Alberta finance minister calls Danielle Smith's sovereignty act 'very problematic' for party
CBC
Alberta Finance Minister Jason Nixon says United Conservative Party leadership candidate Danielle Smith's proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act is "very problematic" for the party and would be impossible to deliver.
On Wednesday, Nixon also said he doubted such legislation — which seeks to allow Alberta to refuse enforcement of any specific federal law or policy that goes against its interests — would pass in the legislature.
"I would caution anybody who wants to lead our party about overpromising things that we know that cannot be delivered," said Nixon, adding he hasn't talked to Smith directly about the idea.
Nixon, the government's house leader, said there are three "major problems" with the act: it would break the law, it would spook investors and rock the market, and it's not possible to deliver on.
He said he understands the frustrations some Albertans have with the federal government, but this act isn't the solution.
"Telling Albertans that you can accomplish something that you can't accomplish is very problematic long term for our party," said Nixon.
"Governments in our province have been fighting this fight for a very long time, and to present to Albertans in any way that there's some magical solution that the legislature could pass tomorrow that would somehow make all these problems go away is not factual, and that is what I would urge caution on now," said Nixon.
In a statement to CBC News, Smith said her proposed act "will empower the Alberta Legislature to refuse enforcement of any specific Federal Government law or policy that violates Alberta's provincial rights under s.92 of the Constitution or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms of Albertans."
She added that the act would only be used after a free vote of all MLAs in the legislature has been held on whether to use it and how it will be used to oppose a federal law.
"My guess is such a vote would pass with a healthy margin," said Smith.
Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt agrees with Nixon's assessment of Smith's proposed act.
"It would be unconstitutional, it would be illegal. It would lead to a risky investment climate in Alberta," said Bratt.
"These are promises that can be made, but would never happen that are impossible," he said.
Bratt also found it notable that Nixon, a senior member of the party, is directly intervening in the leadership race on the deadline date for applicants to register to compete for the party's top position.
A growing number of Manitoba's MRI machines now use artificial intelligence, with a plan to have more than half using the technology by spring.
A mobile unit the Saskatchewan government bought in 2002 for providing mammograms to Saskatchewan women will soon retire.
The Prince Edward Island government is rolling out the province’s first-ever policing standards, which officials say will make police services more consistent, transparent and better supported.
Residents in Niagara Falls, Ont., continue to wait for news on the future of Marineland’s property and dozens of animals, including up to 30 belugas and four dolphins — nearly two months after the federal government turned down the theme park's request to export the mammals.
Canadian travellers hoping for a new year without having to worry about a labour dispute may be out of luck, as 2026 will see most major airlines from this country facing off with unions across the bargaining table.
Food prices are soaring. Food prices keep climbing. Food prices are defying cooling inflation.
WARNING: This story contains distressing details.
Ontario legislation that mandated air conditioning in all resident rooms in long-term care (LTC) homes has saved dozens of lives, according to a new study.
Gusty winds, rapid fall in temperature prompt special weather statement for Waterloo region and area
The mid-week warmup in Waterloo region, Guelph and area will abruptly come to an end on Friday, Environment and Climate Change Canada warns.
Water in two more schools in the N.W.T. show lead levels above Health Canada's guidelines for drinking water, according to the territorial government.
Ontario's ethics watchdog says it will investigate whether the province's labour minister contravened any laws in his handling of a controversial training fund.
Mitchell Rose, the 32-year-old man charged with three counts of attempted murder in St. John’s, will spend the next month on the forensic unit of a psychiatric hospital.
Nearly eight years after Halifax sold the historic Khyber building in the hopes it could be revived, the municipality says the site has become a “threat to safety” — and is taking it back.