UCP clash with NDP over proposed Sovereignty Act

Deputy Premier Nathan Neudorf was asked why the UCP wants the NDP to apologize regarding comments they made on the proposed Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act. Leader Rachel Notley called for the federal government to quash the act should it pass at the legislature. Neudorf said his party is demanding an apology from the official opposition leader.

“She realized right away after what she said. She tried to retract all those statements, but the fact remains that the provinces are a separate jurisdiction level of government within Canada. And to say that the federal government should just override that authority is the least democratic thing that anybody wanting to be leader of a province could say. It’s shocking and disappointing, which is once she realized what she said why she was trying to retract it. We think she should apologize.”

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith recently walked back comments she made on language that is present on the proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act. The act would give the Alberta government more power in the face of federal laws that they believe are overreaching. The NDP Economic Development Critic, Deron Bilous, says they would not support changes to the amendment by Smith.

“This bill is toxic for our reputation and for investment. It’s put a chill on investment months ago when Danielle Smith first started musing about the Sovereignty Act. Regardless of the size or number of amendments that the government tries to bring in, this bill cannot fix the damage that’s been done to Alberta’s reputation. The only way to restore our reputation is to kill this bill. Investors need to know that there aren’t two sets of government with two different laws and two different ways of doing business.”

Bilous says groups like the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers have also voiced concerns over the proposed Sovereignty Act.