#thomas dang

Mr. Schmidt: Now, I certainly remember as a child that Alberta was the place that people in other parts of Canada wanted to move to. My friend from Edmonton-Mill Woods gives me a hard time about how old a man I am, and I’ll age myself here. I remember distinctly Ian Tyson singing about moving out to Alberta. He had a friend that he could go working for out here, apparently. Well, nobody has friends that they can come working for in Alberta. Now, Neil Young, I understand, also recorded that song. He’s probably not the most popular artist among government backbenchers, but he also recorded that song. Gordon Lightfoot sung about being Alberta bound.

Mr. Neudorf: Hear, hear.

Mr. Schmidt: I hear the Member for Lethbridge-East saying hear, hear. Well, people aren’t Alberta bound anymore. In fact, they’re packing up their bags and leaving. Now, I will apologize to my friends from Edmonton-South and Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood. I don’t have a more contemporary example for them. The best that I can come up with is a song that Big Sugar recorded in the early ’90s.

Mr. Dang: The early ’90s?

Member Irwin: Thomas was not with us.

So long Daylight Saving Time – hello Alberta Standard Time.

Edmonton-South West MLA Thomas Dang introduced his Private Member's Bill in the legislature Tuesday, to amend the Daylight Saving Time Act, and move the province to one time all year round.

Bill 203, the Alberta Standard Time Act, would create a single time zone within Alberta that would be the same as Saskatchewan's non-changing time zone.

“I’ve talked to a lot of my colleagues and they’re generally supportive of this,” said Dang, who added there’s always a chance the bill could die on the floor.

A recent provincial government survey showed 80 per cent of Albertans do not want clocks to spring ahead and fall back each year. The survey also showed a preference for more light in the evenings.

Mr. Schmidt: Now I hear the Minister of Justice raising his voice. I wish that he had raised his voice sometime between the end of June and the end of September, when vaccine passports were in place, because there were 80,000 people who got sick with COVID, and that minister said absolutely nothing.

Mr. Hunter: Calm down. Calm down. Holy smokes.

Mr. Schmidt: I hear the Member for Taber-Warner telling me to calm down. You know what we would like to see, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Dang: Point of order.

The Acting Speaker: A point of order has been called. I’m surprised, although I am interested in hearing the hon. Member for Edmonton-South. I would also just like to make a comment with regard to tone in the House. I think one of the main jobs of the Speaker is to ensure that we have healthy, effective debate, and if individuals are outright screaming at . . .

Mr. Yao: Point of privilege.

The Acting Speaker: You cannot call a point of privilege in the middle of a point of order. That’s my understanding. So we will deal with the point of order first, and if it is not withdrawn, then we will move to the point of privilege.

Mr. Hunter: Point of order as well.

Mr. Dang: The Calgary cancer centre is one of the most expensive and important pieces of infrastructure ever built in Alberta. When complete, it will welcome tens of thousands of patients and their families annually, so I was very disturbed to hear reports that corners are being cut in the construction of the centre, that some of the contractors installing fire safety systems are not trained to the level required in the specifications. Is the minister aware of these reports, and what has he done in response? 

Mr. Schmidt: One need only look at Australia and New Zealand. They have almost zero cases of COVID currently. Their economies are set to rebound. In fact, they already have. I think the official unemployment rate in New Zealand right now is something like 4 per cent. I appreciate that you can’t compare those directly because every jurisdiction collects unemployment rates using different methodologies, but I think the difference is stark enough that we know that this government has failed to protect Albertans’ health.

Mr. Yao: Point of order.

Point of Order Language Creating Disorder

Mr. Yao: Again the member, under 23(h), (i), (j), is trying to escalate a lot of disrespect to our House and blame our government for the current situation. I would challenge the member from across the way, from Edmonton-Gold Bar, to reach out to their federal counterparts as well as their best friends in the federal Liberal caucus in understanding why Canada is in the situation where it is because they’ve been inept.

The Chair: Hon. member, I hesitate to interrupt, but we’re not debating this matter. Perhaps the case for the point of order which you called needs to be made first.

Mr. Yao: Say again now?

The Chair: Just argue the point of order at hand and not the argument on the point of order. What is your point of order?

Mr. Yao: Again, that the Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar’s commentary and blame on this provincial government are disqualified. It’s inaccurate, and the things that he’s referring to actually are implications of what the federal government’s decision-making and actions have been in regard to COVID. I would challenge that, that his arguments and his attacks are unwarranted and should be targeted more towards the federal Liberal government and our Prime Minister. The fact that he outright says that it is our provincial government that is responsible for the current situation is highly inaccurate.

Mr. Dang: The member is clearly speaking to the programs and services that are being delivered under this bill and how they may or may not be affecting the response under the current emergency. Thank you.

The Chair: Hon. members, I would tend to agree. This is a matter of debate. I would challenge everyone in this Assembly to make it the 13 more minutes that this member has left to speak without another point of order for anybody or a need to have one. Hon. Member for Edmonton-Gold Bar, I challenge you with that.

Mr. Schmidt: But while we are on the subject of apologies, there are 2,000 families of dead Albertans who are waiting for an apology from members of this government for their mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and there is nothing forthcoming from them.

Mr. Schow: Point of order, Madam Chair. This is absurd.

Point of Order Language Creating Disorder

Mr. Schow: This is ridiculous, and there isn’t a single member on that side of the aisle who should be able to condone this kind of language. If the Deputy Opposition House Leader can get up and argue that that kind of language is appropriate today or any time – it’s foolhardy, and it’s dangerous. That kind of language and accepting that is ridiculous. That language should be apologized for, retracted. This is the second time in – what? – 30 seconds. It’s absurd.

Mr. Dang: I understand that the deputy government whip here is certainly excited by the language being used here today. I did not see a citation of the standing orders when this was raised in this place, and I think that certainly, when we look at this, we’ll seek your guidance and act accordingly. Thank you.