EDMONTON - Premier Ed Stelmach's Tory majority will flex its governing muscle in the assembly for the first time since its lopsided election victory as a new session of the legislature begins this week.
But their first hurdle is a time problem.
Elected members rarely sit in the legislature once summer approaches, and the spring sitting is starting two months later than usual because of the March 3 election.
So the problem is a long to-do list and very little time. One government insider described the situation as "trying to pour a one-gallon agenda into a one-quart jar.''
Although the formal legislative agenda won't be released until Monday, The Canadian Press has learned there will be only 10 pieces of legislation this spring. Dozens of other bills will be left over to a fall sitting that will be expanded to eight weeks from four.
The premier says Bill 1 will be framework legislation to facilitate a sweeping 2007 trade deal with British Columbia known as the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA).
"We have to move on it,'' says Stelmach. "There are other provinces now waiting to see us progress on it.''
Alberta is already talking with Saskatchewan's newly elected right-wing government, which unlike the previous NDP administration is keen to become part of a western trade deal with Alberta and B.C.
Stelmach is looking for more clout at the national level and feels that by locking arms with the two neighbouring provinces, Alberta will have a stronger voice at first ministers' meetings often dominated by issues from Quebec and Ontario.
"Let's look at how we can build a much larger western economic marketplace,'' says the premier.
"I know 7.7 million people will have much more political effect on Ottawa than the 3.4 million (people) in Alberta.''
Health-care reforms are also expected to be a dominant issue. The provincial budget on April 22 will include a plan to eliminate health-care premiums within four years.
But Ron Liepert, the firebrand Calgarian who is now health minister, is embarking on a plan to reshape the health-care system to get more for the $12 billion the province now spends.
Liepert is to announce a timetable for health reforms on Wednesday. Both he and the premier are already saying the province has done enough studies and it's time for action.
"Very clearly we've heard from Albertans: `Do something,''' says Stelmach. "We're short on physicians. Many people are complaining about `bureaucracy' in the system, the level of the administration, and we're going to move on it.''
Alberta is taking a "leadership role'' that he expects other provinces will follow, says the premier.
The strategy includes buying drugs with neighbouring provinces "on a much larger scale'' to reduce costs, and using new labour mobility agreements to recruit doctors and nurses from other provinces.
Alberta's opposition parties lost virtually half their seats in the election and now face a government with 72 of the province's 83 seats.
The Liberals, with nine seats, also lost roughly half of their research budget, which is based on how many members they elect. So the job of opposing Stelmach's Tory juggernaut is now more daunting than in the past.
But things are even worse for the New Democrats, who now have only two elected members. This means the NDP loses its official party status in the assembly and the number of questions it will be allowed to ask during Question Period each week will be reduced accordingly.
"I'm sure the Tories will use their large majority to push through things they want to push through,'' says NDP Leader Brian Mason.
"We have to focus on winning over the public and they in turn can bring pressure to bear on the government,'' says Mason.
"But we have been effective in the legislature with two members before.''
Liberal house leader Laurie Blakeman says the opposition research budget has been slashed because they have fewer seats, so she's trying to negotiate more cash.
"This is an opportunity for the premier to show us whether he really is willing to follow through on his remarks about increased democracy,'' says Blakeman.
The newly merged Wildrose Alliance Party lost its only elected member when leader Paul Hinman was defeated in March, and will now be left on the political fringe with no voice in the legislature.
The sitting officially begins on Tuesday with a throne speech outlining the government's agenda.
On Monday, members will gather in the assembly to elect a speaker. Veteran Tory Ken Kowalski is expected to be returned to the Speaker's chair, but Blakeman will also be in the running.
