Donovan reviewing provincial budget

The second session of the legislature resumed last week, and Little Bow MLA Ian Donovan is deep in a critical review of the provincial budget.

“We’ve been doing lots of question and answer stuff in Question Period,” said Donovan. “The session itself, we have private member’s business on Mondays. Tuesdays and Wednesdays we’re out of the House by 3:30 p.m. so we can start committee, where we’re going over budget estimates. There’s usually two or three budget estimates running simultaneously, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., and then in the evening from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. So we’ve been pretty busy with that, lots of our time spent on that.”

Donovan’s session will be with Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Verlyn Olson, a ministry for which Donovan serves as the Wildrose Party’s official critic.

“Right now we’re doing lots of budget estimates. That’s where the critic for the portfolio gets to sit down with the minister in public committee and go over the budget estimates that the province has brought. It’s been quite interesting, I’ve found.”

Due to the departure of former premier Alison Redford, Donovan is expecting the current spring session to be more brief than usual, without an extensive tabling of legislation.

“There’s been some private member’s motions, but as far as bills, they’re pretty minimal. Right now, the government hasn’t tabled a lot. With an interim premier, I think it will be a shorter session than usual. I think things are going along good up there, we’ve been working, trying to get some things changed. We’re going to keep holding the government accountable, and pat them on the back when they’re doing stuff right. If we can keep that up, I think we make for a better Alberta.”

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