David Staples: Who Will Daniel Smith’s Sovereignty Act Hurt?

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Daniel Smith’s Sovereignty Act is a thunderbolt that can not only excite voters, but also scorch political leaders. Partisans, pundits and politicians alike have not seen Alberta-Ottawa relations in years since Justin Trudeau’s battle against pipeline abolition bill C-69 was at its height. I’m furious with

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With a commitment to such actions, Alberta’s two major political parties, Smith’s UCP and Rachel Notley’s NDP, face significant risks and rewards when it comes to how the debate plays out in the run-up to Alberta’s spring elections.

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Right now, Notley’s front line of attack on the NDP is getting a lot of attention, viewing sovereignty laws as an abuse of power.

Calgary state attorney NDP MLA Irfan Sabir cited this concern as the main issue in his party’s opening speech on the law, after the UCP MLA invoked the sovereignty law and voted to stand up to the federal government. A course of action in the legislative branch, Smith and her Cabinet, in closed-door meetings, can independently change or refine these marching orders.

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“The first thing it will do is give the Prime Minister and Cabinet unprecedented powers to change and rewrite laws behind closed doors without the approval of this House of Commons,” Sabir said of the act.

“She now believes she can give herself the supreme power to rule outside this House and change the law behind closed doors.”

This criticism stoked supporters of the NDP, and Smith and her cabinet used this power to take away same-sex marriage rights Also Change the Canadian Health Act.

Of course, the UCP would argue that the new bill does not authorize the Cabinet to do so, and that the Cabinet must follow the guidance of parliamentary resolutions. That said, Smith would be wise to repeal this provision of cabinet interference. Otherwise, she will undermine her own attempts to seize power in the federal government and be sidelined with allegations of relentless abuse of power.

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Another aspect of Sabir’s speech that struck me was what he didn’t say. The UCP has faced a lot of criticism, but last March he enraged many Albertans, including the NDP itself, such as when Notley lashed out at Trudeau’s 2030 climate change plan. He never mentioned abuses of federal power.

There was nothing from Sabir about Ottawa causing inflation and sabotaging Canada’s oil and gas industry. Nor was there any need for Alberta to oppose new federal plans to reduce fertilizer use by farmers and proposals to end the use of fossil fuels. Fuel to produce electricity by 2035.

By not acknowledging the immediate concerns, Sabir and the NDP risk reinforcing Smith’s criticism that Notley is essentially allied with Trudeau’s liberals on energy and agricultural policy.

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As for Smith’s own speech on sovereignty law, it would excite her base as she struck down her main point.

She covers C-69, the carbon tax, Trudeau’s discriminatory tanker ban against Alberta oil, the cancellation of tens of billions of new pipelines and projects, and a new federal conspiracy, stating: . At the same time as our growth prospects, it is overburdening us.

We are a constructive state and the response has been continued disrespect and a continuous drain of our resources. I have seen funding priorities and this is why I inform Ottawa I am not going to do this anymore.

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“What we want is to have the same power and respect that Ottawa gives to Quebec, nothing more, nothing less.”

Mr. Smith also noted how Trudeau’s Ottawa was actively transgressing its own constitutional boundaries, giving it “exclusive state jurisdiction” under the constitution, including the development, conservation, management and production of natural resources and electrical energy. , and elaborated on how they are reaching out to the field of “I am not and we are not asking permission from Ottawa to exercise influence. is.”

Would Smith’s assertive approach work? Not if the Prime Minister is believed to be abusing his power. But the Sovereignty Act has already stoked Smith’s own foundations and focused Canadians outside the province on her causes and policies.

Getting attention is the first step in persuasion. At least in that regard, Smith is doing well.