NDP SEEKS EMERGENCY DEBATE ON UCP RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

EDMONTON - Alberta’s NDP Official Opposition will put forward a motion seeking an emergency debate in the Legislature on Monday on the UCP government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. 

In a letter to the Speaker on Friday, NDP Leader Rachel Notley explained she will be seeking unanimous consent to debate the emergency response by the government, including support for Alberta’s economy and families.

“Albertans are facing a growing pandemic with a government that refuses to end their attack on frontline care,” said Heather Sweet, NDP House Leader. “There are a lot of questions left unanswered by this UCP government so we are seeking an emergency debate so that Albertans can be assured that their government has a plan. If they do, they should have no problem supporting our motion.”

The UCP Government confirmed Friday that the house would resume Monday, March 16th, after a one-week constituency break and the Premier publicly asked the Official Opposition to support fast-tracking his 2020 broken-promise budget and voting to approve it before the end of the week.

“The Premier has asked for our support to pass his broken-promise budget,” Sweet said, “but, this budget contains cuts to health care and vital front-line services that Albertans need now, more than ever. We cannot, in good conscience, support this budget in its current form.”