Fall 2025 Session Preview: Four Packed Weeks of Sittings
This week will mark the start of the first new session of the Alberta Legislature since sittings began following the 2023 general election. MLAs from across the province have been adjourned since May 14th and will sit from October 23 until November 27th.
There will be the usual week-long break from November 10-14th to allow MLAs to return to their home constituencies to participate in Remembrance Day ceremonies and events.
Rather than focusing this issue’s feature article on a deep-dive into one particular topic, we want to spend some time looking at a number of the stories and issues we will be paying close attention to as MLAs return to the Assembly.
New Municipal Councils Across Alberta
On October 20th, Albertans cast their ballots in the 2025 municipal election cycle. On behalf of Alberta Counsel, we would like to congratulate all the re-elected and newly-elected candidates for mayor, reeve, council, and school board trustee across the province and thank all who put their names forward for public office.
For those who have been observing provincial politics over the last number of years, you will know that there have been some tensions between the province and municipal councils. This week’s election cycle offers a fantastic opportunity to reset some of these relationships to foster stronger collaboration between the two levels of government.
Alberta’s two largest cities could not have had more different elections. In Edmonton, there will be strong continuity from the last council as all but one of the incumbents who ran for re-election won – resulting in four total new councillors. Former Nakota Isga councillor Andrew Knack emerged victorious as the city’s next mayor.
In Calgary, there will be only four returning councillors for the new term. Former city councillor and runner-up in the 2021 mayoral election Jeromy Farkas won the mandate to lead Alberta’s largest city by a very tight margin over Communities First candidate Sonya Sharp.
Sharp has requested a recount as the difference between first and second was a mere 583 votes.
It is apparent that the municipal party experiment led by the UCP did not receive the traction that was perhaps expected by the provincial government. Only 5 party-affiliated candidates were elected (or are leading) in Calgary while even fewer were victorious in Edmonton. Regardless, we will see over the coming years how well these new councils are able to collaborate with the province. Both Edmonton and Calgary mayors-elect have indicated a willingness to work with the provincial government but have also pledged to push back when they feel necessary for their respective cities.
A New Session – A New Agenda
At the start of the week, government house leader Joseph Schow held a press conference speaking to the new session. Today at 1:30PM, Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani will read the speech from the throne written by Premier Danielle Smith to outline what the government will action this session.
While the names are subject to change and the details are incredibly limited, the list below is an outline of the bills the government intends to introduce this fall:
Regulated Professions Neutrality Act
Health Statutes Amendment Act
Public Safety and Emergency Services Statues Amendment Act
Utilities Statutes Amendment Act
Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act
Water Amendment Act
Justice Statutes Amendment Act
Financial Statutes Amendment Act
Additionally, Schow indicated during his press conference that the provincial government will be implementing measures that will ensure political candidates are “serious” about running. In a CBC News report, a spokesperson for Schow’s office said "by increasing the number of signatures required for nomination and prohibiting electors from signing more than one nomination paper or inducing others to sign more than one nomination paper."
According to the government’s press release, “other changes proposed this session will increase labour mobility by streamlining approvals for internationally trained professionals to work in regulated professions. As well, there will be legislation proposed to protect regulated professionals from undue discipline that violates their rights and freedoms for matters outside their work.”
Naheed Nenshi Joins NDP Colleagues in the Legislature
After winning the party leadership in June 2024, opposition leader Naheed Nenshi will sit for the first time as an MLA. Nenshi was elected as the successor to former party leader Rachel Notley in Edmonton-Strathcona during the spring by-elections.
In a press release yesterday, Nenshi spoke to the priorities he and his party will focus on in the upcoming session.
“In all of our conversations it became immediately clear that Albertans are most focused on making Alberta better, more affordable, with better public services and health care — not what this government has prioritized,” said Nenshi. “As I take my seat in the Legislature for the first time next week, I am ready to fight for the real priorities of Albertans and hold Danielle Smith and this UCP government accountable for their actions.”
The party also said they intend to oppose any effort of the provincial government to pass back to work legislation for Alberta’s teachers if they choose to introduce it.
Federal Relations
A seemingly Alberta issue in perpetuity is ongoing grievances with the federal government. Recently, Premier Danielle Smith has expressed optimism about her working relationship with Prime Minister Mark Carney; however, it is clear that she is not taking her foot off the proverbial gas as it relates to her demands.
Premier Smith has given Prime Minister Carney a deadline of the Grey Cup (the CFL championship game in November) for the federal government to address the nine pieces of legislation her government believes to be inhibiting Alberta’s ability to develop and sell its natural resources – particularly oil and gas.
Additionally, she has indicated that she hopes to see her proposed pipeline idea as well as the Pathways project as being approved by the Major Projects Office.
Alberta Teachers’ Strike
Last week, the provincial government had expressed that it hoped the Alberta Teachers’ Association would have teachers go back to the classroom on October 20th and enter into what it called “enhanced bargaining” to reach a new collective bargaining agreement.
Now, there is talk that the provincial government may consider introducing back-to-work legislation if the labour dispute is not resolved by October 27th.
While the NDP has indicated that they would oppose such legislation, it is likely that government would invoke closure of debate early which would limit debate to one additional hour after it is passed in an effort to pass the bill as quickly as possible.
Government house leader Joseph Schow indicated to media that “we are going to take whatever steps are needed to make sure that kids are in the classroom and get an education they need to be successful going forward,” which adds to the rhetoric used earlier by Premier Smith.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) has indicated that they will get legal advice about their options if back-to-work legislation is introduced. President Jason Schilling indicated that the “ATA is ready to bargain” with the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA). "However, we expect government to acknowledge these realities that are driving this dispute, and come to the table, willing to consider meaningful and specific solutions to class sizes and complexity
