LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ALBERTA Shayne Saskiw, MLA Lac La Biche-St Paul-Two Hills Honourable Gene Zwozdesky 325 Legislature Building 10800 97 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5K 286 February 12, 2015 Speaker Zwozdesky: I am writing to you today as the Wildrose Official Opposition House Leader. On Tuesday, February 10, 2015 a meeting of the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices was held to discuss and approve the proposed budgets of the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (OCYA) and the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). The importance of the work of these two independent offices of the Legislature cannot be overstated. On December 17, 2014, changes to the membership of Wildrose left the Official Opposition without representation on the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices, among other Legislative Committees. This has meant that on the important issues of budget deliberations for the Offices of the Child and Youth Advocate and the Auditor General of Alberta, the Wildrose Official Opposition was unable to present amendments to the budget proposals or to vote on the motions before the committee. According to Standing Order 52 (3), the Assembly must determine the membership of the committees established under this Standing Order by resolution. As a result, the earliest that the Wildrose Official Opposition can be granted membership on what is described as the ?all-party" Standing Committee on Legislative Offices, is after March 10, 2015, the first day of the Spring Session of the Legislature. This would, once again, preclude the Wildrose Official Opposition from having the opportunity to vote and amend the budget proposals for the OCYA and OAG, at the next meeting of the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices. LEGISLATURE OFFICE 501 Legislature Annex I 9718 107 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K 1E4 CONSTITUENCY OFFICE 4331 50 Avenue St Paul, Alberta I TOA 3A3 It is clear to us that the Standing Orders were not written with the current circumstances of the Wildrose Official Opposition in mind. I submit to you that the current circumstances are extraordinary and require an immediate response that would allow the Wildrose Official Opposition full representation on the Standing Committee on Legislative Offices at the next scheduled meeting. Thank you, and I look forward to your timely response. Sincerely, Shayne Saskiw, MLA Honourable Jonathan Denis, Government House Leader Laurie Blakeman, Liberal House Leader David Eggen, New Democrat House Leader Joe Anglin, Independent Member LEGISLATURE OFFICE 501 Legislature Annex I 9718 107 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K 1E4 CONSTITUENCY OFFICE I 4331 50 Avenue I St Paul, Alberta I TDA 3A3