SNELL: Question Period roundup

The NDP are formidable opponents to the UCP in the legislature — just ask any cabinet minister under fire over Turkish Tylenol, AHS, or alleged underfunding of sexual assault-centres.

However, on Wednesday during question period, the NDP's grenades exploded prematurely, raining down verbal confetti  — easily deflected by short and strategically boring answers prepared for ministers by astute UCP press secretaries.

But, there's a danger in short and boring. The method looks a lot like weakness and apathy over serious issues like the AHS scandal, which now involves the RCMP.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Mickey Amery held his ground over AHS — but at the expense of sounding timid.

As verbal confetti fell, Amery should have called out the NDP for its own policy disputes and operational issues with AHS when it was in power.

Also, the opposition hammered members opposite with questions over the alleged underfunding of sexual assault centres.

Alberta's 2025 budget, announced on February 27, includes an investment of more than $88 million for the prevention of family and sexual violence — over $15 million specifically for sexual assault centres across the province — an increase of $1.5 million over previous funding.

The NDP called out the UCP over building more AI data centres, which could help fortify Alberta's economy in the coming years.

They suspect the UCP of making backroom deals with investor Kevin O'Leary, who appears professional and friendly with Premier Danielle Smith — but antithetical to left-wing progressives.

Due to confetti grenades and the appearance of weakness, there was no clear winner in question period on Wednesday — other than Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta Nathan Cooper — who maintains order with a light heart and iron fist.