Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Ottawa says it is “not looking for a fight” with Alberta over the provincial government’s proposed sovereignty bill, but added it will “not take anything off the table.”
his comment comes after morning Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Introduced legislation that, if approved, would give sweeping powers to the provincial cabinet has already faced fierce opposition criticism – and it raising constitutional questions,
Alberta Sovereignty Act: Municipalities, local police may get provincial directive
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Speaking on his way to a caucus meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday, Trudeau said the “extraordinary powers” proposed in the bill are “raising a lot of eyebrows in Alberta.”
“We’re going to see how it plays out,” Trudeau said, when asked whether he intended to counter the federal government’s move and the bill.
“I’m not taking anything off the table, but I’m also not looking for a fight.”
If passed, the province says the proposed legislation could be used to “stand against federal government encroachment and interference in areas of provincial jurisdiction, including … private property, natural resources, agriculture, firearms, regulation of the economy and health, distribution of education, and other social programs.
The proposed act gives cabinet authority “to direct provincial entities not to enforce specific federal laws or policies with provincial resources.” Anyone subject to the Bill would comply, but the Bill does not outline enforcement measures.
While defining the provincial entities it will have powers, the Bill casts a wide net. This includes provincial crown-controlled organizations and public agencies, regional health authorities, school boards and public post-secondary institutions, and municipalities, as well as municipal police services.
While the province attempted to reassure indigenous communities that the proposal would not violate their rights, both Treaty 6 and Treaty 8 chiefs issued statements reiterating their opposition to the act. He cautioned that the law “may apply to any federal law or requirement, whether with regard to public health, the environment, or treaties – international agreements that take legal precedence over provincial and federal law.”
Meanwhile, opposition NDP legislators voted against the first reading of the bill and issued a statement saying the legislation would “create investment uncertainty, jeopardize federal funding agreements and put Alberta’s economic future at risk.”
As the controversial legislation makes its way through the province’s legislature, Trudeau said the federal government will “focus on delivering for Albertans.”
“There are going to be things that we agree with that government on, there are going to be things that we disagree with,” he said.
“My focus is always going to be creative in terms of doing things for people across the country.”
— With files from Global News’ Emily Mertz
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