EDMONTON – The Alberta legislature is to start a new session today with a lot of new faces and a new government in charge.
Premier Jason Kenney and the 63 members of his United Conservative caucus are to be sworn in as legislature members and a Speaker is to be chosen.
Former premier Rachel Notley heads up the 24-member NDP official Opposition.
A throne speech is planned for Wednesday and a bill to repeal the provincial carbon tax is to be introduced.
The UCP says there will be about a dozen bills tabled during the sitting, including ones proposing to change the minimum wage for young workers and to cut the corporate tax.
A full budget isn’t expected until the fall.
Kenney’s government has also promised to try to change the nature of debate.
He has said he would like to ban the tradition of legislature members banging on their desks to show their approval in the house.
Kenney says desk-thumping, cross-aisle heckling and shouting are unseemly and undignified.