yyctimes

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    Border agents seize $3.6 million in methamphetamine

    March 23, 2023

    $3.6M in meth seized from commercial vehicle at Coutts border crossing: RCMP

    March 23, 2023

    Alberta teen’s fatality inquiry to find solutions to protect children at risk: judge

    March 23, 2023
    • Home
    • Contact Us
    Facebook Twitter
    yyctimes
    yyctimes
    Home » Braid: UCP softens the sovereignty act but the controversy remains
    yyctimes

    Braid: UCP softens the sovereignty act but the controversy remains

    yyctimesBy yyctimesDecember 8, 2022No Comments6 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Pinterest Tumblr Reddit Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Breadcrumb trail links

    1. Politics
    2. Opinion
    3. News
    4. Local news
    5. Columnists

    It will still be one tough Alberta law, but amendments will eliminate two major problems with the original Bill 1

    Author of the article:

    Don Braid • Calgary Herald

    Publication date:

    07 December 2022 • 7 hours ago • 3 minutes reading

    57 Comments

    Premier Danielle Smith looks into the gallery as the throne speech is delivered in the Alberta legislature on Nov. 29.
    Premier Danielle Smith looks into the gallery as the Throne Speech is delivered in the Alberta Legislature on November 29. Greg Southam/Postmedia

    Article content

    The UCP smooths the sharp edges of the sovereignty law.

    Advertisement 2

    This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    It will still be one tough Alberta bill, but amendments from the UCP caucus will eliminate two massive problems with the original Bill 1 – the use of a dictatorial “Henry VIII” clause, and the ability to allow anti-Ottawa movements to activate over anything seen as a political slight.

    Calgary Herald Headline News Banner

    Sign up to receive daily news from the Calgary Herald, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.

    By clicking the sign up button, you agree to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

    Thanks for subscribing!

    A welcome email is on its way. If you don’t see it, please check your junk folder.

    The next issue of Calgary Herald Headline News will be in your inbox soon.

    We encountered a problem signing you in. Please try again

    Article content

    If passed, these would be significant and meaningful changes that would make the bill constitutionally acceptable and (with lingering doubts) even workable.

    That won’t stop the raging debate over whether such a bill is necessary at all. Members of the Assembly of First Nations on Wednesday called for the law to be withdrawn, not simply amended.

    Chief Darcy Dixon of the Bearspaw Nation said, “we see this as a veiled attempt to flout treaty and as a way to gain illegal access to our land without restriction.”

    Advertisement 3

    This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    The bill states that it cannot be construed as “abrogating or derogating from any existing treaty rights of Aboriginal peoples.”

    Opposition will continue. People have every right to ask what Bill 1 means for their lives and their province. First Nations are naturally suspicious of any tampering with their Crown relationship.

    Hours after the amendments were tabled, an Angus Reid Institute poll emerged showing Premier Danielle Smith has about 43 percent public support, with it almost evenly split between strong and moderate support.

    Her disapproval is 54 percent, with fully 44 percent strongly opposed.

    For a new prime minister, this is not a great place to be.

    But the poll was conducted from November 28 to December 3. The questions were asked for three full days after the bill was dropped and the national uproar began.

    Advertisement 4

    This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    The retreat to common sense may now help the prime minister’s approval rating. Some even wonder if the whole show was a set-up — introduce an outrageous bill, grab the nation’s attention, then backtrack a bit after indelibly branding “Alberta sovereignty” on the nation.

    Government sources strongly deny this. There was some confusion and misunderstanding in the complex setup of the Justice Department, they say. Mistakes were made and they are being corrected.

    The first mistake was language that clearly said Smith and her cabinet could write new laws and change existing ones.

    Every Canadian lawmaker — including the prime minister — knows that these are exclusive matters of the legislature.

    Each bill must be tabled, debated, read and voted on three times by elected members.

    Advertisement 5

    This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    The Cabinet – the executive branch – has a lot of power over bills that come into the house, but no right to change or proclaim them. This is a fundamental principle of our democracy.

    King Henry VIII, who beheaded two of his six wives, was forever tied to the executive grip. This is always a temptation for governments.

    The federal government used the trick in a limited way. When Justin Trudeau’s Liberals did it, Alberta was quick to shout angry disapproval.

    Advertisement 6

    This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

    Article content

    In the new version of the Sovereignty Act, all references to cabinet power by law or statute are removed. Amendments clarify that the cabinet can only change regulations arising from laws, not the laws themselves.

    “Regulation” is newly and narrowly defined as any rule, tariff, fee or other measure made possible by law.

    I think we can return Henry VIII to his well-deserved crypt, even if some very angry Albertans were very pleased with his reappearance.

    They feel Ottawa is pulling so many dirty constitutional tricks that almost any retaliation is justified. But most Albertans, I think, expect fair behavior from their government.

    The second amendment is even more important. It now defines “harm” as a federal action that affects or interferes with an area of ​​provincial legislative jurisdiction under the Constitution of Canada.

    Action can also be taken if a federal step interferes with rights “of one or more Albertans” under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

    It is an unwelcome aftertaste of the pandemic culture wars. If the UCP wants to pursue every possible COVID-induced violation of Charter rights, it can start by suing itself.

    Don Braid’s column appears regularly in the Herald.

    Twitter: @DonBraid

    Share this article in your social network

    Advertisement 1

    This ad has not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

    Commentary

    Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourages all readers to share their opinions on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask that you keep your comments relevant and respectful. We’ve enabled email notifications—you’ll now receive an email when you receive a reply to your comment, there’s an update to a comment thread you follow, or when a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.



    Source link

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    yyctimes
    • Website

    Related Posts

    Border agents seize $3.6 million in methamphetamine

    March 23, 2023

    With economy on the rise, Alberta leads in interprovincial migration

    March 23, 2023

    Calgary Transit set to receive up to $32M for revenue shortfall

    March 23, 2023

    Braid: The Leader’s Dinner brings wads of cash to the UCP

    March 23, 2023

    Symend, one of Calgary’s top tech firms, cuts workforce by 25%

    March 23, 2023

    Smith addresses Calgary UCP supporters at Leader’s Dinner

    March 23, 2023

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Don't Miss
    yyctimes

    Border agents seize $3.6 million in methamphetamine

    By yyctimesMarch 23, 2023

    Breadcrumb path hyperlinks Native information Revealed on March 23, 2023 • Final up to date…

    $3.6M in meth seized from commercial vehicle at Coutts border crossing: RCMP

    March 23, 2023

    Alberta teen’s fatality inquiry to find solutions to protect children at risk: judge

    March 23, 2023

    Stanford study finds largest recorded Alberta earthquake likely caused by oilsands wastewater

    March 23, 2023
    Our Picks

    Border agents seize $3.6 million in methamphetamine

    March 23, 2023

    $3.6M in meth seized from commercial vehicle at Coutts border crossing: RCMP

    March 23, 2023

    Alberta teen’s fatality inquiry to find solutions to protect children at risk: judge

    March 23, 2023

    Stanford study finds largest recorded Alberta earthquake likely caused by oilsands wastewater

    March 23, 2023

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from SmartMag about art & design.

    Our Picks

    Border agents seize $3.6 million in methamphetamine

    March 23, 2023

    $3.6M in meth seized from commercial vehicle at Coutts border crossing: RCMP

    March 23, 2023

    Alberta teen’s fatality inquiry to find solutions to protect children at risk: judge

    March 23, 2023
    New Comments

      Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.