The Role of Provincial Politics

You can empower your nonprofit to engage with the Alberta Government by knowing more about the types of decisions it makes, and the services and programs it provides.

Being aware of the appropriate avenues to address policy concerns is one of the first steps towards effective advocacy and engagement for your nonprofit. This knowledge can elevate your advocacy efforts by ensuring the actors targeted are well positioned to listen, consult, and provide actionable solutions to your concerns. The Alberta Government is empowered to create legislation in areas that fall within provincial jurisdiction, from health and education, to family and social services.

Three Levels of Government: Who Does What?

Knowing what the provincial government is responsible for and how the government works is essential for effective engagement and advocacy. This lays out the responsibilities of the different levels of government. Note that some responsibilities, such as environmental management, are the responsibility of more than one level of government.

  • The Government of Canada addresses the needs of all Canadians.

    Examples include:

    • Aboriginal Laws and Rights (overlaps with provincial government)

    • Canadian Pension Plan and Old Age Security

    • Employment Insurance Benefits

    • Income Tax Act

    • Criminal Law

    • Immigration Policies (overlaps with provincial government)

  • The Government of Alberta places its primary concern on the needs of Albertans.

    Examples include:

    • Education and Training

    • Health Programs, Services and Regulations

    • Family and Social Services

    • Employment and Labour Standards

  • Municipal government aims to handle issues facing citizens living within defined municipalities and local communities.

    Examples include:

    • Affordable Housing (overlaps with federal government)

    • Community and Youth Services

    • Public Transportation and Parking Bylaws

    • Libraries, Parks and Public Spaces

    • Waste and Water Management

Relationship Between Nonprofits and the Alberta Government

The Alberta Government, like all levels of government, is intrinsically linked to nonprofits. It provides resources and support to nonprofits that help them to effectively accomplish their mission and initiatives, examples of this include:

  • Providing programs and services that support communities.

  • Providing grants, awards and other types of funding models.

  • Leading key research and innovation initiatives.

  • Partnering on educational and awareness campaigns.

  • Providing a provincial platform to share ideas and perspectives.

How Does the Alberta Government Work?

  • Alberta is divided into 87 constituencies (or ridings). Each of these constituencies elects one person to become a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). These 87 representatives make up the Legislative Assembly of Alberta (also known as the Legislature or the “Leg”).

    MLAs in Alberta are generally affiliated with a political party. The main provincial political parties in Alberta include the Alberta Liberal Party, the Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP), the Alberta Party, and the United Conservative Party (a merger between what was previously known as the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta and the Wildrose Party). Independent MLAs do not belong to a political party.

    The Premier is the leader of the party which has the greatest number of seats in the Legislature.

    Watch the legislature in action.

  • The premier creates a Cabinet (or Executive Council) from the MLAs in their party. Members of the Cabinet are called Cabinet Ministers, and they are placed in charge of a specific Ministry.

    Cabinet Ministers are the main drivers of government policies and priorities. They present plans and budgets for areas of responsibility within their ministries and obtain funding authorization for programs. Ministers then develop department programs and ensure that laws administered by their Ministry are enforced.

    The Cabinet provides direction for policy development and implementation administered by the Alberta Public Service.

    Each Ministry has a Deputy Minister, who leads the policy development that supports the work of the Legislative Assembly. Working with each Deputy Minister are Assistant Deputy Ministers who lead separate divisions of the ministry. Each division is divided into branches which are led by Directors. Managers report to Directors and staff report to managers.

    Ministries can be created or dissolved by the Premier depending on what they want to focus on.

    See the current list of Ministries and find out what they are responsible for here.

  • Members of the Opposition are MLAs who are not part of the governing party.

    The role of the opposition is to hold the government accountable, critique government activity, propose amendments to policies, and present themselves to the public as an alternative to the party in office. They work to ensure that legislation is carefully considered, and alternate views are expressed and debated.

    The opposition party with the most seats is called the Official Opposition, and the leader of that party is known as the Leader of the Opposition. Other Members of the Opposition serve as Opposition Critics and make up a Shadow Cabinet, mirroring the current Ministries.

    See the current list of Members of Opposition here.

  • The Alberta Public Service is made up of over 27,000 government employees who perform the policy, legal, and administrative duties needed to deliver programs and services to Albertans. Public Service positions are not affiliated with any political party and public servants continue in their roles through government changes.

  • MLAs from all parties serve on Committees of the Legislative Assembly. These committees discuss specific topics and then submit recommendations to the Legislative Assembly, such as a recommendation to implement a new Act or amend an Act already in place.

    MLAs also serve on Government Committees alongside private members. Government Committees review policy decisions, long-range strategic priorities, legislation and regulations.

  • Proposed legislation can be brought forward by any MLA. When a bill is brought forward by an MLA who is not a Cabinet Minister, it is called a Private Members’ Bill.

    For a Bill to be passed it goes through three readings and Royal Assent, or proclamation by the Lieutenant Governor. Bills are debated in the second reading and Bills get voted on in both the second and third reading. Amendments may be made before the third reading.