The front-runner to win the United Conservative Party leadership race and succeed Jason Kenney as premier has campaigned on Alberta’s proposed sovereignty act, which she says would essentially give Alberta the option to ignore federal laws and regulations that interfere with provincial interests.
Martin Olszynski, with the University of Calgary’s law school, says it would never work.
“It’s totally unconstitutional. It’s totally, totally inconsistent with both our Constitution and our basic form of government,” he said.
“And specifically, what I’m referring to is the separation of powers — the idea that we have separate branches of government. That for a reason — is there to make sure we have checks and balances.”
As the race to succeed Kenney heats up, the candidates seem to share a common goal — Ottawa.
They decry the federal government’s control of the energy sector, equalization payments, health care, and policing, to name just a few.
But the business community says alienating Ottawa will also alienate investment and desperately needed workers.
“We have so many jobs that are open,” Deborah Yedlin told the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.
“We’re looking for this pool of younger talent, and they’re very, very focused on what health care is like, what education is like, what (are) the values of the jurisdiction they want to move to (to) get a job.
“It’s not just about the money – it’s about the values that represent the place they’re going to move to.”
Yedlin also says instability scares off investment and poor relations between different levels of government could hurt Alberta’s economy.
