Alberta Premier Danielle Smith invoked her province’s new sovereignty act for the first time on Nov. 27 to oppose Ottawa’s requirements for net-zero electricity by 2035. The province says the requirements impact the reliable supply of electrical power and increase costs, and that the federal government is infringing on provincial jurisdiction.
In a motion tabled in the provincial legislature, the provincial government asks legislators to reject the constitutional validity of Ottawa’s Clean Electricity Regulations (CER), and use legal means to oppose the measure.
“Albertans must have access to affordable and reliable power when and where they need it. It’s a matter of health and safety, and a matter of financial reality,” Ms. Smith said at a press conference on Nov. 27. “But it’s also a matter of law. … The constitution is clear, electricity is a provincial responsibility.”
This marks the first time the Alberta government has invoked the act, which the province says allows it to reject federal laws or policies deemed harmful to Alberta. The legislation was championed by Ms. Smith during her UCP leadership bid in 2022, and was passed into law shortly after she won the…
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