https://twitter.com/PaulMitchell_AB/status/1728477580410634268

https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-sovereignty-within-a-united-canada-act

Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act (SA 2022 cA-33.8) - Summary:

• Enacted on: December 15, 2022.

• Purpose: To defend Alberta's interests within the Canadian federation.

• Legal Framework: Establishes a legal framework for challenging federal laws or policies negatively impacting Alberta.

• Criteria for Impact: Specifies criteria for identifying federal laws or policies that are detrimental to the province.

• Conflict Resolution: Outlines mechanisms for dispute resolution between Alberta and the federal government.

• Autonomy: Emphasizes Alberta's autonomy in decision-making for its own needs.

• Bill asserts Alberta has a distinct culture within Canada and Provincial government must uphold Albertan identity

• Affirms Constitutional Acts of 1867, 1930, 1982 establish rights, freedoms and division of powers between provincial and federal governments

• States Alberta possesses sovereign rights and powers under the Constitution that cannot be infringed upon by Federal government

• Claims Federal laws and actions have increasingly infringed on Albertan's rights unjustly

• Albertans expect Federal Parliament to respect Constitutional division of powers and authority

• If Legislature approves a motion that a Federal law/action violates the constitution or harms Albertans, Lt. Governor can issue directives including:

  • Suspending/modifying provincial laws to counteract Federal initiative

  • Compelling provincial entities like health services to act against Federal initiatives

  • Restrict application of Federal laws/programs within province

• Lt Governor directives legally binding on provincial entities

• Legislature can later rescind approval, expiring Lt. Governor's directive powers

• Judicial reviews of decisions under this Act face restrictions like 30 day filing deadline

• Aims to assert Albertan sovereignty from perceived Federal overreach

• No explicit separatist plans to leave Canada

• Risks Constitutional clashes between levels of government

• Unclear how directives compelling defiance of Federal policies would be enforced

• Significant uncertainty around legality of provisions if challenged in Supreme Court

In summary, the Act seeks to give Alberta aggressive tools to counteract Federal government actions deemed detrimental to the province, while stopping short of outright separatism. The legal viability remains dubious. It appears more a political statement of grievance with excessive Federal power over Alberta.