On November 29th, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith introduced her signature bill called the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act.

By the passing of this legislation, it would allow cabinet to "direct provincial entities -- including Crown-controlled organizations, police, health authorities, municipalities, school boards -- to not use provincial money to enforce federal rules deemed harmful to Alberta's interests".

The Premier tried justifying this bill to reporters stating that she wanted to reset Alberta's relationship with Ottawa and outlined items like fertilizer restrictions, firearms, energy and healthcare as areas where they may use the act. 

There is no justification. Premier Smith's sovereignty act will harm Alberta's reputation and will create a constitutional crisis.

Furthermore, the act itself attempted to give Premier Smith undemocratic power that has been likened to the Henry VIII Clauses.  While these clauses have been revoked this act itself is still an attempt to subvert our federal government and our courts.

Lastly, the act has been called out by several Indigenous community leaders stating that the act infringes on treaty rights and the Minister of Indigenous Relations himself said that this act had very little consultation with Indigenous communities. 

It is beyond inappropriate and several respected individuals have called out the act for several reasons. 

“We’re asking Saskatchewan and Alberta sovereignty act be withdrawn,” said Treaty 8 Grand Chief Arthur Noskey. 

Eric Adams a University of Alberta professor said,

"No province has ever tested whether the constitutional authority exists for a legislature to order entities within the province — which would include police forces, cities and towns, provincial public agencies — not to comply with federal laws, Adams said."

"But [Alberta] didn't do that. They said, you know, there's this much broader, expansive definition of harmful laws. Well, harmful is in the eye of the beholder. And in a partisan world, anything is harmful that ... you think goes against your policy perspectives"

Adams said the federal government could enact a Criminal Code provision and Alberta could decide it didn't like it, and direct entities including the police force not to follow the law.

Treaty 8 First Nations Grand Chief Arthur Noskey told Postmedia they’ve sent a letter Friday to Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani to ask her to withhold royal assent. He and other chiefs are set to meet with Lakhani Monday afternoon, he said.

Noskey said the bill makes it appear Premier Danielle Smith is trying to give herself a veto over court rulings, trampling on the treaty relationships between First Nations and the Crown.

On Dec 8th while a majority of Albertans were sleeping, the Legislative Assembly passed the Alberta Sovereignty Act. It now awaits Royal Assent. 

As more Albertans begin to watch our government with a closer eye, it is crucially important that we condemn this grab at power and that we protect the jurdisitcion of all levels of government and our courts.

With all of this in mind, the signatories of this petition call upon all members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta to immediately convene and revoke the Alberta Sovereignty Act or to have the Lieutenant Governor seek legal advice before granting royal assent.