Guilbeault Says Ottawa Won’t Challenge Alberta’s ‘Symbolic’ Use of Sovereignty Act

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the government has no plans to challenge Alberta’s “symbolic” use of its new sovereignty act in response to Ottawa’s Clean Electricity Regulations (CER).

“Premier [Danielle] Smith said herself yesterday that the sovereignty act is a largely symbolic gesture. You don’t take someone to court for something that’s symbolic,” Mr. Guilbeault told reporters in Ottawa on Nov. 28.

According to Ms. Smith, Ottawa is infringing on provincial jurisdiction with its CER, which she says will reduce the reliability of the province’s supply of electrical power and increase costs.

The motion tabled in the provincial legislature asks legislators to reject the constitutional validity of Ottawa’s CER and use legal means to oppose the measure. It also calls for the province to explore creating a provincial…