'It's bonkers': Edmonton MP reacts to Smith's plan to veto federal-municipal deals
Proposed legislation that would allow the Alberta government to veto any future deal struck between municipalities and the federal government, including research grants to post-secondary institutions, is being criticized as political interference and red tape.
The bill would prevent Ottawa from funding federal ideological priorities that run counter to the province’s objectives, Premier Danielle Smith said Wednesday after it was introduced.
"They (the federal government) fund in a certain way based on a certain ideology and that's what we're going to be able to determine once that becomes a lot more transparent," Smith told reporters.
According to University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young, the comment raised the question whether the Alberta government would attempt to decide what research received funding.
She told CTV News Edmonton on Thursday that a fundamental principle of Canada's research adjudication system is that funding decisions are made by committees of experts in the topic.
"That protects academic freedom, it protects the integrity of the research that's done, it ensures it is science or the direction of the discipline that is shaping the decisions of what gets funded and what doesn't.
"So any mechanism that put political interference into this would be a huge blow to the entire research system in Canada," Young said.
"It would be devastating for these institutions in terms of being able to remain nationally and internationally recognized as research institutions. It would also likely lead to an exodus of the most talented researchers to other jurisdictions."
Advanced Education Minister Rajan Sawhney defended the policy on Thursday, saying there is no desire to impede academic freedom.
"We do need to understand what these federal grants are and right now there is no grant that I know of, that I am aware of, that will be problematic, but we need to have that information at our disposal," Sawhney said.
The University of Alberta received more than $223 million in research funding from the federal government last year, it said in a statement to CTV News Edmonton. That funding accounts for more than one-third of the university's total annual research revenue.
"Beyond research funding, federal dollars provide job skills programming and workforce development, including through french language education at Campus St. Jean," spokesperson Michael Brown said.
"These projects and programs make a tangible difference in the lives of people in Alberta and beyond, from discovering life-saving medical treatments, to new technology that fuels the economy of tomorrow."
When Smith was asked on Wednesday if the legislation could result in political interference, she replied, "I'd ask the federal government the same way. How are they politically interfering by using their federal spending power to fund certain research projects? That's what we're worried about, is that the federal government is doing that."
Canada's employment minister and Edmonton member of parliament, while speaking at a federal housing announcement in Alberta's capital city on Thursday, said he had grave concerns for Alberta's research community.
"What's she going to do with artificial intelligence funding? ... What's going to happen with agriculture science? What's going to happen when it comes to fighting climate change?" Randy Boissonnault asked.
He told reporters he advised Smith in the fall not to develop the legislation as he believes it will act only as bureaucratic red tape to slow the province down.
"Like, this is bonkers," he said.
"We can get through each and every one of the issues we have with the provincial government. There doesn't need to be a blanket law applied."
On Thursday, Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi also said the bill would stifle economic growth.
"Municipalities, and organizations in our city, are getting caught in the middle of a fight between the province and the federal government. There are valid concerns about jurisdiction and fair allocation of funding, but there are better ways to achieve these goals that don't result in additional red tape," Sohi said in a statement.
Smith said her government was bringing in the legislation in response to recent unilateral federal housing grants to some Alberta cities and accused Ottawa of picking favourites.
Funding from the Housing Accelerator Fund goes to municipalities proposing innovative ways, such as zoning and planning changes, to get more affordable housing built. It is not tied to population and Alberta is getting close to its 12 per cent per capita share at around $450 million, the federal housing minister has confirmed.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Chelan Skulski and The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he does not regret calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko,' and now his MPs are renewing calls for the House of Commons Speaker to resign, this time over ordering the Official Opposition leader to leave the chamber.
Is it cold, flu or norovirus? Symptoms explained
The highly contagious norovirus is spreading across Canada, with some symptoms overlapping with other viruses. CTVNews.ca spoke with a health expert to find out how you can tell you have norovirus, the most common form of stomach flu, and what to do if you have it.
Freeland leaves capital gains tax change out of coming budget implementation bill, here's why
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Anger can harm your blood vessel function, study shows
Stress and anger can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health, studies have shown. New research points to just how the mechanism may work.
Ontario's police watchdog continues probe of high-speed pursuit involving fatal crash
The investigation continues into a collision that killed two grandparents and their infant grandchild during a high-speed police chase on the wrong way of Highway 401 east of Toronto.
Ontario woman surprised after 20-year-old fines suddenly tank credit score
An Ontario woman says that she was shocked when fines from 20 years ago suddenly tanked her credit score last week, but the situation may not be as unusual as it seems, according to at least one debt expert.
Search continues for 'armed man' in Dartmouth, N.S.
Police say they continue to search for an armed man who allegedly threatened people in Dartmouth, N.S.
Swarm of bees delays Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles game in Arizona. An 'MVP' beekeeper came to the rescue
Major League Baseball fans had an unexpected buzz on Tuesday after a swarm of bees delayed the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game for around two hours.
Newfoundland fisherman says police broke his leg during protest that delayed budget
Richard Martin is spending this year's fishing season on land after he says a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer broke his left leg in three places during a protest last month that shut down the provincial legislature.