By Jackie Lovely
MLA Camrose
Over the past few months, Alberta has come out on top in two long-standing legal challenges with some of the federal government’s most contentious energy and environmental policies.
Over the years, we have witnessed the federal government attempt to erode the rights and authorities of the provinces as an equal order of government under the constitution. Our victories against Bill C-39 and the federal government’s decision to unilaterally label plastic as a ‘toxic substance’ have been great news for our province and for our future.
In early October, Albertans celebrated as the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government’s Bill C-69 – also known as the “No More Pipelines” Act – is unconstitutional. This was a major victory for Alberta’s economy and Alberta’s provincial rights.
Bill C-69 has already claimed billions in investment and thousands of jobs. This ruling represents an opportunity to stop the economic bleeding and bring these investments and jobs back to our province and country. It also provides Alberta with yet another tool to work with, as we fight to protect Albertans from Ottawa’s proposed electricity regulations and oil and gas emissions cap.
Over the years, we have witnessed the federal government attempt to erode the rights and authorities of the provinces as an equal order of government under the constitution. We hope this decision marks a turning point in that approach.
This past week, Albertans celebrated another win as the courts confirmed that the federal Liberals’ climate policies are both unreasonable and unconstitutional.
A little over a year ago, Alberta intervened with the Federal Court to argue that the federal government’s decision to unilaterally label plastic as a ‘toxic substance’ is an unconstitutional intrusion into provincial jurisdiction and a threat to our economy.
In the recent ruling, Justice Angela Furlanetto wrote that it was “unreasonable and unconstitutional” to list all plastic manufactured products as toxic in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, adding that the federal government “acted outside of their authority.”
Soon after the decision, Premier Danielle Smith and Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz highlighted how Ottawa’s policies have put “thousands of jobs and billions of investments at risk.”
To echo our Premier and Environment Minister, it’s time for the federal government to listen to the courts and to Canadians, act within their scope, and acknowledge their continued pattern of overreach and the wide-ranging consequences this behaviour has had on the provinces.
For example, Alberta is proudly home to Canada’s largest petrochemical sector, a sector with more than $18 billion in recently announced projects that were needlessly put in jeopardy.
Premier Smith and our entire United Conservative team are listening and responding to the needs of Albertans. Alberta is back, leading the nation in economic prosperity, freedom, and opportunity and we will work tirelessly to ensure this does not change.
~Jackie Lovely is the MLA for the Camrose region. She can be reached at her constituency office by phone at 780-672-0000, or by email at Camrose@assembly.ab.ca.