'It's a mess': Alberta NDP demands Smith drop sovereignty act as former UCP critics fall in line

After skewering Danielle Smith's sovereignty act idea during the UCP leadership race, several of Alberta's cabinet ministers now say they'll happily vote for it.

After skewering Danielle Smith's sovereignty act idea during the UCP leadership race, several of Alberta's cabinet ministers now say they'll happily vote for it.

The show of unity and support came as legal experts and the Opposition NDP warned of "unilateral powers" that exist in the legislation.

Brian Jean was one of four MLAs who held a press conference in September to jointly call the proposal "unconstitutional" and a "fairy tale."

On Wednesday he called the legislation a "great act" that he now supports.

"I sure do. First of all, it's constitutional. The premier consulted with caucus, consulted with cabinet, continues to consult with Albertans to get it right and we're going to get it right," Jean told reporters in the legislature.

After being sworn in as an MLA earlier in the day, Smith rose in the legislature Tuesday to introduce the retitled Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act.

Rajan Sawhney was one of the four MLAs that stood next to Jean just weeks ago to warn Albertans about Smith's initial proposal.