of Alberta’s Administrative Regions
7) The Director of Public Services, who shall serve as the head of the Public Services Department and shall oversee the administration of all publicly funded services in Alberta

The Operational Branch comprised of the following departments:
1) The Justice Department, which shall include all police, judges, courts, and other infrastructure and personnel necessary to create order and uphold the rule of law and shall perform all activities necessary to ensure Alberta’s internal security and eliminate corruption
2) The Defense Department, which shall include Alberta’s armed services, shall assist other government departments, strengthen Alberta’s social cohesion through education, defend Alberta against external threats, and assist in providing public services efficiently
3) The Economics and Productivity Department shall be responsible for drafting common sense regulations for industry, creating budgets and economic strategies in conjunction with the Director of Finance, removing barriers to productivity, transportation, infrastructure development, increasing Alberta’s economic resilience, resolving labour issues, striving to ensure a free and orderly market for Albertan industries, and driving forward an Alberta First approach to economics
4) The Regional Governance Department will ensure services and governance are provided at a regional level with qualified experts responsible for ensuring the highest quality of life for all Albertans, while ensuring minimal administrative harassment and greatly reduced taxation levels:
– members of the Regional Governance Department responsible for the administration of each region shall be called the Regional President
– members of the public may submit questions for the government to their local administrative office
– local offices will direct the questions to the appropriate government office for response  The government will respond in writing to the question within two (2) months
– questions and answers will be kept on open file, accessible to the public, for one year
– personal information about the questioner, with the exception of their name, will be omitted
– questions that are identical in intent, even if worded differently, will receive the same response
– abusive questions will not be answered but will be kept on open file, accessible to the public, for one (1) year
4) The Public Services Department, which will oversee health care, mental wellness, education, registries and licensing, and all other public spending on social projects and services.

The Participatory Branch comprised of the following:
1) Regional Administrative Councils, which shall be organised under the Regional Governance Department. Each of Alberta’s Administrative Regions shall have a Regional Administrative Council.  Regional Administrative Councils shall be composed of all interested members of the public residing in a region and shall be chaired by a representative of the Director of Regional Governance.   The purpose of the Regional Administrative Councils shall be to obtain public feedback, provide information and reports to members of the public, use performance-based metrics to vet individuals for the Operational Branch, strengthen the local communities within the region, and undertake regional development and charity projects.
2) Regional Corporate Councils, which shall be organised under the Economics and Productivity Department. Each of Alberta’s Administrative Regions shall have a Regional Corporate Council. Regional Councils shall be composed of all interested members of the public residing in a region who are employed or self-employed and shall be chaired by a representative of the Director of Industry.  The purpose of the Regional Corporate Councils shall be to obtain market feedback, productivity feedback, and predict industry needs; to provide information and reports to members of industry; to facilitate corporate networking and improve management-employee relations; to handle labour disputes in an equitable setting; and to undertake regional economic development projects.

Council Elections
– elections for members of the Executive and Directors of Regional Councils will be held every five (5) years on a fixed date
– every Albertan citizen eighteen (18) years of age or older will be entitled to vote
– voting shall take place at physical polling locations within the province
– secure mobile polling locations with accommodations will be provided for disabled Albertans. iii. Electors will vote for the Executive nominees of their choice on the ballot
– each nominee for a director position must meet published training criteria that are specific to each portfolio, as set by the Policy Audit Office
– each candidate must publish a high-level program document, which must be used as a basis for their yearly program commitments, at least two months before the election
– electors who are a member of a party will put forward the program developed by their party that corresponds to the office they seek to hold
– each Regional President shall be elected from qualified nominees on the general election ballots provided in their specific local Administrative Region

Accountability Office
The party advocates establishment of Accountability Office (AO), to be staffed by politically independent professionals and support staff to provide the public with information relating to the performance of the Executive
– members of the Office will be randomly selected from a pool of qualified candidates within the Operational Branch and will serve for a three (3) year term. ii. The AO will publish a publicly available report on the formal actions taken by the Executive
– the report will provide a written explanation, provided by the Executive, detailing the reasoning for each departure from the yearly program
– the PAO will set an appropriate salary for members of the executive, which will vary depending on the ability of the Executive to meet their yearly program commitments
– the government will create a Chief Auditor’s Office, which will be staffed by politically independent professional and support staff
– the Chief Auditor’s Office will report annually to the people of Alberta on the government’s financial management
– the report shall include a commentary, written by the Executive, to explain points raised in the report.

Stewardship and Reform

Taxation
The party states that:
– taxes should not remain a barrier to innovation or the financial wellbeing of Albertans
– Alberta should maintain an attractive tax rate to re-energize our economy

The party advocates:
– a 25% flat individual income tax rate, with no tax being applied on the first $30,000 of personal income each year
– a standard corporate tax rate of 8% for fully Albertan-owned businesses
– efforts to combat tax evasion through jurisdictional accounting manoeuvres by international companies

Provincial debt
The party states that Albertans should have the opportunity to live and work in a nation that is debt free

The party advocates:
– until the debt burden of Alberta due to past federalist policies is repaid, application of a surtax

Tax reduction
The party advocates:
– eliminatation of the Fuel Tax
– elimination of the Education Property Tax
– once Alberta becomes a nation, abolishment of carbon taxation
– application of a Health Cost Recovery Tax to addictive recreational substances and paraphernalia to offset related health and social costs
– creation of a childcare tax deduction of $10,000 per year per child from birth to age 15
– increased disability tax deductions to help cover homecare costs and home modifications
– creation of a program to allow postsecondary students taking certain programs where a skill shortage exists to deduct the cost of their tuition from their taxes, including allowing students to transfer the remaining portion of their deduction to a parent or guardian after the deduction has been applied to their own taxes
– creation of a retirement savings plan that will function similarly to the current RRSP system
– reducing the number of available tax deductions and exemptions to simplify the tax code and will replace them with lower income and corporate tax rates
– maintenance of continuity and predictability in resource royalty rates

Tax collection
The party advocates:
– creation of a new government agency to collect Alberta’s taxes during the pre-independence phase
– creation of a new secure online option for completing tax forms, including tutorials and other educational materials on subjects such as tax law and the form system
– simplification of all tax forms

Social Services
The party states that:
– financial assistance and social programs should be primarily focused on strengthening the ability of Albertans to produce value and contribute to society
– financial assistance and social programs should compassionately mitigate the effects of extraordinary circumstances and provide beneficiaries with the education and experience needed to better care for themselves in the future
– the resources entrusted to authorities should not be squandered haphazardly and must be treated as funds held in trust for the people of Alberta

Intergovernmental Relations
The Party advocates:
– securing Albertan borders diligently and neither honoring nor respecting “sanctuary city” motions. Individuals complicit in cross border trafficking, trafficking labour, or running fraudulent immigration rackets will be prosecuted criminally
– tourists and visitors will not be eligible to hold work permits under normal circumstances
– performers, athletes, and others with similar event-based careers may be eligible to receive a temporary work permit after prepaying applicable taxes and meeting established criteria
– taking measures to prevent “birth tourism”

Independence from Canada
The party states that:
– Alberta is politically, socially, and economically incompatible with Canadian systems and power structures
– history has definitively proven that any sort of union with Canada, even if constitutional changes take place, will result in the continued political, social, and economic exploitation and continued colonization of Albertans
– the existing system of government in Canada and many other democracies is not working and fundamental change will be necessary to produce a government that can successfully implement independence and effectively manage an independent Alberta
– independence holds many great opportunities for Alberta, and thus it views independence as a “coming-of-age” rather than as a political divorce
– throughout Alberta’s history, Alberta has repeatedly rejected political orthodoxy and created its own unique systems
– therefore, the political, social, and economic processes should be perfected and reimagined in a way that is uniquely Albertan

The party advocates, upon the election of a majority government led by the Party and as first act of government, passing an Alberta Independence Act, which will lay out the framework for a referendum on independence and which:
– includes measures to prevent federal and foreign funding of referendum advertisers and groups, federal and foreign campaigning, and other forms of federal and foreign electoral interference from taking place, ensuring the decision on independence is made by Albertans alone
– protection of the self-determination of Albertans
– a clear question solely related to Alberta’s independence from Canada, which will be sent to the Canadian House of Commons for approval. 1. If the federal government does not approve a question within three (3) months, the referendum will proceed regardless of approval
– the threshold for a successful referendum will be a simple majority of participants (50%+1). A. The requirement under the Clarity Act that the House of Commons determine whether a clear majority has expressed itself after the referendum results are made public can most certainly be abused. The wishes of the people of Alberta shall be respected, notwithstanding the opinion of the federal government or federal courts
– allowing the Federal Government to post scrutineers at each polling station and the main count
– protecting Scrutineers shall be protected from coercion, intimidation, and other attempts to contravene the democratic nature of the referendum. No other federal staff or interference will be tolerated
– inviting a non-partisan foreign nation, such as Switzerland, to post scrutineers at each polling station and at the main count
– permitting only permit in-person voting locations, including secure, mobile polling facilities for people with disabilities, that will follow pre-approved routes
– requiring that the citizenship and residency of each participating Albertan be verified at the polls
– striving to pursue the legal separation process as outlined in the Clarity Act. 1
– during the transition period, all persons participating in negotiations between Alberta and the Federal Government shall conduct themselves professionally and in good faith. If it becomes clear that the federal government is acting in bad faith, royal assent is denied to the Alberta Independence Act, or military or police action is taken against the legislature, de facto unilateral secession will be achieved through a declaration of independence signed by the Premier
– negotiating with the federal government for no longer than one (1) year to develop an agreement in principle
– beginning the transition period will begin upon the receipt of a successful referendum result, and concluding it six (6) years after that date
– pausing provincial elections during the transition period, in order to ensure that a stable separation occurs
– beginning the transition to the new form of government, as set out above, during the transition period

Trade Agreements
The party states that:
– Alberta should seek to become as self-reliant as possible, while participating in international trade insofar as such trade can improve the economic and social prospects of Alberta
– the needs of Albertans should be considered paramount. As such, we will not honor or enter into trade agreements that have the potential to harm the wellbeing of Albertans

The party advocates:
– developing free trade agreements with countries where it is in the national interest to do so, while striving to ensure that such agreements do not negatively impact the earnings of Albertans or their businesses
– considering nations outside Alberta’s normal sphere of influence as potential trading partners, helping Albertan businesses gain access to the raw resources they need at the lowest prices while increasing their customer base
– increasing the amount of Alberta First trade occurring with our neighbours
– avoidance of being bound by existing Canadian trade agreements

Foreign Relations
The party states that:
– Alberta should seek to become as self-reliant as possible, while becoming the best possible ally to nations that respect our interests
– Alberta should take a noninterventionist policy internationally, out of respect for other nations and the belief that Alberta should achieve greatness through its own volition
– direct intervention in the affairs of other nations is unethical

The party advocates:
– reducing or eliminating foreign intervention in Alberta’s affairs
– preventing diplomatic discussions or international organisations from encroaching on Alberta’s sovereignty
– not requesting membership in the United Nations, and participating only as an observer
– preventing the intrusion of international organisations into the lives of Albertans
– prohibiting Albertan charities, non-profit organizations, and corporations from directly or indirectly subsidizing any nation or group which is actively engaged in or supporting an armed conflict or terrorism
– participattion in and initiating international research projects, non-financial international organisations and other transnational cooperation groups that align with Albertan interests and do not require members to surrender any portion of their national sovereignty
– establishing embassies as Alberta sees fit, irrespective of diplomatic norms, including making Albertan ambassadors responsible for large geographic regions, rather than individual countries, and directing national diplomatic missions from Alberta
– establishment of eight (8) ambassador positions
– expecting Albertan diplomatic staff residing in a foreign nation to obey the law of the land, respecting the sovereignty of the receiving nation
– establishing no diplomatic missions in nations where laws may require diplomatic staff to commit espionage, treason, or act against the interests of Alberta
– permitting no Albertan diplomatic staff members to engage in treasonous acts or espionage activities directed towards the receiving nation
– granting immunity to recognized diplomats residing in Alberta, while holding their countries of origin accountable for their actions and for compensation for illegal activities or breaches in protocol
– depriving diplomats found guilty of espionage of their immunity
– allowing Alberta to join alliances (in the absence of an ongoing military conflict in which Alberta is a participant) only with nations considered trustworthy, which have consistently shown respect for Alberta’s national sovereignty and customs for a suitable period

Pre-Separation Municipal Accountability
The party advocates:
– freezing municipal tax increases until the separation process is complete
– auditing municipal governments to strive to ensure efficient operation, accountability to the taxpayer and transparency

Currency
The party advocates:
– creation of a national mint under the jurisdiction of the treasury
– creation of an Alberta Reserve Bank, which will be incorporated under the Treasury Department
– creation of a new currency, the Alberta Prosperity Certificate, with the following dollar currency denominations available: i. $10, $25, $50, and $100 notes, ii .$0.10, $0.25, $1, $5, and commemorative coinage
– the Alberta Reserve Bank will not routinely engage in currency value manipulation and may not use said practices to influence the spending or saving habits of Albertans

Criminal Justice & Public Safety

Courts and Legal System
The party states that:
– justice should be consistently applied without exception, free from the biases and experiences of its arbiters
– justice should be dispensed quickly and efficiently.
– justice should be a dispassionate and objective weighing of evidence

The party advocates:
– transitioning the legal system from a Common Law system to a Civil Law system, since (a) all Albertans should have the right to know the standard by which they will be judged, which is possible in a Civil Law system, not in a Common Law system; that judges and justices are beholden to the people of Alberta to enforce the rule of law as it is written; and Judges and Justices would make judgements based on a literal reading of the civil code. If the civil code is insufficient to cover the circumstances of a case, the Director of Justice would provide direction and provisions for a ruling. If the Director of Justice provides such direction, an automatic review of pertinent legislation would initiated by the Department of Justice
– enabling the Department of Justice to: amend or create pertinent legislation to address shortcomings; and/or overturn the ruling of the court and request a retrial
– prohibiting justices and judges from being members of political parties or organisations, barring them from speaking publicly on matters of personal opinion, and binding them to the principles of duty and professionalism while in office
– subjecting all courts to revue by the Department of Justice
– using automated systems, where applicable, to increase the efficiency of our justice system by increasing its speed and lowering its associated costs
– reorganizing the current court system into three courts: the Lower Court, the Upper Court, and the Supreme Court:

The Lower Court shall preside over civil litigation, minor criminal cases, and other routine cases which only affect the citizens and operations of its local Administrative Region.
1) The Lower Court shall use electronic communication where applicable to reduce wait and travel times for straightforward cases
2) A single judge shall preside over all Lower Court cases
3) Appeals shall be elevated to the Upper Court
4) Cases which are deemed by the court to have potential implications on multiple Administrative Regions shall be elevated to the Upper Court

The Upper Court shall have two locations: Edmonton and Calgary
1) The Upper Court shall preside over major criminal cases and cases with the potential to impact the citizens or operations of multiple Administrative Regions
2) A panel of three experienced and distinguished judges shall preside over all Upper Court cases
3) If the Upper Court finds the accused guilty of a crime as described in Section 2.3.j.iii, the case shall be heard by the Supreme Court
4) All appeals shall be final and shall be heard in the Upper Court location where the original trial did not take place

The Supreme Court shall be located in Edmonton
1) The Supreme Court shall only preside over the cases described in Section 2.3.j.iii and cases referred to it by the Director of Justice and shall advise the Executive on legal matters
2) The Supreme Court shall consist of five justices, who shall serve on the court for a period of ten years
3) Justices will be appointed by a majority vote of the Executive

– Justices found to be acting unprofessionally, engaging in political campaigning, donating to political parties, participating in judicial activism, or committing miscarriages of justice may be suspended from office by the Executive.  Judicial appointments may not be financially motivated
– Public servants found guilty of cronyism or patronage appointments shall be discharged of their duties and prosecuted. A trial for the suspended justice shall be presided over by the President.   A minimum of five legal experts shall provide their professional opinions at the trial.  A jury consisting of three Upper Court judges, three Supreme Court judges, and the Director of Justice shall, by a majority vote, convict or acquit the justice.  The results of the trial shall not be subject to appeal. If convicted, the justice shall be removed from their position
– reform of criminal law, creating systems intended to eliminate the root causes of criminal behavior while ensuring offenders fairly compensate those they harm
– rebuilding the criminal justice system around three main principles: 1) Rehabilitation and Education; 2) Repayment of Social and Material Damage; and 3) Prevention of Future Harm to Society
– to address cruelty and counterproductivity due to inactive prison sentences, requiring every offender, where feasible, to pay back the social cost of their crimes through labour
– replacement of the current prison system with secure Justice and Employment facilities for offenders who have the potential to be rehabilitated
– estimating the monetary value of each crime will be estimated as a monetary value, and ensuring that the primary responsibility of the offender is to pay back the cost to their victims or the families of the victim
– victims should be compensated before society as a whole; the secondary responsibility of the offender is to pay back society
– using funds due to society only for the purpose of rehabilitative social programs
– ending the labour sentence when the monetary cost of the crime has been repaid
– refusing payment of money lieu of labour for those convicted of crimes
– access to training for offenders serving sentences, to help them reintegrate socially at the end of their sentences where appropriate
– prioritizing development of value-added skills for instructors and staff where appropriate
– increasing mental health care and treatments to increase the success of reintegratio
– no tolerance for the formation of “prison gangs” and other activities that compromise the rehabilitative atmosphere of Justice and Employability facilities or denigrate industry affiliates
– more severe sentences where it is certified beyond a reasonable doubt that rehabilitation efforts and contrition will not adequately protect society from the social consequences of an individual, such as inmates who have proven to be a danger to other inmates and justice system employees, reoffending sexual predators, reoffending criminals where psychological treatment is found to be unfeasible, and terrorists
– in such cases, requiring a majority verdict by the Alberta Supreme Court and the approval of the Director of Justice
– encouring the development, where applicable, of local programs to prevent youth involvement in gangs and to prevent sexual exploitation
– formation of community crime monitoring and prevention programs
– assuring victims of crimes privacy from media inquiry, personal safety, restitution from perpetrators, updated information concerning the status of all related legal proceedings and shall be informed of available support services
– assuring Albertans of the ability to use their own means to protect themselves and others from bodily harm without exception

Civil cases
The party advocates:
– a mediation-focused approach to civil and commercial law, including mandatory mediation processes prior to entry into the civil and commercial dispute system
– allowing the Upper and Lower courts overseeing civil and commercial cases to award damages

Youth and Family Law
The party advocates:
– creation of a separate Youth and Family court system with separate justices and staff, operating in select Lower Court facilities, to handle cases involving marriage, divorce, separation, emergency protection, child delinquency, child welfare, adoption, foster care, child and spousal support, property division, youth rehabilitation, and other similar areas
– reviewing and, where necessary, revising the practice of Family Law in the Youth and Family court system to support and enhance the wellbeing of all family members
– requiring Young offenders to serve work terms in different Justice and Employment facilities than adults, such facilities being located in rural environments to ensure the best possible rehabilitation setting
– as research has indicated that youth participating in socially destructive behaviors are more likely to become young offenders, unwavering support children in early grades and troubled families and shall provide alternative education for troubled youth
– creation of robust child protection legislation, and doing everything possible to eliminate the sexual exploitation of children through the creation of programs, the commissioning of a specialised police taskforce, and increased cyber-security operations

Administrative and Tax Law
The party advocates:
– creation of more efficient administrative and tax law systems, to ensure conflicts regarding taxation, collection, regulation, committees, registrars, panels, and other bodies associated with the Operational Branch are held accountable while disputes are mediated quickly
– ensuring that the public and the government are represented on an equal footing in administrative hearings

Policing
The party advocates:
– as a temporary measure prior to separation, using existing provincial legislation to give the Alberta Sheriffs Branch (ASB) policing authority within the province
– providing additional training for ASB personnel, which will be staggered over a two-year period
– creation of a militarised division of the Alberta Sheriffs Branch to defend Alberta against external threats during the transition period
– after separation, establishment of an Alberta Policing and Security Agency, which shall serve as the sole police force and internal security agency for Alberta
– each Administrative Region will be assigned its own Sheriff and officers for routine law enforcement activities
– requiring that all assigned officers and the Sheriff reside in their assigned community, and would not normally be transferred to a different community by APSA, and would be required to perform a certain number of hours of community service in their Region each year
– ensuring that all intelligence, cybersecurity, policing, and investigations within the province are carried out by APSA

Border Enforcement
The party advocates:
– formation of an Alberta Border and Immigration Management, under the Alberta Policing and Security Agency, to handle immigration, border incursions, customs processing, excise fees and border security
– enforcing borders between Alberta and the rest of Canada in the same way as the international border with the United States
– providing traffic between Canada and Alberta with access to a “fast pass” program upon meeting eligibility criteria, which will be enhanced by sensing and camera technology

Military
The party states that:
– Alberta should not intervene in international military conflicts except when an ally or Alberta’s safety is threatened
– the Alberta military should serve as a strong deterrent to prevent foreign invasions, and that said military should use all non-nuclear means to combat territorial incursions
– nuclear weapons, if obtained, should only be used as retaliation for an attempted nuclear strike on Alberta, and will thus uphold a strict “no first use” policy
– it is the duty of all Albertans, especially their leaders, to guarantee the safety of their nation, and to valiantly defend it
– it is acceptable to use Alberta’s military to protect Albertans abroad, such as in the case of hostage situations or piracy

The party advocates:
– upon separation, creation of an Alberta National Defense Service (ANDS), which shall serve as our military
– a military cmprising four administrative units: the Air Force, the Army, the Space Force, and the Cyber Force

The party states that among its core values are commitments to:
– create an investment-friendly province to bring capital and companies to Alberta
– improve public services, including hiring 2000 new teachers and investing in inclusive education
– protect human rights at all costs
– boost equality of opportunity for all Albertans

 Stewardship & Reform

 Democratic Reform
The party states that:
– big money is circumventing the province’s election finance rules, and marginalized groups are underrepresented
– accessing Government information has never been more difficult
– it is 100% committed to implementing a Proportional Representation (“PR”) voting system.  Our winner-take-all electoral system isn’t fair. It leaves over half the votes cast uncounted, reduces the representation of marginalized groups, and disenfranchises voters
– advantages of PR include:
+ broadening the choices available to Albertans
+ increasing voter turnout
+ electing more women, LGBTQ2S+, and visible minorities, so that our Legislature reflects the diversity of our province
+ ensures that no party gets 100% of the power with 40% of the votes
+ forces parties with differing views to work together in the Legislature

The party advocates:
– implementing a Mixed Member Proportional (“MMPR”) form of proportional representation
– MMPR, which is working successfully in advanced democracies such as Germany and New Zealand, has voters cast two votes on their ballot. They vote once for a local constituency candidate, and again on the same ballot directly for a political party. Votes for constituency candidates work similarly to our current system. The vote for political parties will elect representatives from a published list of party candidates.   Seat counts will more accurately reflect the percentage of political parties’ popular vote under MMPR
– running the next two Alberta elections pursuant to the MMPR system, and before the third election, holding a referendum so Albertans can choose between MMPR and the original first-past-the-post (“FPTP”) system

PAC Legislation
The party advocates regulation of Political Action Committees (“PACs”). PACs are a growing problem, in that political groups are able to solicit unlimited union, corporate, out-of-province donations, with little or no transparency.  Its plan for PACs includes:
– banning corporate, union, out-of-province and foreign donations
– limiting PAC donations to $4,000 per year for individuals
– creating a legal definition for PACs
– increasing PAC donation and expenditure transparency

Freedom of Information
The party states that:
– access to information is crucial to holding Governments accountable
– a recent government has received a ‘D’ grade on access to information from News Media Canada

The party advocates flat-fee FOIP requests, more resources for FOIP offices and creating transparency legislation for all private-public partnerships (“P3s”)

Representation of Indigenous Peoples
The party advocates adding six new seats to the Alberta Legislature for Indigenous Peoples representation: four for First Nations, on a regional basis; and two for Métis Councils

Fixed Election Dates
The party advocates:
– rather than Alberta’s current fixed election period, legislating a fixed election date so Albertans always know exactly when the next election will be held and Governments can’t choose a date to their political advantage

Independent Advocates
The party advocates:
– boosted funding funding for the offices of the Health Advocate, the Mental Health Patient Advocate, the Disabilities Advocate, and the Seniors Advocate
– establishing a Legislature Budget Officer, modeled on the federal Parliamentary Budget Officer, to cut through the political spin and provide Albertans with unbiased, fact-based fiscal and budgetary analysis

Government Advertising and Spending During Elections
The party advocates strict regulation of government spending announcements and advertising in the months leading up to the election (the “election period”) and during the election (the “writ period”), in order to stop government from abusing their power and public money

Taxes & Fiscal Responsibility
The party states that:
– the province’s fiscal situation is unsustainable, that reliance on volatile resource revenue has left Alberta in a crunch after the oil crash
– the province is on track for over $100 billion in debt within four years

The party advocates:
– eliminating most Albertans’ income tax while continuing to support public services with a sustainable, pro-growth 8% HST to provide stable funding for Health and Education
– because Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is better for job creation, investment and wage growth than income taxes, taxing consumption rather than productivity
– a revenue-neutral shift to an HST, so as to eliminate income tax for two-thirds of Albertans and lower income tax for all Albertans and providing rebates for low-income Albertans.  This includes:  $57,250 per person in Tax Exempt Income for every Albertan ($114,500 for couples)
– through HST, collecting up to $1 billion in new revenue from out-of-province visitors and tourists
– a 2% corporate tax cut to create jobs
– a new Hospital and Schools Tax (HST) to protect public services
– greater tax stability to get off the resource revenue roller-coaster

Efficient tax collection
The party advocates:
– entering into a corporate tax collection agreement with the Canada Revenue Agency to improve tax collection rates and reduce unnecessary duplication while cutting down on bureaucracy and saving money

Heritage fund
The party states that:
– the Heritage Fund is a provincial legacy for future Albertans, but has been treated like a slush fund for politicians
– it supports changing the rules so that the Heritage Fund’ investment income is retained in the fund and not simply diverted to general revenues

Corporate taxes
The party states that despite its reputation of being a free enterprise, open market jurisdiction, Alberta spends the most of all Canadian provinces on business subsidies

The party advocates:
– establishing an experienced, independent panel to assess the value of all existing business subsidy programs and make recommendations on how to reform our system
– diverting $500 million in corporate subsidies to reinvestment in public services
– creation of a public database of all tax expenditures and corporate subsidies in Alberta, so that Albertans know the full cost of all government subsidies

Provincial audits
The party advocates:
– conducting extensive value-for-money audits of Government spending, seeking efficiencies and redundancies in Government and restructuring spending to make sure Albertans are getting full value for their tax dollars

Balanced budgets
The party states that:
– its plan will result in $1.87 billion in new annual spending in Alberta, in addition to $1.4 billion in additional tax cuts and low-income rebates from our promise to make the carbon tax revenue-neutral. This totals to a net $3.27 billion increase the deficit
– over time, its plan will reduce long-term costs for public services and grow Alberta’s economy further reducing the deficit while improving services, not slashing them
– its budget is rooted in sustainability

To offset this deficit, the party advocates:
– $1.6 billion in natural revenue increases projected for the next fiscal year
– $500 million reduction in corporate subsidies
– $400 million in savings from our Value for Money Audits
– $1 billion in new sales tax revenue from out-of-province visitors
– these four factors will total $3.5 billion, resulting in a net decrease of the deficit of $230 million in the first year

Accountability
The party states that a “strategic lawsuit against public participation” (SLAPP) is a lawsuit that is intended to intimidate and put financial pressure on critics until they abandon their criticism or opposition, and that such lawsuits have been made illegal in many jurisdictions on the grounds that they impede freedom of speech

The party advocates passage of Anti-SLAPP Legislation in Alberta to put an end to this unethical practice

Intergovernmental Relations
The party advocates:
– a renewed emphasis on interprovincial trade, as is currently easier to trade with many countries than it is to trade within Canada
– breaking down interprovincial trade barriers to grow the economy and reducing prices for consumers
– reparing damaged relationships with other provinces and building consensus around national infrastructure projects like pipelines

Federal Government
The party states that:
– Canada’s equalization formula is unfair to energy-producing provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan
– however, a “referendum” based on threatening separation will not give Alberta the power to demand changes or amend Canada’s Constitution

The party advocates:
– demanding that the current formula be amended to treat provinces’ hydro revenue the same way Alberta’s oil and gas royalties are treated
– if this demand is not met, establishing an Alberta Crown corporation to collect energy royalties and remove them from the current equalization formula calculations
– demanding an improvement to the mechanism that provides financial help to provinces in time of economic need, whether they are usually “have” or “have not” provinces

Municipalities
To give local municipalities more autonomy and power, the party advocates:
– amending the Municipal Government Act to formally recognize municipalities and their councils as an order of government within their jurisdiction, and include new sections that spell out principles of municipal governance and municipal-provincial relations
– pressing for the formal recognition of municipalities and their councils as an order of government in Canada’s Constitution Act, 1982, beyond them merely being the responsibility of the provinces
– granting Calgary and Edmonton new revenue generating powers, subject to limitations
– granting Alberta cities control over oil and gas drilling within their own municipal boundaries by allowing them to veto, approve or approve with conditions any drilling authorized by the Alberta Energy Regulator. This will give cities a greater ability to plan for growth and development
– introducing a dedicated crisis response line and expanded mental health resources to specifically address the unique challenges of farm and rural life. Mental health is underfunded across the province, but this is particularly true for rural municipalities
– working with the federal government to provide rural data utility internet services directly to rural homes and businesses using the electric grid. This will allow rural communities to participate in the booming information economy and diversify their workforce

Public Safety & Justice
The party states that
– Alberta’s justice system is overburdened and failing to deal with the root causes of crime
– criminals are being released without being convicted because mandatory timelines for trials cannot be met

Crime Reduction
The party states that:
– the province’s economic hardships have come with a rise in crime rates
– it wants to tackle crime in a way that puts results first, including addressing root causes and investing in crime prevention

The party advocates:
– hiring more police officers devoted to establishing a visible presence in the community
– increased support for community watch groups
– creation of a $100 refundable tax credit for home security systems
– investing another $5 million into the regional victims of crime fund
– establishing a task force to consider strategies for reducing court wait times, including:
+ standardizing case management procedures
+ ending the practice of “file ownership” which impedes the efficient functioning of court administration
+ encouraging alternative dispute resolution
+ hiring more clerks, Masters and Provincial Court Judges
+ pressuring the Federal Government to appoint more Queen’s Bench and Appellate Justices by creating and funding more judicial positions
– increased funding for court interpreters to reduce the number of trials delayed by language barriers
– expanding Mental Health and Drug Courts; by addressing the mental health and addictions issues underlying crimes, we can greatly reduce the rate of reoffense in Alberta and keep citizens safe
– in order to fight systemic racism, ending the practice of police
– in order to enable the attorney general to ensure that the rule of law is implemented fairly, without fear or favour, and without political interference, separating the offices of the Attorney General and the Justice Minister
– establishing an Access Program Coordinator position within the Justice and Solicitor General ministry to enforce child custody and access orders without the time and expense of having to apply to the Court for relief whenever one parent violates or ignores the terms of a court order
– repeal of section 74 of the Land Titles Act, which is an antiquated concept that continues to allow individuals to obtain title to and ownership of land through adverse possession (“squatting”)
– fixing the provincial Medical Examiner’s office, which has faced multiple multi-million dollar lawsuits, high staff turnover, and reports of up to 11 month waits for autopsies which have affected our ability to address homicides and the opioid crisis, including reduction of autopsy wait times and expanded access to Medical Examiner’s services, and hiring a new medical examiner for Northern Alberta
– because minor drug possession charges weigh both society and individuals down, especially now that we’ve legalized cannabis. Pressuring the federal government to pursue immediate and automatic expungement of convictions for the possession of small amounts of cannabis

Family Law
The party states that dealing with Family Law can be an emotionally trying experience, and that family law is done wrong, the repercussions can reverberate through lives for years to come

The party advocates:
– ensuring not only just outcomes but mitigating any negativity of experience with the family law system, including:
– setting date of separation for date of division of property or considering a hybrid date model
– creating an informal family case management system to reduce the need for costly and emotionally-draining trials

Police & Courts
The party advocates ending the practice of “carding”—police randomly stopping Indigenous people and people of colour and demanding their I.D., without lawful probable grounds to do so.

Consumer Protection
The party states that while most businesses act in good faith, looking to foster mutually-beneficial relationships with consumers, some businesses are predatory and attempt to take advantage of consumers

In order to stop such businesses from taking advantage of Albertans without putting undue burden on the vast majority of good-faith businesses, the party advocates:
– prohibiting provincially-regulated businesses from charging monthly fees for paper bills and statements, and lobbying Ottawa to follow through on a previous commitment to do the same for federally-regulated businesses
– to resolve condo disputes and small claims matters without sending them to the courts, fast tracking the creation of an online tribunal modeled on British Columbia’s Civil Resolution Tribunal
– protecting renters by amending the Residential Tenancies Act to require landlords to provide $750 in relocation benefits to tenants displaced by a building disaster or structural failure
– enacting strong legislation to protect children with high standards that will require criminal background checks, training, and mandatory inspections for day homes
– to ensure mobile home owners the same rights enjoyed by others, legislating the creation of a dispute resolutions board, and creating defined ministerial responsibility for this portofolio, while working with municipalities to create clarity around mobile home legislation

Alcohol, Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis
The party states that:
– the current Alberta Liquor Gaming and Cannabis (“AGLC”) monopoly over the distribution of cannabis has exacerbated a supply shortage that could cost Alberta 1,800 jobs and cost retail applicants $13 million
– most Albertans drink responsibly but there are overly restrictive regulations that treat Albertans like children, not adults

The party advocates:
– ending AGLC the distribution monopoly and renew the issuing of Cannabis Licenses
– ending the AGLC liquor distribution monopoly, which is rooted in Prohibition from a hundred years ago
– allowing for liquor at festivals
– making it easier to acquire a liquor license for special events
– allowing liquor to be enjoyed in moderation at picnics in public parks
– reducing restrictions on activities at events where liquor is served
– lifting restrictions on breweries to make them more competitive, including allowing them to sell their products directly to restaurants, bars and consumersfs

Role and Purpose of Government
The party states that:
– its purpose is to promote the principles of democratic socialism in Alberta and to establish and maintain a democratic socialist government in Alberta through the electoral process
– it offers an alternative vision of the future based on the following three principles:
1) democracy is one of the most valuable parts of our heritage and recognizes that all citizens, including minorities, must receive equal civil rights with representatives elected by way of proportional representation. Our country will only be a genuinely democratic one when all people participate fully in determining the policies of the institutions which directly affect their lives. The necessary role of governments must be recognized in order to build an equitable and socially just society.
2) socialism is essentially the application of democracy to the economy. Economic democracy, i.e. democratic socialism, assures production to supply the needs of all people. Economic democracy demands a co-operative rather than a competitive system.
3) ecological sustainability must permeate all economic and social policy. Meeting human material needs must not use more of Earth’s resources than can be renewed within each generation.

Stewardship & Reform
The party states that during its time in office:
– it laid out a responsible plan to balance the budget by 2023-24
– rather than making cuts that would have hurt Alberta families and made the downturn worse, it invested in the province’s future, and that the investments are working, and the province is exceeding fiscal targets and bringing down the deficit faster than expected
– it increased efficiency by reducing waste and controlling costs, making sure new investments in schools and hospitals benefited students and patients, eliminating dozens of redundant agencies and boards, controlling executive pay and scrapping excessive perks
– it cracked down on dark money from special interests, increasing disclosure and accountability from third parties and political action committees
– it strengthened the Lobbyist Act, shedding new light on who is lobbying government and how, and stopped lobbyists from buying gifts for politicians
– it enacted some of the strongest whistleblower protections in Canada to protect public workers who report serious wrongdoings from reprisals
– it cracked down on lavish executive salaries and perks, introducing strict controls to bring executive compensation in line with national standards
– it curbed the Cabinet’s own spending, reducing travel expenses by 70% over the previous Conservative government

The party advocates:
– balancing the budget by 2023-24 while making life more affordable, investing in schools and hospitals, and strengthening and diversifying our economy
– strengthening the Conflict of Interest Act to guard against former officials using their position to gain undue influence and benefit, including extending cabinet ministers’ cooling off period to two years
– reviewing and modernizing the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which has not been substantially amended since 2006
– stronger measures to take “dark money” out of campaigns to stop special interests from secretly attempting to influence Alberta’s elections with enhanced enforcement and stronger rules for Political Action Committee disclosures
– closing the loophole of party leadership races not having spending limits, to stop special interests from taking over political parties
– giving the Elections Commissioner greater latitude to report on the status and results of an investigation into contraventions of the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act
– reviewing the Elections Act to find ways to make voting easier, to combat low voter turnout, and to evaluate modern voting methods such as electronic voting

Criminal Justice & Public Safety
The party states that protecting the safety of citzens and providing a fair and effective justice system – one that puts the concerns of victims front-and-centre – is one of the most important duties of any government, and that during its term in office it:
– created 35 new Crown prosecutor positions and 30 new court clerk positions to address court backlogs
– invested $10 million in additional funding to combat rural crime by hiring 39 more police officers, 40 more civilian staff, and 10 additional Crown prosecutors, leading to an 11 per cent decrease in rural property crime
– acted to increase funding for Legal Aid by $70 million to ensure all Albertans get access to the justice system when they need it
– produced a Best Practices Guide for police investigating and dealing with cases of sexual assault and sexual violence to better support victims and bring instigators to justice
– provided $8.1 million to sexual assault survivors for access to counselling and crisis assistance
– passed a new law allowing victims of domestic violence to break their lease early without financial penalty
– implemented new rules that allow officers to spend more time on the streets fighting crime, and less time at their desks doing paperwork
– removed the time limits for victims to file lawsuits against their sexual assaulter so victims can proceed when they are ready
– increased safety in corrections facilities through our body scanner pilot project at Edmonton Remand
– committed to building a new courthouse in Red Deer

The party advocates continuing to work to lower crime rates and increase Albertans’ sense of safety in their communities, including:
– working with RCMP and municipal police services to direct resources to allow officers to spend more time on the street rather than behind a desk
– providing new support for rural Crime Watch organizations and make better use of provincial enforcement officers to increase rural household protection
– continuing to invest in front line police services, including RCMP officers and ALERT
– continuing to place resources into the court system to shorten timelines for court cases to reach conclusion

The party has provided no official statement regarding its policies or positions regarding:
– the role and purpose of government
– stewardship and reform
– intergovernmental relations
– public safety

Role & Purpose of Government
The party states that:
– a full life includes work that provides not only a living, but dignity. Therefore its first priority is to boost the economy and bring quality jobs back to Alberta
– however, “the good life” includes much more than material well-being
– while government can’t guarantee a good life, it has a central role in establishing many of the conditions for it like health, safety, education, and support for the Vulnerable
– the first duty of government is to protect public safety
– a core government responsibility is to protect the vulnerable

Stewardship and reform
The party advocates, among its top 5 commitments
– balancing the budget in its first term in office, and prudent spending without cutting front-line services

To strengthen democracy and accountability in Alberta, the party advocates:
– introducing a Recall Act based on precedents in several jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, the United States, and British Columbia where the provision has existed since 1996
– to remove big money from Alberta politics, imposing a $30,000 limit on donor contributions to political action committees (PACs) and closing the ‘AFL loophole’ by prohibiting groups formally affiliated with political parties from running PACs
– establishing specific fixed election dates
– allowing free votes for MLAs on everything not deemed a confidence vote or a key platform commitment
– to stop floor crossing, requiring that MLAs resign and seek a by-election before they can join the party’s Caucus
– renewing the Senatorial Selection Act and hold elections for Senatorial nominees in 2021
– amending the Alberta Taxpayer Protection Act to require a referendum before any carbon tax can be introduced in the future
– introducing the End Partisan Government Advertising Act, making it illegal for governments to advertise in the run-up to an election and to use tax dollars for partisan ads at any time
– amending the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly to raise the bar of civility and decorum, banning “desk thumping” in the Legislative Assembly 

Balanced Budget
The party states that:
– current, multi-billion-dollar annual deficits mean that Alberta is heading toward a $100 billion debt wall
– it is not right to burden our children with debt for services we use today
– debt and deficits are affecting spending on essential services. Alberta now spends more on interest than on 17 of 21 government departments, and interest payments amneaount to nearly half of the provincial social service budget
– Alberta now has the second highest level of program spending per person among the Canadian provinces, at $12,700 in 2017/18
– a report commissioned by the party indicates that previous government’s revenue projections are too high by:
> $379 million in 2019/20
> $2.9 billion in 2020/21
> $3.7 billion in 2021/22
> $1.6 billion in 2022/23

The party advocates:
– maintaining operating spending at current levels as part of a realistic plan to balance the budget by 2022/23 without compromising core services
– moving Alberta closer to the provincial average in program spending per capita over four years as other provinces raise their spending to Alberta levels
– formalizing an annual spending review process within the budget and fiscal planning process to eliminate waste, duplication, and non-essential spending and create the fiscal space to fund key government priorities
– leading by example, reducing the Premier’s salary by 10% and MLAs’ salaries by 5%
– reversing the plan to spend $3.7 billion leasing rail cars
– cancelling the plan to spend $640 million on a government “super lab” and $50 million to nationalize a private company with lab services
– saving $200 million by letting the private sector deliver laundry services to AHS
– appointing an independent Blue-Ribbon Panel of experts to conduct a “deep-dive” into Alberta’s fiscal situation, recommend a path to balance and propose a realistic plan to start paying down the debt

Intergovernmental relations
The party advocates, among its top 5 commitments
– repealing the carbon tax and suing the federal government if it tries to impose a carbon tax on Alberta
– standing up against the federal government and special foreign interests that are trying to block pipeline development, to complete pipelines
– a referendum on equalization payments

The party states that:
– according to at least one academic, Albertans have paid $611 billion more in federal taxes than they have received back in transfers and services since 1961, including a net contribution of $200 billion in the last decade alone, meaning that over the past six decades an Alberta family of four has contributed an average of $14,700 per year to the rest of the country
– too much of federal politics in Canada is focused on the economic interests of Ontario and Quebec
– Western Canada has enough political power to broaden the focus of Canadian politis

The party advocates:
– using the prospect of a referendum on equalization as leverage for federal action to complete a coastal pipeline and to demand reforms to the current unfair formula
– seeking the exclusion of non-renewable resources revenues from the calculation, a formula that rewards provinces whose policies artificially reduce their fiscal capacity
– seeking hard cap on equalization transfers to stop the absurd situation of some provinces virtually guaranteed constant increases
– pressing Ottawa to increase the limit of the Fiscal Stabilization Fund to protect Alberta from major fiscal shocks
– pressing Ottawa to convert the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) and Canada Social Transfer (CST) to tax points for the provinces, which would give Alberta more control over how revenue is raised and spent in these areas of provincial jurisdiction
– ending Alberta’s agreement to increase the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) payroll tax by $1,624 per family
– demanding reforms to Canada’s Employment Insurance program so that Albertans who lose their jobs are not applied to Alberta home buyers
– challenging the federal government’s unfair one-size-fits-all approach to mortgages by demanding the Canada Mortgage and Home Corporation (CMHC) stress tests are removed from Alberta residents
– seeking to form federal and provincial agreement on resource corridors, which are pre-approved land corridors to expedite major resource project approvals; a key part of these corridors would be facilitating aboriginal co-ownership or financial participation, where relevant
– partnering with by pressing the federal government to adopt a Charter of Economic Rights which would, clarify the vital rights of Canadians to sell their goods and services and exercise their trades and professions in every part of Canada
– ending Alberta’s agreement with Parole Board of Canada and passing legislation to create an Alberta Parole Board

Municipalities
To assist municipalities with long-range planning and help free local leaders from unnecessary provincial mandates and red tape that can result in duplication, waste, and frustration, the party advocates:
– maintaining dollars promised to municipalities for 2019-20, as well as the multi-year agreement in the Bill 32 Charters for Calgary and Edmonton
– ensuring predictable, long-term infrastructure funding for municipalities
– maintaining key infrastructure commitments in the province’s capital plan, such as LRT extensions in Calgary and Edmonton
– amending the MGA to allow municipalities to offer property tax incentives to attract investment and development
– working with municipalities to facilitate pre-approved industrial zones to streamline regulatory approvals and decision-making
– consuling with municipalities on the province’s funding formula for police services, including any burden imposed on local law enforcement resulting from the recent legalization of cannabis
– cutting provincial regulation and paperwork for Alberta’s cities and allowing municipalities to pass on those savings to taxpayers
– improving local government financial reporting by preparing an annual Alberta Municipalities Measurement Index so Albertans can evaluate the performance of their local government in comparison with others on such key fiscal indicators as the property tax burden, revenues, spending, and debt
– amending the Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Act (s.89) to give municipalities more flexibility to permit responsible adults to drink alcohol in parks, street festivals, or other areas – and begin with relaxing liquor constraints in a number of provincial parks
– immediate relaxation of Alberta Gaming Liquor Commission regulations that effectively require enclosed events like folk festivals to keep those having a drink within unreasonably narrow zones like fenced-in beer gardens

Public Safety & Courts
The party states that:
– the first duty of government is to protect public safety
– crime is up substantially in Alberta, with police services across the province reporting significantly higher robberies, assaults, sexual assaults, vehicle thefts, and property theft compared with five years ago
– Maclean’s magazines, in Canada’s Most Dangerous Places 2019, says 7 of the 10 cities with the worst increases in crime over the last five years are in Alberta

The party advocates:
– spending $10 million to hire 50 new prosecutors and support staff
– enacting a Public’s Right to Know Act which will require annual reporting by judicial district on a wide number of measurements such as the number of crimes committed by persons on bail, on probation, on parole, subject to a deportation order for criminality, or previously removed for criminality
– implementing the United Conservative Alberta Rural Crime Strategy as outlined in our 2018 report to protect rural Albertans
– investing $5 million to increase access to Drug Treatment Courts as an effective way to help drug addicts leave the cycle of crime
– conducting an immediate review of the current model of victim service delivery, victim assistance funding, and victim compensation to ensure there is necessary assistance to victims of crime
– conducting an immediate review of the sufficiency of medical and forensic evidence gathering services in rural communities in cooperation with local police, Crown, and medical authorities, to determine what improvements are required – particularly concerning sexual assaults
– developing and implementing a specific Repeat Offender Policy with both provincial and (recommended) federal components to increase the ability to keep dangerous offenders off our streets
– negotiating additional Queen’s Bench Justice appointments with the federal government, including requesting that Grande Prairie be given its own Queen’s Bench justices, to help alleviate case waiting times
– working with other provinces and the federal government to ensure the return of criminals apprehended on outstanding arrest warrants to the province from which they fled, which has been flagged as a particular problem in provinces like Alberta with overlapping and independent police forces
– update the Crown Prosecutors’ Policy Manual to require that prosecutors provide the Court with an offender’s past criminal record and outstanding charges during bail hearings
– directing a review of the Crown Policy Manual to ensure that appropriate consideration is given to whether the use of force defence in Sections 34 and 35 of the Criminal Code should preclude prosecution against victims of crime with consideration of such factors as: the awareness of the person of a significant delay or non-response of police to the request for assistance due to the remote location of the crime being committed; the failure of the offender to depart the premises when confronted which, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, shall be viewed as threatening; and the number of persons committing the crime and the perception of their intoxication by alcohol or drugs
– reviewing current Criminal Code sentencing principles to ensure and recommend that in rural crime offences, specific facts be considered by a sentencing court as aggravating factors, and that the principles of deterrence and denunciation be prioritized (particularly concerning the unique vulnerability of people in rural areas when it comes to their self defense)
– replacing the Parole Board of Canada with an Alberta Parole Board for offenders serving a sentence of less than two years

Veterans and First Responders
The party states that:
– there is no higher form of public service than to risk one’s life in the defense of our country or the maintenance of public safety
– those who serve such roles deserve the respect and support of us all

The party advocates:
– creating a $1.5 million Heroes Fund modelled on the federal Memorial Grant Program for First Responders that will provide a $100,000 top-up for Alberta families eligible under the federal program (which provides a maximum $300,000 lump sum, tax free benefit to an immediate family member of a police officer, firefighter, or paramedic who died as a result of performing their duties, including death by suicide)
– working with the Government of Canada to improve services for first responders who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of their service and allocate an incremental $1.5 million annually to these efforts
– creating a $1 million Alex Decoteau Veteran’s Scholarship of Honour Alex Decoteau, Canada’s first Aboriginal police officer, who was killed by a sniper’s bullet on during the Battle of Passchendaele.  The program would provide $5,000 post-secondary scholarships to members of the Royal Canadian Forces from Alberta who have served in designated military operations. The scholarship would also be available to the immediate families of fallen or disabled members