Alberta Finance Minister Jason Nixon says United Conservative Party leadership candidate Daniel Smith’s proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act is “very problematic” for the party and would be impossible to implement.
Nixon also said Wednesday that he doubted such legislation — which would seek to allow Alberta to opt out of any specific federal law or policy that runs counter to its interests — would pass the legislature.
“I would caution anyone who wants to lead our party against over-promising things that we know cannot be delivered,” Nixon said, adding that he had not spoken to Smith directly about the idea.
Nixon, the House Speaker, said there were three “main problems” with the act: It would break the law, scare away investors and shake up the market, and it was impossible to achieve.
Alberta Finance Minister and House Leader Jason Nixon says UCP leadership candidate Daniel Smith’s proposal for an Alberta Sovereignty Act, as outlined, will not pass the legislature pic .twitter.com/syEhj4EbXA
—@Jantafrench
He said he understands the frustration some Albertans have with the federal government, but this act is not the solution.
“Telling the people of Albertan that you can accomplish something that you cannot accomplish is very problematic in the long run for our party,” Nixon said.
“Governments in our province have been fighting this battle for a very long time, and to somehow imagine to Albertans that there is some magic solution that the legislature can pass tomorrow that will somehow make all these problems go away, is not a fact, and that is what I would urge you to be careful about now,” Nixon said.
The Alberta Sovereignty Act is a key part of Smith’s platform.
In a statement to CBC News, Smith said her proposed act “would empower the Alberta legislature to refuse to apply any specific law or policy of the federal government that infringes on the rights of the province of Alberta under section 92 of the Constitution or the Charter the rights and freedoms of Albertans.”
Danielle Smith says her Alberta Sovereignty Act will allow MLAs a free vote on any federal law her government believes violates Alberta’s provincial rights. pic.twitter.com/ApC6jbOMDY
—@MBellefontaine
She added that the act would only be used after a free vote was held by all MLAs in the legislature on whether and how it would be used to oppose a federal law.
“My guess is that such a vote would pass by a solid margin,” Smith said.
The law is unconstitutional and illegal, the political scientist believes
Mount Royal University political scientist Dwayne Bratt agrees with Nixon’s assessment of Smith’s proposed act.
“It would be unconstitutional, it would be illegal. It will lead to a risky investment climate in Alberta,” Bratt said.
“These are promises that can be made but will never happen, that are impossible,” he said.
Interference in the leadership race
Brat also found it remarkable that Nixon, a senior member of the party, was stepping directly into the leadership race at the deadline for candidates to register to run for the party’s top job.
“We see a real disconnect between one of the top UCP leadership candidates and the current UCP government,” said Brat.
“We are seeing a major policy proposal that could be considered one of the frontrunners in the leadership race directly attacked by a senior minister in the Kenny government.”
I was wondering when we would see a major divergence between the current UCP government and the proposals of the UCP leadership candidates. Jason Nixon repealing Smith’s Sovereignty Act (her first order of business) was such a moment.
—@DuaneBratt
Nixon said he had not yet endorsed any leadership candidate, but then said it was a “great pleasure” to work with former Treasury Secretary Travis Toews.
I think he is the best candidate for the leader of this party.
UCP members will elect a new leader to replace Jason Kenney in October after a postal vote.
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