(OTTAWA) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated Thursday morning that the federal government will work as constructively as possible with Alberta, after MPs passed Premier Danielle Smith’s controversial ‘sovereignty’ law. .
“We’re not going to argue about something that obviously is the Alberta government trying to push the federal government away,” Trudeau said Thursday in Ottawa.
“We will continue to work as constructively as possible,” he added.
The Legislature passed the Alberta Sovereignty in a United Canada Act early Thursday night, after removing a provision from the bill that would have given the cabinet extraordinary powers.
Mme Smith described the law as a reset of Alberta’s relationship with Mr. Trudeau and the federal government.
Mr. Trudeau pointed out that the relationship between Ottawa and the provinces is not like that of a parent and a child. Each has distinct areas of competence and responsibility, he added.
Provincial governments can move forward on laws with which the federal government does not agree, but the remedy must go through the courts, reminded the Prime Minister.
Indigenous groups had called for the bill to be scrapped, saying there had been no consultation on its content or how the law would affect First Nations rights.
Trudeau said his government is extremely concerned about what the bill represents in terms of challenging treaty rights that are fundamental to Canada and must be upheld.
Rachel Notley’s NDP opposition in Alberta called the whole thing a “total mess”.
As he did last week, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that he will not argue about this, but rather that he will take care of issues such as child care and dental care.
Randy Boissonnault, federal Liberal minister from Alberta, maintained that no one had asked for this bill and he is worried about the way it will be used.
Mr. Boissonnault called this bill a “great distraction”; he says citizens and businesses are worried about how he could jeopardize Alberta’s economic growth.
The MP for Edmonton Center said the federal government is not trying to squabble with Alberta and that the key to success is collaboration. “My appeal to the Prime Minister and her colleagues is that we all work together. »