Alberta (Legislative Reports) (Report‪)‬

The Fall sitting of the 3rd Session of the 27th Legislature commenced on October 25, 2010. That day, two requests for emergency debates were moved in the Assembly. New Democrat Brian Mason moved to adjourn the ordinary business of the Assembly in order to debate "the imminent risk to the health and safety of Albertans due to the state of emergency medical services in the province." The request was in response to documents released by the media, which were written by emergency physicians at the University of Alberta Hospital, detailing incidents in the hospital's emergency department. Speaker Ken Kowalski ruled in favour of the motion, stating that there seemed to be a general willingness on the part of Members to proceed with the debate given that 10 out of 18 questions during Oral Question Period that day dealt with the issue of health care. He also indicated that it was the first day that the Assembly had met in several months. The emergency debate did not proceed as it was not approved by the Assembly. The second request for an emergency debate was moved by Liberal Laurie Blakeman who argued that the sale of 16,000 acres of Crown-owned land for commercial agriculture would adversely affect protected and endangered species and habitat. Speaker Kowalski ruled the request for leave out of order stating that it did not meet the Standing Order requirements that the subject be "a genuine emergency, calling for immediate and urgent consideration." The Speaker noted the arguments put forward by the Minister indicated that sale of the land is only a proposal and therefore the matter would certainly come up during Oral Question Period. The last Standing Order 30 application to proceed in the Assembly occurred in November 2009 regarding the Government's preparations for the pandemic HIN1 influenza program.