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EDMONTON—Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s very first piece of legislation is a breath-taking power grab that will only cause chaos and distract her government from the real economic problems facing Alberta’s families, says Unifor.
“Forgive me for quoting Jason Kenney here, but he’s right, Danielle Smith’s sovereignty legislation is ‘catastrophically stupid’,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Bill 1 is undemocratic, far-reaching and a permanent power grab.”
Smith’s Bill 1: Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act, consolidates unprecedented power in the hands of cabinet and removes several democratic safeguards and power-checks from both the legislature and the public.
During the United Conservative Party’s recent leadership campaign, former leadership candidates, many of whom are now Smith’s cabinet ministers, criticized Smith’s proposal in the harshest terms.
“We’ll see if UCP cabinet ministers have the spine to protect Albertans and defeat legislation they’ve said will ‘turn our province upside down’ and create ‘instability and chaos’,” said Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle. “Alberta’s families are facing challenges that can only be addressed by creating good jobs and strengthening public service. Constitutional warfare with an imaginary villain helps no one.”
Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.
