UCP caucus votes to propose changes to Alberta sovereignty bill

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative caucus says it has voted to propose two changes aimed at fixing concerns to its sovereignty bill.

Alberta’s governing United Conservative caucus says it is proposing two changes to fix concerns with a bill that grants unchecked powers to Premier Danielle Smith and her cabinet.

The caucus says in a news release that it has voted to propose an amendment to clarify that any changes cabinet makes to laws under the sovereignty act can’t be done in secret and must go back to the house for debate and approval.

The caucus has also voted to change the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act to more narrowly define when cabinet can take action.

Under the current bill, cabinet has wide latitude to respond to whatever federal policy or program it deems harmful to Alberta’s interests.

With the amendment, harm would be defined as anything a majority of the legislature deems to be unconstitutional federal intrusion into provincial areas of responsibility.

Smith said over the weekend that she is open to changing the bill, as the clauses granting her cabinet sweeping powers outside the legislature were not supposed to be in there.

“People have raised some concerns,” Smith said in an interview with The West Block’s Mercedes Stephenson, aired Sunday.

“We’re taking a look at that. If we need to tidy a few things up, then we’ll do that.”