Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has written a letter to Quebec Premier François Legault proposing that the two provinces team up in the battle against federal overreach.
The letter, obtained by True North, followed Smith’s reading of Quebec’s Report of the Advisory Committee on Quebec’s Constitutional Issues within the Canadian Federation. Smith had sent the letter to Legault on March 21.
The report listed 42 recommendations related to Quebec’s constitutional power and freedom, the province’s relation to the country, and more specific issues.
Before True North was provided with the letter, Smith addressed its validity after the National Post originally published a news article on its contents.
“Alberta and Quebec should work together more often to keep Ottawa in their lane and to protect the constitutionally-protected jurisdictions of our provinces,” said Smith.
In Smith’s letter, she highlighted 12 of the recommendations specifically and discussed how the two provinces could collaborate to accomplish them.
“It is evident that Alberta and Quebec have significant common interests with respect to countering overreach by the federal government into matters of exclusive provincial jurisdiction,” wrote Smith in the English version of her letter, which was also provided in French.
The first recommendation Smith highlighted was the report’s call to provide Quebec with a framework law on defending and enhancing its constitutional freedom.
She said Alberta had acted similarly by implementing the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act and that she was willing to share information with Legault so that he could implement similar legislation in Quebec.
Another recommendation Smith aligned with was adopting a constitutional amendment to enshrine provincial laws concerning property and private law. This change would ensure that provincial laws and civil rights overrule federal laws that intrude on provincial jurisdiction. It could be used to fight the Liberals’ gun buyback program. Despite the federal government throwing over $600 million at the program, a single gun has yet to be collected.
A number of the recommendations Smith highlighted would allow the province to opt out of federal spending programs for measures concerning provincial jurisdiction and be otherwise compensated with measures that intrude on provincial jurisdiction.
Numerous recommendations also focused on provinces having a greater role in appointing judges to federal positions in a more democratic manner.
Smith previously called former prime minister Justin Trudeau appointing “left-wing partisan” senators as a move that violated democracy. Alberta is the only province that conducts elections for Senate nominees. However, they are non-binding and ultimately are determined by the Governor General of Canada, acting on the prime minister’s advice.
“I see an opportunity before us, as the democratically elected leaders of Alberta and Quebec, to chart a path toward a new era in Canadian federalism,” said Smith. “I propose an initial conversation between ourselves, followed by a jointly authored letter to our provincial and territorial counterparts proposing discussions on these and other items to enhance provincial autonomy within the federation.”
Smith’s letter to Legault comes amid a growing movement towards Alberta separation.
The Alberta premier has committed to convening a panel to gauge Albertans’ appetite for a referendum after the federal election.
She previously outlined nine demands for the next federal government to “avoid an unprecedented national unity crisis.”
Among the demands were repealing Bill C-69 and eliminating the oil and gas emissions cap, which Carney has already pledged not to do.
Alberta could hold a referendum at its next series of municipal elections, set to take place in October 2025.
Former premier Jason Kenney conducted a referendum on Alberta equalization similarly by including a constitutional referendum question on the municipal election ballot.