Sask. political leaders have little to say about Alberta's proposed Sovereignty Act

The Alberta government's sovereignty act received national attention this week, but in Saskatchewan political leaders had little to say about it.

New Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party leadership campaign centred around the act, which was tabled in the Alberta legislature on Tuesday under as the Alberta Sovereignty Within A United Canada Act, and generated plenty of reaction and analysis.

The bill outlines how the Alberta government would not enforce federal legislation, policies or programs it decides are "harmful" to Alberta's interests or infringe on the division of powers in the Constitution.

The bill appears to give cabinet new powers to bypass the legislative assembly and unilaterally amend provincial laws. 

The bill "fundamentally upends a number of stabilizing principles in our Canadian constitutional order," said Eric Adams, a constitutional scholar at the University of Alberta.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said Wednesday that he had been briefed on the act.

"I won't say if it goes too far or doesn't go too far," Moe said.

"What I would say is all of these acts are going to have rightful scrutiny from Opposition members and others and that is a good thing. They do need to be within the confines of laws that we have in our nation."

Moe pivoted to talking about his government's Saskatchewan First Act, which he said aims to "take up our full constitutional authority. If that is the goal of the Alberta Sovereignty Act in a little different way, we are supportive of provinces doing that."

Moe and his government have said the Saskatchewan First Act will be within the Canadian Constitution. It aims to confirm the province's autonomy and jurisdiction over its natural resources. 

"We're not looking to expand the provincial jurisdictional powers we have," Moe said.

He said he had spoken to Smith about Saskatchewan's proposed legislation, but not Alberta's act.

After the Saskatchewan government introduced its bill, Smith posted a tweet in support, saying the two provinces were "pushing back Ottawa."

Moe spoke after a portrait unveiling for former premier Brad Wall on Wednesday.