Policy Development

  • What is policy?

    Answer

    • Objectives that the membership of the Alberta Party have decided are important for the government of Alberta to pursue
    • Succinct statements of specific, limited scope
    • Embody the ideals of the Party
    • The basis for the Party’s platform in the next election

  • What is the purpose of policy development?

    Answer

    To encourage participation of Members in the public affairs of Alberta by:

    • advocating and supporting Alberta Party values, philosophies, principles and established
    • policies
    • providing forums for Members to improve policies, provide input on
    • public affairs and contribute to the election platform
    • accommodating changing technology, conditions and electoral cycles
    • endorsing and supporting elected MLAs and nominated candidates

  • Policy Resolution Basics

    Answer

    To be eligible for consideration, policy resolutions must:

    • respect Canada’s Constitution and Charter of Rights and Freedoms
    • be within provincial jurisdiction and focused on a public policy purpose
    • express a judgement that the Alberta Party should take a position or press for action on an issue
    • be factual and reflect consultation with recognized experts
    • be the result of a democratic process that includes meaningful grassroots engagement with Members
    • be submitted to the Policy Committee before the deadline (tentatively June 30, 2025)
    • not replicate previous election platform commitments or priority resolutions previous conventions
    • be limited to 275 words with four sections

  • Who can sponsor a Policy Resolution?

    Answer

    • Super Constituency Associations – up to 10 policy resolutions
    • Provincial Board – up to 10 policy resolutions
    • Individual Members – up to 3 policy resolutions

    *These numbers are inclusive of co-sponsorships

  • How will Policy Resolutions be Considered and Adopted?

    Answer

    • Policies will be posted on the Alberta Party website in a Members only area for comments, debate and priorization
    • Top 40 policies will be forwarded to the Alberta Party policy convention (tentatively set for November, 2025) for final voting by Members
    • Policies which receive a majority vote during the plenary session at the convention will be adopted by the Party

  • Anatomy of a Resolution

    Answer

    • 1. Title should be concise and quickly convey the subject of the resolution
    • 2. Preamble the situation or context that gives rise to the policy idea and why it is important; statements based on objectively verifiable facts that start with “WHEREAS”; identify third parties consulted in preparation of
    • policy proposal
    • 3. Direction identify actions the sponsor wants AP to take in a statement or series of statements starting with, the phrase “BE IT RESOLVED”
    • 4. Sponsor sponsor(s) name and contact link

  • Example Resolution

    Answer

    Here is an example of a policy resolution:

    WHEREAS Alberta has struggled to create a financial environment that fosters and encourages innovation, entrepreneurship, and startup businesses;

    AND WHEREAS it is apparent that we need to diversify the economy to include areas other than natural resources;

    AND WHEREAS there are non-tangible benefits to receiving funds from an investor rather than the government, such as mentorship and built-in networks;

    AND WHEREAS Flow Through Share structures have been used to great effect in exploration and development of natural resources in Canada for more than 50 years;

    AND WHEREAS Flow Through Share structures allow corporations that have only losses to “flow” those losses to investors personally to offset the high risks involved in investing in startup businesses;

    AND WHEREAS the risk profile of natural resource exploration and development and startup businesses is very similar, especially in areas such as technology, life sciences, and health-related innovation;

    BE IT RESOLVED that the Alberta Party urge the government to consider the expansion of the Flow Through Share program to include important industries such as technology, life sciences, and health-related innovation;

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alberta Party will study and consider the abolishment of tax credit programs that do not substantially achieve their projected goals for diversification of the economy.