David Hanson celebrates with his wife Donna after winning the Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul seat in the Legislature in 2019. 

UCP MLA’s were sworn into the Legislature on Tuesday, including Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul representative David Hanson.

Hanson begins his second term as an MLA.

Previously, he was the representative for the now-defunct Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills riding.

“It was awesome. It was pretty exciting. Sixty-three members were sworn in. We elected our speaker Nathan Cooper, I actually nominated him. We also elected our deputy house speaker Angela Pitt,” said MLA David Hanson.

NDP MLA’s were sworn in the week before.

The speech from the throne commenced yesterday afternoon beginning an 11-week session this summer at the legislature that won’t be finished until July.

It is expected that Bill 1 which will scrap the carbon tax and the NDP Climate Leadership Plan will be introduced today after it was outlined in the throne speech.

“Every place I go talk to people they’re just feeling a little more confident in the economy right now. Hopefully we can keep that momentum going,” said Hanson.

Bill 2 or the “Open for Business Act” is part of the UCP’s focus on job creation. It would keep the $15 minimum wage, but introduce a $13.00 wage for workers 17 years of age or younger.

MLA Hanson, as well as Premier Jason Kenney, has hinted before that this will be a busy summer in the legislature.

“Albertans have always punched above their weight in the national economy. By removing obstacles to growth, we are sending a clear message to investors, job creators and entrepreneurs all over the world that Alberta is once again open for business and open for jobs,” said Premier Jason Kenney in a press release.