Québec bloc leader mocks Alberta’s equalization referendum, while Prime Minister Kenney touts the fight for equity

Article content

The Bloc Québécois leader says he would propose a new equalization formula that would make the provinces with the highest greenhouse gas emissions pay more if the federal program were renegotiated.

Article content

When asked at a press conference Wednesday about Alberta’s equalization referendum, Yves-François Blanchet said that given the chance, he would push for a “green equalization” model under which the province would have to contribute more than which it currently does, while jurisdictions with less than -Medium emissions would receive more money.

“Let’s open the Constitution. We can have a party, “Blanchet said of the Oct. 18 Alberta vote, adding that the country should invest” a significant amount of money “in Alberta and western Canada to help them” get out of this toxic economic model. ” .

Alberta had the highest greenhouse gas emissions in Canada in 2019 , almost three times greater than that of Quebec.

Alberta Prime Minister Jason Kenney said in a COVID-19 update Wednesday afternoon that Blanchet’s comments amount to a “typical provocation.”

Article content

“It would be nice if you would stand up for once as the leader of your fringe party and express a modicum of gratitude to Albertans for generating tens of billions of dollars of wealth that have been transferred to the benefit of Quebecers.” Kenney said.

Legislature debate

On Wednesday morning, the Alberta government began debating a motion in the legislature that will ask for concessions from Ottawa that go far beyond a referendum that called for equality to be removed from Canada’s Constitution.

The motion, introduced by Kenney, would recognize the results of the referendum held more than two weeks ago, in which 61.7 percent of voters supported the removal of a section of the federal Constitution that affirms Canada’s commitment to the principle. equalization. As of press time, the motion had not been approved by the legislature.

Article content

Alberta does not receive matching payments, which come from taxes collected at the federal level to ensure services are equal in all provinces, because Albertans earn the highest wages in the country.

Any change to the Constitution requires the approval of the House of Commons, as well as the Senate, and at least two-thirds of the provincial legislatures.

The motion also orders Alberta to “take all necessary steps to ensure fair treatment for Alberta in the Canadian federation,” including reforming federal transfer programs and “defending” provincial powers and their control over the development of natural resources.

Kenney said in the legislature that Alberta has contributed its wealth to a country that has frustrated the development of its resources, and with the referendum vote, the province is asking for respect.

Article content

“Albertans cannot be expected to continue to pay freight if other Canadian governments do not allow us to develop the economy that pays those bills,” said Kenney, adding that his government would specifically seek changes to federal environmental assessment law, Bill C -69, and the repeal of federal bill C-48’s oil tanker bans.

Quebec secession

The motion aims to “reaffirm” Kenney’s reading of a 1998 Supreme Court of Canada landmark case on the secession of Quebec that noted the right of the provinces to initiate a constitutional change with a clear majority of votes. Critics have said the reference to secession does not mean that Alberta’s equalization referendum will be similarly recognized.

“I think it’s a moot point,” Kenney said. The NDP opposition MLAs did not speak on the motion on Wednesday.

Article content

After the referendum results became official, Rachel Notley, leader of the NDP opposition, called the vote a “botched job” that did not ask an honest question about how to fix the match or get a better deal.

Based on the number of Albertans eligible to vote in April, the Alberta referendum question recorded a turnout of 39 percent, or about 1.1 million voters – while around 50,000 ballots were rejected or left blank.

“This is not about our need for a better fiscal relationship with Ottawa, which is something we all agree on. It’s about Jason Kenney and his own personal political struggles, ”Notley said at the time.

[email protected]

twitter.com/reportrix