Alberta government invokes debate time limit as sovereignty bill heads for the finish line
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s sovereignty bill galloped toward the finish line Wednesday, with the government using debate time limits to rebut what it called Opposition delay tactics.
Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley said the government was on pace to pass the bill Wednesday night or in the early hours Thursday, saying Smith’s United Conservatives are desperate to take the controversial bill out of the spotlight.
“I suspect we’ll see them jam it through today in order to try to change the channel from the growing chorus of critiques from investors, legal scholars, business owners, regular Albertans, treaty chiefs, you name it,” Notley told reporters.
“The concerns are growing, and they want to run away from what was supposed to be the premier’s flagship bill.”
The bill was introduced just over a week ago by Smith as the centrepiece legislation of her government to resist what it calls federal intrusion in areas of provincial authority under the Constitution.
By the weekend, the premier was promising changes to counter widespread criticism that the bill would grant her cabinet ongoing emergency-type powers to rewrite laws outside the legislative process to fix whatever it deemed to be federal harm, or even potential federal harm.
Smith has said the powers weren’t supposed to be in the bill, but has not explained how they came to be included.
On Tuesday night, the legislature began debating an amendment brought forward by the UCP caucus to reverse those powers and narrow the definition of federal harm.
UCP backbencher Mark Smith introduced the amendment. He said it was needed to make it clear that the legislature is still in charge of law-making.
“The goal was — or at least it should have been — for all elected members to consider how to make a bill better,” he said.
“Tonight, I’ve placed an amendment before this house, which I believe will clarify this bill and the intent of this bill.”
He introduced the amendment after members of the house passed a motion by government house leader Joseph Schow to limit further debate on second reading of the bill.
Schow also signalled he will bring forward motions to limit debate if necessary at the amendments stage and at third reading, which is the final stage to pass a bill.
Such measures are allowed to balance debate with keeping the business of the house moving.
Schow said there had been nine hours of debate on the bill at second reading and that the NDP had said it had no interest in contributing to the bill and has called for it to be scrapped altogether.
“There has been plenty of time for members to speak,” Schow told the house Tuesday night.
“It’s time the government did what it has promised Albertans it would do this fall and get things done with Bill 1.”
Legal scholars say the bill remains legally questionable given it says the legislature, not the courts, get to decide what is and is not constitutional.
There are also worries about the legal uncertainty that could result if cabinet uses its powers under the bill to direct municipalities, health regions, schools and city police forces to resist implementing federal laws.
Some business groups, including the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, have warned that such uncertainty is bad for business.
Earlier Wednesday, former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge joined Notley at a news conference to say the bill sends a message of legal confusion and uncertainty that won’t entice potential investors.
“We should not shoot ourselves in the foot by creating an impression that investors cannot rely on the rules, on the laws and on the processes that we have in place in Canada,” Dodge said.
Earlier Wednesday in Ottawa, First Nations chiefs from Alberta and Saskatchewan called for both provinces to scrap their respective provincial rights bills, calling them inherently undemocratic, unconstitutional and an infringement on Indigenous rights.
Treaty 6 Chief Tony Alexis of Alberta’s Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation said there has been no consultation or dialogue with First Nations around the Alberta bill and it could set a harmful precedent.
Rick Wilson, Alberta’s Indigenous relations minister, said the bill specifies that treaty rights are respected but he has heard the leaders’ concerns and will work to address them.
Wilson, speaking to reporters, said the title of the bill itself — the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act — is problematic.
“I’ve been on the phone, of course, with First Nations leaders across the province and a lot of the concerns are around just calling it the sovereignty act, like, what does that mean?” said Wilson.
“In fairness, there’s not a lot of clarification around what that means. Should we have done more consultation? Absolutely.”
— With files from Kelly Geraldine Malone in Saskatoon
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 7, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.