Alberta Premier Danielle Smith would like to have a tête-à-tête with Quebec Premier François Legault about asserting their provincial sovereignty, according to a letter Smith wrote last month.
“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,” Smith said in a March 21 letter penned to her Quebec counterpart, in which she asked for a meeting.
Smith was responding to recommendations contained in a report prepared last year for the Quebec government suggesting ways that province could assert its provincial authority.
The six-person panel made 42 recommendations last November, including the adoption of a Quebec constitution, creation of Quebec citizenship, and passing a law to defend against federal interference into provincial jurisdiction.
In the letter, provided by the Alberta premier’s office, Smith says she supports at least eight of the Quebec panel’s recommendations.
Smith says she would back Quebec’s requests for constitutional amendments to have Quebec property law supercede federal law, and to require the federal government to appoint superior court judges from candidate lists prepared by the province.
Quebec’s panel also proposes that government hold a mandatory public debate whenever its use of the notwithstanding clause is poised to expire — an expiry that happens automatically five years after a provincial government opts to override a federal charter right with provincial law.
Smith’s letter says this idea is of “considerable interest” to Alberta.
“Elected legislatures — not federally appointed judges — should have the final word on the scope of rights subject to a parliamentary sovereignty clause,” Smith wrote, referring to the notwithstanding clause.
Smith’s letter also said she is “open to sharing information and advice” on how her government crafted the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act. It allows the Alberta legislature to pass a motion ordering provincial entities to take defensive action when the legislature decides a federal initiative is counter to Alberta’s best interests.
In a statement on Tuesday, Smith said she has told Legault that Alberta wants to work together with Quebec to enhance provincial autonomy.
“Alberta and Quebec have significant common interests with respect to countering overreach by the federal government into matters of exclusive provincial jurisdiction,” her statement said.
A request to Legault’s office for comment was not immediately answered on Tuesday afternoon.
Frédéric Boily, a political science professor at the University of Alberta’s Campus Saint-Jean, said the letter is a good move from a premier to show she’s advocating for Alberta’s interests without raising questions about separation from Canada.
At an unrelated news conference on Tuesday in Brooks, Alta., Smith said she’s not interested in a referendum on Alberta independence, but citizens do have a legal mechanism to push for one if they want it.
Smith has previously pledged to strike a panel to consider options, should the next federal government proceed with environmental policies she sees as harmful to Alberta’s economy.
Boily said the timing of Smith’s letter to Legault during the federal election campaign is interesting, as polls suggest the Liberals have a chance to return to power.
He said it’s also a message to Smith’s frequent ally, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has reportedly refused to publicly support conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in the election.
Smith is likely to elicit support from Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe, Boily said.
“From the point of view of Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives, this kind of initiative between Danielle Smith and other premiers, like François Legault or Scott Moe about provincial autonomy, it’s not a bad thing,” he said.
“It’s more problematic for Liberals and Mark Carney.”
