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K^Annual Reports Legislative Assembly Office Jj lmonwcaitn l,AlbertaBranchandInterparliamentaryRelations ' "l/lot can happen in 25years, learningfrom Digitized by the Internet Archive 2014 achievements u%itt in successfor thefuture!' TheHonourableKenKawalski,MlA,Speakerofthe LegislativeAssembly https://archive.org/details/annualreportalbe00albe_24 Contents 2 Speaker's Introduction 4 Our History 5 OurTeam 7 Our Progress 26 Comparative Statistics 36 Event Highlights 38 Financial Statements 47 Commonwealth Parliamentary Association - Alberta Branch 60 Interparliamentary Relations 61 Former Members ofthe Legislative Assembly Obituaries CMissioru To provide nonpartisan parliamentary support to the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly as they carry out their roles as elected representatives. Uisioru Respect Tradition Exemplify Service Promote Innovation U / alues Impartiality Integrity Improvement | | EmployeesoftheLegislativeAssemblyOffice(LAO) are proud to provide services to the Legislative We Assembly on behalf of the citizens of Alberta. are guided in ourwork and conduct by acore set of principlesthatmotivate usas individualsand reflect the qualities ofthe office as awhole. * / I * on ICears of Experience JuliusCaesariscreditedwith thewisdom "Experience is the teacher ofall things!' Thisis true in relationtotheevolvingroleoftheLegislativeAssemblyOffice (LAO). — The LAO hasgrownsignificantlysince itsinceptionin 1983 wehavegrown in function andcontinuallyenhanceourservices. Guidedbyourcorevaluesofimpartiality,integrityand improvement,weadaptand evolvetomeettheneedsofourMembersandtheirconstituents.Westrivetostreamline ourprocessestoincreaseefficiencyandconsistency,whichensureswegetbetterwith eachpassingyear. Theopportunitytostreamlineourservicespresenteditselfon manyfrontsin 2008. In responsetorecordlowunemploymentrateswestreamlinedhiringandenhanced retentionpractices.ToensurethatMembersandstaffcouldeasilyaccessnecessary internalinformation,welaunchedanewand improved OurHouse,ourorganization's intranetsite. Furtheringourcommitmenttoengagethepublicin theparliamentarysystem,we madeallvisitorbrandingconsistentandinvitingunderthenewbanner'Open for YoutoDiscover'.Thisinvitationwasalsoextendedon thecommitteefront,wherewe encouragedfeedbackfrom thepublicon avarietyofissues. Byfarthegreatestchallengepresented itselfthroughthespringprovincialgeneral electionandsubsequenttransition fromthe26thtothe27thLegislature.Overits25years theLAOhasseenacombined23provincialgeneralelectionsandby-elections.Welook ateachelectionasanopportunityto refineourprocessestomakethetransitioneasierin thefuture. Wehaveaquarter-centuryofexperiencebehindusandcontinue tobuildonoursuccessestodayforastrongertomorrow. Respectfullysubmitted, TheHonourableKen Kowalski,MLA Speakerofthe LegislativeAssembly 2 "Although steeped in tradition, Alberta's Legislative system is dynamic and ever-evolving to better meet the needs ofAlbertans. This is also the case with the LegislativeAssembly Office in support ofourMembers. Our teamprovides services today that weren't even conceived of25 years ago. Everyyear builds on the last, and with each newyear ourprocesses improve!' IV.J.DavidMcNeil, ClerkoftheLegislativeAssemblyofAlberta Establishedin 1983,theoriginsofAlberta'sLegislativeAssemblyOfficecanbetraced backto 14[hcenturyEngland,whenParliamentelectedthefirstSpeakerandappointed thefirstClerk.TheLegislativeAssemblyOfficeworkshardtoupholdandabideby parliamentarytraditionwhileatthesametimeensuringouroperationsarerunina nonpartisanmannerandexpandwiththeneedsoftheMembersweserve. Itmaycomeasasurprisetosome,buttheLegislativeAssemblyOfficeisnota governmentdepartment.Thegovernmentistheexecutivebranch,responsible forapplyingandenforcinglaws,andtheLegislativeAssemblyisresponsiblefor establishingthoselaws.Weareaseparateanduniqueentity fromgovernmentwith thepassionandcommitmenttoprovideallMembersoftheLegislativeAssembly, regardlessofpartyaffiliation,withthesupporttheyneedtorepresentandservetheir constituents. 4 ~Team Office ofthe Clerk House Services Library Services Responsible forprocessingthedaily Alongwith providingadviceon Offers information, newsand businessofthe Houseandproviding parliamentary procedure, producing referenceand researchservicesto the managementandcommunications theVotesand Proceedings, Order Paper Members,theirstaffand policy field supporttoall branchesofthe LAO. and theJournalsand maintaining committeesusingcurrent libraryand House records. HouseServicesprovides information technology. Aswell, HieClerkactsasaliaison at allarrangements fortheAssemblv's LibraryServicesprovidestrainingin thedeputy ministerlevelwith standing, special standingand select theuseofservicesthataredelivered governmentdepartmentsandassistsin specialcommittee meetingsand assists electronicallytotheMembers'desktops. co-ordinatingMemberparticipation withexpenses, budgets, historical records in interparliamentaryactivities. and transcripts relatingtocommittees. Information Technology In addition,the recordingand publishing LegalServices - ofprintandelectronicversionsof Services (ITS) Parliamentary Counsel Alberta Hansard, theofficial report ITS isdedicated toprovidingall oftheproceedingsoftheLegislative technologyservicestotheSpeaker, ProvidelegaladvicetotheSpeaker, Assemblvand itscommittees, fall under Members,caucuses,constituency MembersoftheLegislativeAssembly, the responsibilityofHouseServices. officesand LAO blanches. LAO staff,caucusesandcommittees This includestheadministration ofa onawide rangeofmattersaswell as subscription service toAlbertaHansard, ITSplacesa majoremphasis adviseon parliamentaryprocedureand \oresand Proceedings,theOrder onsupportingthetechnology draftprivateMembers' publicbillsand Paperandbillsandtheprintingand interdependenciesbetween clients privatebills. Both SeniorParliamentary distributionofsessional publications. andensures that theoperation Counselserveastableofficers in the TheHansardstaffin the HouseServices ofall services, includingnetwork Houseand advisetheSpeakeronpoints Branchalsoprovideproofreadingand infrastructure,applicationdevelopment, oforderandquestionsofprivilege. editingservicestootherbranches. hardwareand software. Importance is placed on meetingthediverse Human ResourceServices FinancialManagement needsofallstakeholderswith new andemergingtechnologies. (HRS) andAdministrative Services Delivercustomizedhuman resource (FMAS) Visitor, Ceremonialand managementservicestotheSpeaker, Members,caucuses,constituenciesand Providesfullaccountingservicessuch Security Services (VCSS) theLAO.This includes managingthe asbudgetpreparation and monitoring, Plans and executesceremonial and special LegislativeAssemblyhuman resource paymentprocessingand financial eventsaswell astheco-ordinationof andpayrollsystem,co-ordinating reportingaswellasadministrative school and publicoutreach programs, MLAandstaffcompensationplansand services, includingequipmentand supply toursofthefacilitiesanddeliveryof procurement,telecommunications administeringemployeeand service educational andorientation materials. contracts. In addition, HRSoversees management,constituencyoffice VCSS isalso responsible torexhibits the recruitmentand retention policies leasingandcreditcardadministration. and the LegislatureAssemblyGiftShop. fornonpartisanpositions,co-ordinates FMASalsohandlesthe responsibilities Maintainingsecurityin theChamber careercounsellingaswellaslearning undertheFreedomof Information and and precincts,co-ordinatingsecurity Protection ofPrivacyActand Records anddevelopmentprograms,ensures forconstituencyofficesand managing safeworkpracticesandpromotes ManagementGuidelines forthe LAO. the Legislative Assembh Page program health andwellnessinitiatives. arealso responsibilitiesofVCSS. J* •HE*! fhere is one other acknowledgement that I've been really anxious to make tor some V^1QHjm^eV*tW- • and that's to all of the unelected people who work here. When you come ,4? here, it can be a little bit intimidating the first few days at work. Everywhere you go, lots of smiles, lots of help, and I really appreciate that from the people who are here. >*1 . . . they really make the initiation a lot easier. I also want to tell them that they're great ambassadorsforAlberta." UerlynOlson,MLAforWetaskiwin-Camrose,inhismaidenspeechtotheLegislativeAssembly