UCP Government House Leader Joseph Schow has provided details of the agenda for the fourth session of the 30th legislature, however, no bill is being tabled to amend the human rights act to protect vaccination choice.."It's a huge priority for me to make sure that we have a proper pandemic planning response for next time," Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said..On Monday, the UCP announced that legislation will be introduced to protect Alberta’s constitutional jurisdiction; enable financial support to be provided to Alberta’s families, seniors and people with disabilities; improve the governance of policing in the province; and address long-standing issues in the justice system..However, the bill to amend the human rights act was not mentioned although during the leadership campaign Smith made it one of her promises..But Smith vows it is coming..At her inaugural press conference on October 11, Smith claimed that unvaccinated people are “the most discriminated against group that I've ever witnessed in my lifetime.”.READ MORE: Smith says the unvaccinated are the most discriminated against group.Smith told the media most restrictions that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic on freedoms were on those who made a choice not to be vaccinated.."I don't think I've ever experienced a situation in my lifetime, where a person was fired from their job, or not allowed to watch their kids play hockey, or not allowed to go visit a loved one in long-term care or hospital," Smith said..She would later clarify these comments at a later press conference.."I made comment regarding discrimination unvaccinated individuals suffered through ... during the past two years," Smith said in a statement..According to Smith, her intention was to underline the mistreatment of individuals who chose not to be vaccinated and were punished by not being able to work travel or in some case see loved ones..READ MORE: Smith clarifies comments about unvaccinated."I want to be clear that I did not intend to trivialize in any way the discrimination faced by minority communities and other persecuted groups, both here in Canada. And around the world or to create any false equivalences to the terrible historical discrimination and persecution suffered by so many minority groups over the last decades and centuries," Smith said.."We need to actively work together as Albertans and Canadians to end all discrimination against all minority communities. I am committed to listening, learning and addressing the issues affecting minority communities over the next few days my office will be reaching out to set up meetings with minorities so I can better understand the different concerns of their individual communities.".Although, a bill was not mentioned by Schow as he provided details of the agenda for the fourth session of the 30th legislature, Smith did take questions from reporters at unrelated news conference the same day to explain why..READ MORE: UCP House Leader outlines Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act and legislative agenda."We were going through it again (bill idea), getting caucus feedback, just making them into one bill was not going to protect the rights and freedoms of citizens next time around so we realize it has to be a much broader review of legislation, probably much broader changes," Smith said.."And so I'm working on a process I'll tell you about very shortly so that we can make sure we do that full review. The point of looking backwards is to make decisions that will help us going forward.".Smith said the bill idea is a priority to her but she wants to do it right she claimed.."I didn't want to make a change that wasn't going to address the problem in the future and so that's the reason why we decided that we have have to look at a broader suite of reforms," Smith said.."I'm in the process now of identifying individuals who might be able to assist with that legislative review. And so once I've established that I'll make sure that we have the full terms of reference, as well as the legislation that we're looking at and it's not going to be that long.".Smith claimed the idea for the bill will be coming, "It'll be a matter of weeks, not a matter of months."."The issue was just trying to change one piece of one act was not going to solve the problem that we encountered over this past two and a half years and I want to make sure that we come through with a new pandemic planning proposal and pandemic plan that we're addressing all of the problems," Smith said.."We always said it would be on a go forward basis. And I guess I'm seeing that there's a lot of responsible employers who are rescinding vaccine mandates and a lot of responsible vendors who are not discriminating against their customers and I'm glad to see that.".Smith then told media at the conference that if there is still discrimination against the unvaccinated she would like to know about it.."People should contact their MLA because we want to make sure that we're creating an environment where no one is discriminated against in this province for any reason. And so my sense of where we're at right now in Alberta, is that most employers have made the responsible decision to not discriminate against their workers and I'm glad to see them," Smith said.."And so the question becomes, what happens next time next time there's a novel virus, and when we're passing legislation, we have to make sure that we're passing it is going to be able to stand the test of time for future issues, rather than trying to re-litigate ones in the past.".Smith said she is prepared to make make changes if there are "case by case issues."."We're going to have to make probably substantive changes to a number of pieces of legislation and so I didn't want to do this. As I got deeper into the discussion with my caucus we didn't want to do this as a bit of a slapdash measure," Smith said.."I want to make sure that we're solving this problem for the future so there'll be more to come. And I think our I think my supporters will understand why it is that I've made these decisions once they see the approach that we're taking.".Smith said when she hears of cases where people are being discriminated against because of vaccine status she is calling them to hear what happened. She then mentioned the Arctic Winter Games being held in January in Fort McMurray and how they abruptly dropped its vaccine mandate on November 18..Smith mentioned that when the Games asked Alberta's government for $1.2 million, she asked them to drop the vaccine requirement.."I'm calling people when I hear these instances," Smith said.."We do not want discrimination in our province. I don't know if I can be more clear than that.".The ALberta NDP took a political swing at Smith for the comments she made on Monday claiming she harassed businesses and non-profits who require their workers to be vaccinated .."For Danielle Smith to admit today that she’s calling businesses and non-profits to harass and threaten them is deeply troubling," Alberta NDP Justice Critic Irfan Sabir said..“In other words, Alberta is calling to intimidate you.".The fourth session of the 30th legislature in Alberta starts Tuesday.
UCP Government House Leader Joseph Schow has provided details of the agenda for the fourth session of the 30th legislature, however, no bill is being tabled to amend the human rights act to protect vaccination choice.."It's a huge priority for me to make sure that we have a proper pandemic planning response for next time," Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said..On Monday, the UCP announced that legislation will be introduced to protect Alberta’s constitutional jurisdiction; enable financial support to be provided to Alberta’s families, seniors and people with disabilities; improve the governance of policing in the province; and address long-standing issues in the justice system..However, the bill to amend the human rights act was not mentioned although during the leadership campaign Smith made it one of her promises..But Smith vows it is coming..At her inaugural press conference on October 11, Smith claimed that unvaccinated people are “the most discriminated against group that I've ever witnessed in my lifetime.”.READ MORE: Smith says the unvaccinated are the most discriminated against group.Smith told the media most restrictions that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic on freedoms were on those who made a choice not to be vaccinated.."I don't think I've ever experienced a situation in my lifetime, where a person was fired from their job, or not allowed to watch their kids play hockey, or not allowed to go visit a loved one in long-term care or hospital," Smith said..She would later clarify these comments at a later press conference.."I made comment regarding discrimination unvaccinated individuals suffered through ... during the past two years," Smith said in a statement..According to Smith, her intention was to underline the mistreatment of individuals who chose not to be vaccinated and were punished by not being able to work travel or in some case see loved ones..READ MORE: Smith clarifies comments about unvaccinated."I want to be clear that I did not intend to trivialize in any way the discrimination faced by minority communities and other persecuted groups, both here in Canada. And around the world or to create any false equivalences to the terrible historical discrimination and persecution suffered by so many minority groups over the last decades and centuries," Smith said.."We need to actively work together as Albertans and Canadians to end all discrimination against all minority communities. I am committed to listening, learning and addressing the issues affecting minority communities over the next few days my office will be reaching out to set up meetings with minorities so I can better understand the different concerns of their individual communities.".Although, a bill was not mentioned by Schow as he provided details of the agenda for the fourth session of the 30th legislature, Smith did take questions from reporters at unrelated news conference the same day to explain why..READ MORE: UCP House Leader outlines Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act and legislative agenda."We were going through it again (bill idea), getting caucus feedback, just making them into one bill was not going to protect the rights and freedoms of citizens next time around so we realize it has to be a much broader review of legislation, probably much broader changes," Smith said.."And so I'm working on a process I'll tell you about very shortly so that we can make sure we do that full review. The point of looking backwards is to make decisions that will help us going forward.".Smith said the bill idea is a priority to her but she wants to do it right she claimed.."I didn't want to make a change that wasn't going to address the problem in the future and so that's the reason why we decided that we have have to look at a broader suite of reforms," Smith said.."I'm in the process now of identifying individuals who might be able to assist with that legislative review. And so once I've established that I'll make sure that we have the full terms of reference, as well as the legislation that we're looking at and it's not going to be that long.".Smith claimed the idea for the bill will be coming, "It'll be a matter of weeks, not a matter of months."."The issue was just trying to change one piece of one act was not going to solve the problem that we encountered over this past two and a half years and I want to make sure that we come through with a new pandemic planning proposal and pandemic plan that we're addressing all of the problems," Smith said.."We always said it would be on a go forward basis. And I guess I'm seeing that there's a lot of responsible employers who are rescinding vaccine mandates and a lot of responsible vendors who are not discriminating against their customers and I'm glad to see that.".Smith then told media at the conference that if there is still discrimination against the unvaccinated she would like to know about it.."People should contact their MLA because we want to make sure that we're creating an environment where no one is discriminated against in this province for any reason. And so my sense of where we're at right now in Alberta, is that most employers have made the responsible decision to not discriminate against their workers and I'm glad to see them," Smith said.."And so the question becomes, what happens next time next time there's a novel virus, and when we're passing legislation, we have to make sure that we're passing it is going to be able to stand the test of time for future issues, rather than trying to re-litigate ones in the past.".Smith said she is prepared to make make changes if there are "case by case issues."."We're going to have to make probably substantive changes to a number of pieces of legislation and so I didn't want to do this. As I got deeper into the discussion with my caucus we didn't want to do this as a bit of a slapdash measure," Smith said.."I want to make sure that we're solving this problem for the future so there'll be more to come. And I think our I think my supporters will understand why it is that I've made these decisions once they see the approach that we're taking.".Smith said when she hears of cases where people are being discriminated against because of vaccine status she is calling them to hear what happened. She then mentioned the Arctic Winter Games being held in January in Fort McMurray and how they abruptly dropped its vaccine mandate on November 18..Smith mentioned that when the Games asked Alberta's government for $1.2 million, she asked them to drop the vaccine requirement.."I'm calling people when I hear these instances," Smith said.."We do not want discrimination in our province. I don't know if I can be more clear than that.".The ALberta NDP took a political swing at Smith for the comments she made on Monday claiming she harassed businesses and non-profits who require their workers to be vaccinated .."For Danielle Smith to admit today that she’s calling businesses and non-profits to harass and threaten them is deeply troubling," Alberta NDP Justice Critic Irfan Sabir said..“In other words, Alberta is calling to intimidate you.".The fourth session of the 30th legislature in Alberta starts Tuesday.
