Oraaaaaal question period.

NDP Leader Rachel Notley kicks it off by asking about the "walkoffs"
Says workers have been working double shifts and instead of a "thank you" the government tells them they're overpaid.

Finance Minister Travis Toews said hew as very disappointed in union leadership for the illegal strike action (it was not done in consultation with union leadership). Says he expects them to get back to work to deliver world class health care.
Notley says, illegal, eh?

Notley says they're tired of seeing the work they do and the care they provide jeopardized. When will you stop with the plan to fire 11,000 health care workers.
Health Minister Tyler Shandro says he's happy to stand against the campaign of disinformation

Shandro says he'll fight for health care access as hard as the NDP fights for six-figure salaries of union bosses.
Notley says UCP hasn't met a worker it hasn't wanted to fight or fire

Shandro says Notley has lost count because the number is zero. Says we're paying more per capita than any other province.
Shandro says they contracted out laundry for 68 per cent of the province, contracted out surgery.

Second set of questions: Notley talks about a 13-year-old with autism whose mom had to use deceased husband's life insurance to pay for private health. Why are you failing her?

Adriana LaGrange says with new specialised supports, there are more than half a billion in additional supports.

Notley talking about more cases where educational supports were cut to kids who need additional help.
LaGrange says program unit funding continues to be a cornerstone. [Lots of heckling]

Notley held up a picture I believe, and Government House Leader Jason Nixon calls a point of order. And other point of order.

Speaker says props should not be used inside the assembly.

LaGrange says PUF remains unchanged. She understands early intervention is essential.

Notley says the news Cenovus is acquiring Husky is making many nervous. Can't forget the impact on people. How many people will be fired?

Energy Minister Sonya Savage says consolidations are not unexpected and she's not surprised the NDP doesn't understand it 'cause they didn't understand anything about the energy sector.

Notley says it was a simple question. How many people will lose their jobs?
(point of order noted)

Savage says it's not surprising. The NDP didn't support the energy sector in their four years of government and they don't support them now.

Notley says it only works because the companies will lay people off
They're stopping new investments. Exactly opposite of what they said their corporate handouts will achieve.
Savage says they are in this position because of the 4 years of NDP
[heckles "you had four decades"]

Christina Gray says for well over a year health care workers have been told they don't deserve a pension. Don't deserve a voice. They'll lose their job. You doubled down on attacking health care workers during a pandemic. "What were you thinking and what are you thinking now?"

Toews says they greatly appreciate the work of health care workers.
Says he's disappointed in union leadership.
[heckling]
Says it jeopardizes health of people

Gray says the people jeopardizing health of Albertans are sitting on that side (government side)
Gray asks if the government will reverse course on firing 11,000 health care workers

Toews says they will carefully proceed with frontline workers so more money can go to frontline services. Minister of health is making key moves to deliver services effectively and efficiently

Gray says Albertans have seen this before. It doesn't have to be this way, but the government used bullying and threats. Will you listen to the workers and end the chaos today.

Toews says the only ones causing chaos are the opposition and illegal strikers
"I'm calling on all health care workers to get back on the job"

UCP MLA Todd Loewen says UNA has decided to go back to the bargaining table. What about this wildcat strike?
Toews says he was pleased to see Notley say in her statement this morning that patient safety should be the priority

Loewen says the workers who screen visitors are on strike. Offer of delaying bargaining was delayed. How will you respond to illegal actions?
Toews says AHS has gone to Alberta Labour Relations Board

How will AHS ensure continuity of services?
Shandro says managers and non-unionized staff will cover shifts.

Shandro says this violates trust of patients

Shannon Phillips says the UCP believes Albertans who clean rooms, wash the bedding and serve food during a pandemic should be sacrificed. How is it a matter of public policy these workers are not considered frontline workers?

Shandro says AHS was directed to proceed carefully with the implementation of their plan. Says NDP had 68 per cent of laundry contracted out. The member is upset we did what they did, he says

Phillips says Chinook Regional Hospital is a major employer for Lethbridge. How many nursing and other frontline jobs are you destroying?

Should the people of Lethbridge wait for him to shout at them in their driveways?
Shandro says there will be no net reduction in frontline clinical staff.

Phillips asked why it's government policy to open up another front in the war on health care, not content with a war on physicians?
Shandro says this is the mendacity of the NDP.

David Shepherd is reading the Calgary Sun front page and Page 2 ad.
Is anyone surprised B.C. is willing to welcome physicians with welcome arms?
Shandro quoting someone who says Alberta is the destination of choice for B.C. physicians

Shandro calls Shepherd the Roger Stone of Alberta politics.
Shepherd says if he's Roger Stone of Alberta politics, this minister is Donald Trump.

Shandro says unfortunately, the member opposite in his continued attacks is attacking my wife.
Alberta had a net gain of 246 physicians, Shandro says.
He says the member's tinfoil hat conspiracy theories doesn't change that. [point of order]

Shepherd says doctors registered does not equal doctors practicing

When will someone have the courage to stand up and against the chaotic rush to American-style health care.
Shandro says this member is making weird comments about his wife on the internet.
Says B.C. agreement announced it will raise spending on physicians. [point of order noted]

Jeremy Nixon says tech sector is crucial to economic diversification. How are you fostering the development of the diverse sector?
Doug Schweitzer says there are two record-breaking years in tech investment under this government. Sky's the limit, he says.

NDP are heckling as Schweitzer talks about Amii/saying a lot of people don't know about it.

Lori Sigurdson says after kicking people off the seniors drug plan, the government is downloading costs to access services in continuing care.
Shandro says the new fees for continuing care are not proceeding at this time. Still reviewing the recommendations

Sigurdson says the UCP has already downloaded costs onto seniors, threatening seniors retirement by threatening to pull out of CPP. Please tell seniors why they must continually pay more to cover the costs of your failures.

Shandro says he guesses the member was too focused on reading the question that was written for her to listen that he said he's not moving forward with the downloading of costs pending the review

Seniors have lost drug coverage, community docs. Why have you failed to represent seniors?
Shandro say sit's such an attack on public health care they're spending more than the NDP did.
[heckles of about adjusting for inflation]

Rakhi Pancholi lists cuts to the child care sector/increase of costs. There's $120M that hasn't been spent. Why are you not spending it all to ensure childcare fees don't go up when parents can leas afford it?

Schulz says they'll continue to do what they've done in the past months — listen to Albertans
[heckles from NDP]

Pancholi says fees are going up when the government won't spend its own budget. childcare operators hiring less qualified staff to make ends meet, she says.
Schulz says they'll continue to focus on affordable, accessible, high quality child care

Pancholi says a fully-implemented, universal childcare system would add $6B to GDP. Strongest strategy for economic recovery.
Schulz says they'll continue to support affordable childcare for those who need it most.

Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk says skilled trades is important in Alberta's economic recovery. Skilled Trades Task Force submitted its report. When can we expect the recommendations from the findings of this report?
Nicolaides says "very soon"

Nicolaides says he was disappointed the leader of the opposition said $1B was cut from postsecondary. Asks the NDP to share. Someone says "sure"

Jon Carson says the Automobile Insurance Rate Board has approved hikes as high as 30 per cent. How can you sit by while Alberta faces rate hikes.
Toews says look for some action later this week on insurance

Carson says insurance skyrocketed during a pandemic when many are barely driving. Insurance rates were one-sixth what they were now under the NDP government. Why won't you take action to lower rates during the pandemic?
Toews says that's a whole lot of misinformation

"Stay tuned" for action later this week. Says members opposite don't understand how a free market economy functions

Carson says, "unbelievable", says insurance companies will make $1B profit in this province this year, in part because of the massive year over year increases. Why does the insurance industry need to net $1B profit?

Speaker says "we're not at a basketball game... there's no need to hoot and holler"
Toews says it's interesting the NDP are aligning themselves with personal injury lawyers

Sarah Hoffman says because of this minister, the Edmonton Catholic Schools accepted 64 per cent fewer students in a program (didn't catch the name, sorry)
LaGrange says if schools are not restoring funding, it's their choice. They still receive the same funding

Hoffman says some pre-K programs in Edmonton Public were cut by 76 per cent. Why did you put the corporate handout ahead of kids with special needs?
LaGrange said under the old model students saw a decline in supports. This closes the gap, she says

Hoffman says this minister can't be bothered to lift a finger. Why do you stand more with Chris Champion and Husky shareholders than kids with special needs?
LaGrange says in addition to PUF, specialized learning supports, school boards are in charge of using those dollars.

RJ Sigurdson says COVID-19 caused massive disruptions. For children, many were unable to attend classes. What resources did you provide for reopening? Update on the 2020 year so far?
Carson mumbles "not good"

Cold and flu season is important. Having kids in school is essential to having parents back at work.
Shandro said we ordered a record number of flu shots

The kitchen timer goes off. Last question
(lots of points of order to get through! They were quite the boisterous lot today.)