Petty fights continue on last day of Alberta legislature

EDMONTON (CityNews) – The fall sitting has adjourned and so has the back-and-forth bickering at the legislature — for now.

During the fall session, 16 bills were passed by the United Conservative government, 10 of which were opposed by the Opposition NDP.

Both parties appeared to spend the majority of time in the legislature pointing fingers at each other.

“Jason Kenney’s leading the most corrupt government in Alberta’s history,” said Opposition House Leader Deron Bilous. “The problem is the opposition is making things up,” added Government House Leader Jason Nixon.

Those comments came during two separate press conferences which followed a dispute over who can use the media room for press conferences.

According to UCP communications staff, the procedures for the room state the government speaks first while the Opposition responds next, which the NDP was breaking.

The dispute adds to months of disagreements and fighting over several pieces of legislation and the provincial budget.

One of the most contested debates saw NDP Leader Rachel Notley ejected from the legislature after accusing speaker Nathan Cooper of misleading the house.

Notley and the NDP questioned the UCP’s Bill 22, which would merge the Chief Electoral Officer with the Elections Commissioner, essentially eliminating that position.

WATCH: Province fires back on Bill 22

The United Conservatives say they’ve followed through on nearly half the promises made during the 2019 election but the NDP see it differently.

“Our time has been largely consumed trying to identify the dozens and dozens of cuts to programs and services that this government campaigned on (saying) they wouldn’t cut but they have.”

Despite the mudslinging, both parties did agree on some bills including opioid legislation, a law on domestic violence and a motion to support the energy industry.