(Dreamstime)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Mickey Amery

Premier Smith issues mandate letter to Minister of Justice

Aug 2, 2023 | 11:03 AM

Officials with the Alberta government say Premier Danielle Smith has issued a mandate letter to Minister of Justice Mickey Amery calling on him to continue to support a strong justice system.

In her letter, government officials say the Premier outlines her expectations that Alberta’s government continues to stand up for Albertans and make the province’s voice heard in Ottawa and asks Minister Amery to deliver on initiatives that support Albertans, including:

• As lead, working with the Minister of Health and Minister of Mental Health and Addiction to assess proposed federal medical assistance in dying legislation amendments to include those with mental health conditions and recommend Alberta’s regulation of the profession with regard to it.
• Reviewing the Elections Act, the Local Authorities Election Act, Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act and other relevant election-related legislation and making recommendations that ensure election results are publicly available on a more timely basis on voting day to strengthen public trust in and the integrity of provincial and municipal elections, including improving the investigation and enforcement of election rules before and during election periods.
• Reviewing recent ethics commissioner decisions and the Conflicts of Interest Act to establish guidelines and rules clarifying appropriate interactions between all ministries and the Justice Minister and Attorney General, and to make recommendations that strengthen overall transparency and accountability. Further, implementing the ethics commissioner’s recommendation regarding mandatory governance training for new Members of the Legislative Assembly so they understand the Conflicts of Interest Act and how it applies to them.
• Reviewing the Public Health Emergencies Governance Review Panel’s findings, when released, with affected ministries and advising Cabinet and Caucus which recommendations should be implemented to improve Alberta’s emergency governance in the future.
• Conducting a review of provincial resourcing to the courts and advancing related recommendations, including implementing remote court applications, digitization and streamlining family court matters to ensure more affordable and efficient access to the courts.
• Continuing the constitutional challenge against the federal government’s decision to label plastics as “toxic substances.”
• Continuing the constitutional challenge against the federal Impact Assessment Act.
• Working through all available political and legal channels to eliminate the federal government’s consumer carbon tax.
• As the lead, addressing the need for funding increases to strengthen Alberta’s justice system and make it more accessible, including legal aid.
• Working with the Minister of Energy and Minerals, who is the lead, and the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas to review the mission, policies and operations of the Canadian Energy Centre to ensure alignment with government priorities and policy.
• Working with the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, to develop and implement a strategy to ensure violent criminals and gang members are detained and effectively prosecuted.
• Working collaboratively with the Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, who is the lead, to develop compassionate intervention legislation, supporting facilities and legal processes to save the lives of those who are a danger to themselves or others.
• Working with the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, to develop a specialized prosecution unit to address deteriorating safety in Alberta’s major urban centres.

“Alberta is fortunate to have a justice system that upholds the pillars of fairness, compassion and protection for all. I look forward to carrying out my mandate to ensure that our justice system safeguards individual rights and fosters a sense of security and trust within our communities,” says Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice.

Irfan Sabir, Alberta NDP Justice Critic, issued the following statement in response to the Justice mandate letter:

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“During a time when Albertans are looking for a stable and ethical government focused on safer communities and their priorities, Danielle Smith’s mandate letter promises to do the exact opposite.

“Danielle Smith broke the law and interfered in the legal system to help now-convicted criminal Artur Pawlowski. This letter makes no mention of ensuring that she is appropriately sanctioned for her actions. Prior to following any direction from Danielle Smith on the very matter she’s implicated in, the Justice Minister must find an independent, impartial body to review the Premier’s interference, including potential breaches of the Criminal Code provisions.

“Across the provinces, we are far behind in prosecuting cases timely. Over 22 per cent of cases in Alberta’s justice system exceed the 30-month delay, which puts them outside Jordon timelines. Most of those cases involve serious crimes.

“Rather than focusing on what’s in the provincial government’s purview such as addressing delays and shortages of staff in the justice system, Danielle Smith would rather spend her ministers’ time in maintaining the Energy War Room, which since its inception has caused nothing but embarrassment for the province.

“The UCP must cut the Energy War Room, and use the savings to invest in the real priorities of Albertans and to improve and properly support our justice system.

“The UCP fired the election commissioner who was investigating their leadership campaign, and they changed the laws to bring dark money back into politics. Danielle Smith remained silent while an MLA was fined over thirty thousand dollars for violating Alberta election laws.

“It is concerning that one of Danielle Smith’s major focuses is to tinker with election laws, when the UCP and Danielle Smith’s track record shows nothing but disdain for Alberta election rules, democracy and rule of law.”