UCP ENDS LEGISLATIVE SESSION OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY, PUTS ALBERTANS AT RISK

News Release

UCP ENDS LEGISLATIVE SESSION OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY, PUTS ALBERTANS AT RISK

EDMONTON — Alberta’s New Democrats recapped the 2026 spring sitting of the Legislature, highlighting how the UCP raised costs, ignored urgent crises, and blatantly undermined Alberta’s democracy while the NDP proposed practical measures to fix what’s broken in our province.
“The UCP government spent the last four months focused on things that don’t ease Albertans’ pain or their worries,” said Naheed Nenshi, Leader of the Official Opposition of Alberta. “It’s bad enough that this government failed to make life better—but in many cases, they made it worse and put Albertans at risk.”

The UCP spent the sitting making life less affordable through Budget 2026, cutting critical supports for seniors, fueling separatism, rigging the rules of our democracy by throwing out an independent process to redraw electoral boundaries for their own political gain, and ignoring one of the largest data breaches in Alberta’s history.

In contrast, Alberta’s New Democrats spent the spring session focused on practical solutions to support and protect Albertans. Unfortunately, the UCP used their majority in the legislature to vote down every single proposal brought forward by Alberta’s NDP.

To tackle rising costs, Alberta’s NDP caucus:
Introduced Bill 209, the Consumer Protection Amendment Act, to eliminate surprise and nuisance fees, and ensure transparent pricing
Called for immediate relief at the pumps by demanding the UCP drop the provincial gas tax

To defend public health care, Alberta’s NDP caucus:
Introduced Bill 204, Whistleblower Protection Act, to strengthen transparency and accountability across Alberta’s health-care system
Moved Motion 506, to support urgent action to address the shortage of primary care practitioners through workforce recruitment and retention strategies.

To keep communities safe, and make Alberta more accessible, Alberta’s NDP caucus:
Introduced Bill 206, the Accessible Alberta Act, creating enforceable accessibility standards province-wide
Brought forward Motion 508, calling for enhanced services and programs that will increase public safety

In response to the elections data breach, Alberta’s NDP caucus:
Shared resources to help Albertans protect themselves from identity theft following the data breach.
Tabled Bill 210, the Consumer Protection (Fraud Prevention Measures) Amendment Act, to give consumers greater control over their credit information and help stop fraudulent loans and accounts from being opened without their knowledge

“Albertans have been let down time and time again by this government, not just this spring, but throughout Danielle Smith’s tenure,” said Nenshi. “While families struggle, the UCP keeps failing them. We won’t stop holding them accountable or pushing for better.”

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UCP government’s list of failures this spring:

Health care
Ongoing health care chaos, including the ER crisis following the death of an Edmonton father
Deadliest flu season on record
Closure of harm reduction services, with misleading statements in the Legislature (including impacts on SCS deaths)
Raids on MHCare offices
Turkish Tylenol scandal: $1.2M spent storing and destroying unused imported medication
Expansion of American-style, two-tier health care

Affordability and the economy
$9.4B deficit despite an economic boom
Failure to translate high revenues into improved services
Property tax increases for Calgary and Edmonton residents
Increased taxes on the tourism sector
Sky-high gas prices with no government action
Reductions to seniors’ benefits

Environment, communities & public services
AI data centres allowed to bypass environmental assessments
Seizing power from municipalities and creating library inspectors
Daylight Saving Time changes with no consultation

Immigration and inclusion
Removal of “welcoming” language in schools; restrictions on flags
Policies increasing barriers for immigrants and duplicating federal processes

Democracy and rule of law
Surprise referendum announcement not campaigned on, driving division
Attacks on the justice system prompting a public response from Chief Justices
Steps toward creating a provincial police force nobody asked for
Rejected Electoral Boundaries Commission in favour of gerrymandering a new map
Rejecting transparency, setting up an illegitimate new boundaries process
Elections data breach, revealed in a meeting attended by the Premier’s own staff
Foreign interference concerns
Changed the rules around citizen initiatives, again
Efforts to increase political control over judicial selection

Separatism
Separatist support, refused to sign national unity pledge
Historic non-confidence vote from Treaty Chiefs at Winter Assembly
Continued delays on the “Forever Canadian” petition
Separatist petition struck down by the courts for violating treaty rights
Premier’s vow to appeal the court decision to support the separatists