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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith extended her congratulations, coupled with a disapproving warning and a comprehensive critique, to Prime Minister Mark Carney and his newly formed Liberal government on Tuesday.
This statement coincided with her government’s introduction of the Election Statutes Amendment Act, aiming for significant modifications to provincial election regulations. A key aspect of the proposal is to simplify the process for citizens to initiate a referendum on secession from Canada.
In her statement, Smith urged Carney to immediately redefine Ottawa’s relationship with Alberta, charging the Liberal government with undermining the province’s resource-dependent economy over the past decade.
“I will not allow the current situation to persist,” she asserted.
During a subsequent press conference, Smith remarked that over 300 members of Parliament were elected on platforms advocating for resource development, while the federal NDP, Green Party, and Bloc Québécois were marginalized due to their opposition.
“I hope the current prime minister recognizes that his mandate originates from moderate voters who truly wish for this province to become a genuine energy superpower,” she stated, adding, “The ball is now in (Carney’s) court regarding his response.” She expressed her aspiration to work collaboratively with him to identify common ground.
Furthermore, Smith announced her intent to seek protective measures for Alberta against what she termed “future hostile acts” by Ottawa.
The Liberals regained power in the recent federal election, forming a minority government.
The proposed legislation aims to adjust the threshold for citizen-initiated referendums, decreasing the required petition signatures to 10 percent of eligible voters from the previous 20 percent of registered voters. Additionally, applicants would be allotted 120 days, as opposed to 90, to gather the necessary signatures.
Smith asserted that the bill, regardless of the election results, would have been introduced by her Justice Minister Mickey Amery.
“The lack of previous citizen-initiated referendums suggests that people perceived it as futile to collect such a large number of signatures,” she explained. “Our goal is to recalibrate the system to facilitate voter expression.”
If enacted, the legislation will implement numerous changes, many of which mirror municipal rules established by Smith’s United Conservatives, including a ban on voting tabulator machines and the reinstatement of corporate and union donations.
Smith commended Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who lost his long-held seat in Ottawa, referring to him as a “true ally of Alberta” who championed anti-tax and pro-resource policies and drove national debate for many years. She expressed hope that Poilievre would continue as leader.
When questioned about her past comments to American media describing Poilievre as aligning with U.S. President Donald Trump, Smith downplayed the notion that her statements harmed his campaign.
“The vote results solidified due to federal campaigning as the election drew closer, and I was not in the media during that period,” she argued.
She added that she endeavored to distance herself from the federal elections, noting, “I realize the media sought to involve me.”
Trump’s actions have drawn considerable criticism from Canadians, particularly regarding tariffs on Canadian goods and his remarks about potentially annexing Canada.
Alberta has historically maintained a contentious relationship with Liberal administrations in Ottawa. Last month, Smith listed nine demands for the incoming prime minister, emphasizing the need to eliminate the greenhouse gas emissions cap and to lift the ban on single-use plastics, lamenting the inability to use straws again.
Leading up to the election, Smith cautioned of a looming “unprecedented national unity crisis” should her demands go unmet within a six-month time frame.
Moreover, she proposed establishing a second Fair Deal Panel, to be named the “What’s Next” panel, aiming to gauge Albertans’ desires regarding next steps.
These developments come amid concerns voiced by figures such as former Reform Party leader Preston Manning, who warned of potential sovereignty sentiments among western Canadians frustrated with the prospect of another Liberal term.
On Tuesday, Smith remarked it is ultimately up to the citizens of Alberta, rather than her government, to determine whether the question of separation will appear on a referendum ballot. She noted the growing sentiment around this issue stemming from feelings of betrayal and hurt among the populace.
Critics, including Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi, have condemned Smith’s flirtation with the idea of Alberta separatism, particularly amidst an ongoing trade dispute with the U.S.
Nenshi expressed that attacking Carney immediately after his election victory is not an effective strategy to negotiate favorable terms for Alberta, citing concerns over the expenses associated with another fair deal panel that, in his view, may not yield tangible outcomes.
Source
globalnews.ca