Federal New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh on Thursday criticized Alberta’s proposed sovereignty bill, calling it “unconstitutional” and “undemocratic.”
During an interview with Shaye Ganam on 770 CHQR and 630 CHED, Singh said the proposed Alberta sovereignty within a United Canada Act does not address concerns Alberta cares about.
Albertans are concerned about affordability and their health care system, not a law that gives the premier and cabinet overriding powers, he said.
“What (the bill) does is undemocratic. It takes away the transparency of decisions taken in the legislature openly for the public to see and allows laws to be made in the back rooms in secret with the cabinet,” Singh told Ganam on Thursday morning.
“It’s not responsive to the needs of Canadians, needs of Albertans … People are concerned about their health care and their cost of living.”
Singh’s comments come after Alberta Premier Danielle Smith introduced the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act on Tuesday. The bill gives the premier and provincial cabinet the ability to fight back against what they call “unconstitutional federal intrusion” with majority support from the house.
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Ottawa ‘not looking for a fight’ over Alberta sovereignty bill, Trudeau says
The bill has since faced heavy criticism from the Alberta NDP and local business associations.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday that Ottawa is “not looking for a fight” with Alberta over the proposed sovereignty bill, but added he would “take nothing off the table.”
Trudeau said the bill introduced “exceptional powers,” which raised many concerns in Alberta.
“We’re going to see how it plays out,” Trudeau told reporters.
“I’m not going to take anything off the table, but I’m not looking for a fight either.”
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Singh did not answer questions about how Trudeau should handle the Sovereignty Act, instead saying the premier is finding ways to stop Smith from “ripping apart” Alberta’s public health care system.
“I would say we need to use the tools we have at the federal level to protect the health care system. We need to make sure we use the Canada Health Act to protect Albertans and make sure Albertans get the care they need,” Singh said.
“The federal government needs to step up and do what it can to properly fund and resource health care services … We want to make sure health care is there for everyone.
“With Danielle Smith’s Sovereignty Act, it sounds like she is trying to threaten it.”
770 CHQR reached out to Smith’s office with a request for comment.
– With files from Global News’ Emily Mertz and Rachel Gilmore.
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