Danielle Smith reworking Alberta's everything, everywhere all at once
CBC
In a rather busy span last month, the Alberta government confirmed that former prime minister Stephen Harper would be the chair of a completely remade board of Alberta's investment megafund AIMCo, forecast a bigger-than-anticipated budget surplus, and announced the most substantial changes to the province's auto insurance system in at least two decades.
That was all just one minister — Finance captain Nate Horner — and in a mere two-day stretch. Also in that late November week, Premier Danielle Smith presided over an experts' summit for her cross-province passenger rail master plan, announced the latest new agency to replace a chunk of Alberta Health Services, and the legislature debated contentious changes to transgender policies and her beefed-up provincial Bill of Rights.
Boosters will call that firing on all cylinders. Critics will say she's flooding the zone. Alberta New Democrats privately grumble that Smith's been doing so much so fast that there's not been much bandwidth for them to get an idea in edgewise.
"I never worry about being too ambitious," the premier told CBC Calgary in a year-end interview.
Look over what she's done since last year's election, and you'll notice she's not merely announcing stuff. She's setting in motion plans to transform major provincial institutions and the ways Alberta's government operates.
"The world is moving too fast for us not to be an innovative government," the premier said.
WATCH | Smith: 'We have to be an innovative government':
So let's consider all that she's doing and undoing.
Dividing the health system into four agencies. Quadrupling the number of new school builds, and directing more resources and emphasis toward the charters and privates.
Carving out with the sheriffs a new provincial police force to bolster local police and the RCMP (or replace the latter, should the RCMP one day leave community policing). Implementing an addictions strategy with forced treatment and recovery campuses, and less harm reduction.
Overhauling both the electricity and insurance systems.
Charting a new course for the province's $169-billion investment and public-sector workers' pension fund. A reshaped relationship with municipalities, in which the province takes more control. Consistently pushing back against Ottawa, so the federal government has less control within Alberta.
Plotting new commuter rail lines all over Alberta, and putting itself in the middle of planning Calgary's next LRT line.
Creating Canada's most wide-ranging rules governing transgender youth in health, education and sport.
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