Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta (Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Provincial Politics

Premier Smith issues mandate letters to ministers

Nov 10, 2022 | 4:28 PM

Premier Danielle Smith has issued mandate letters to multiple government ministers to take actions on what the government says will stand up for Albertans and get a better deal for Alberta within Canada.

Officials say letters to the ministers of Energy, Environment and Protected Areas, Justice, Public Safety and Emergency Services, and Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism outline concrete actions the Alberta government will take to protect Albertans from federal government overreach, defend Alberta’s energy interests, and enhance trade and investment.

“Albertans are proud Canadians and we want to ensure that Alberta’s voice remains strong on our priorities, interests and concerns,” said Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta, in a press release. “The direction I have given to our ministers sends a clear signal that the Alberta government will stand up for Albertans and vigorously defend our ability to develop our resources and economy.”

Key actions outlined in the letters are said to include:

• Defending Alberta’s energy interests against hostile federal government legislation and policies.
• Passing the Sovereignty Act to ensure Alberta can better respond to unconstitutional federal encroachments on areas of sovereign provincial jurisdiction.
• Examining current unconstitutional federal laws and policies, and bringing forward specific proposals under the Sovereignty Act to defend Alberta’s interests.
• Developing alliances with other provinces to address climate policy and federal intrusions into provincial jurisdiction.
• Developing a made-in-Alberta climate strategy and standing up for Alberta’s jurisdiction to manage the province’s own resources.
• Continuing Alberta’s intervention in legal challenges that oppose federal firearms legislation.
• Enhancing Alberta’s trade to ensure the province is a top destination for foreign investment.
• Ensuring Albertans are living in safe communities and continuing to maintain and improve emergency services.

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“Unconstitutional federal government overreach into areas of provincial jurisdiction has to stop. With these mandates, Albertans can be confident they have a government focused on standing up for them, building and diversifying our economy, and putting a stop to hostile federal economic policies that landlock our resources and harm the short-term and long-term prosperity of Albertans,” added Smith.

Government officials say the mandate letters issued Nov. 10 build on mandates already announced to address the effects of the affordability crisis and to increase supports for families, seniors and vulnerable Albertans.

Additional letters are expected to be issued over the next week, addressing in detail Premier Smith’s commitments to Albertans to address challenges in health care, job creation and diversifying Alberta’s economy.

Meantime, the Alberta NDP says ministerial mandate letters issued by Danielle Smith reveal UCP cabinet minister Tyler Shandro lied to municipal leaders about the creation of an Alberta Police Force.

The Opposition says during the ministerial forum hosted by the Rural Municipalities of Alberta on Wednesday, Justice Minister Tyler Shandro assured rural municipal leaders that “we have not made any decisions as a government” about the creation of an Alberta Police Force.

However, less than a day later, says the NDP, Smith’s mandate letter to Minister Mike Ellis directed that he “work with the Minister of Justice, as the lead, and Municipal Affairs to launch an Alberta Police Service (APS).”

“Instead of listening to their concerns, the UCP lied to rural municipal leaders and is ramming ahead with a plan that does not have the support of Albertans,” said Alberta NDP Justice Critic Irfan Sabir.

“The UCP is ignoring rural Albertans and pushing ahead with this expensive and unnecessary plan that will do nothing to improve safety in our communities,” added Sabir.

The NDP says the government’s own study into the creation of an APS shows the plan would lead to $366 million in startup costs and an additional $200 million per year to operate.

The Opposition notes the Rural Municipalities of Alberta and Alberta Municipalities are both opposed to the plan with RMA President Paul McLauchlin calling it a “billion-dollar boondoggle.”

“Today’s mandate letters signal a UCP government that is severely out of touch with the priorities of everyday Albertans. It’s clear that Danielle Smith’s plan will create more confusion and chaos in government while also increasing costs for Alberta families,” said Sabir.

“Instead of focusing on ways to improve rural policing, Danielle Smith has demonstrated she’s more focused on moving ahead with a UCP police force, which no one is asking for, and a so-called ‘sovereignty act’ that economists, business leaders and other experts say will chase away investment, destroy jobs, and stifle Alberta’s economy.”

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