UCP plays greatest hits at Calgary Leader's Dinner
Premier Danielle Smith congratulated herself and her MLAs on several policies passed by the UCP government touching health care, energy, ballot questions and education, while expressing her frustration with the federal Liberal Party's election victory at a fundraising event on Thursday.
Article content
Article content
The event was dubbed the Calgary Leader's Dinner, and more than 1,900 people gathered at Calgary Telus Centre to attend Smith's speech. The event was emceed by a few cabinet ministers, including Rebecca Schulz, the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas of Alberta, and Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services.
Article content
Article content
While introducing her cabinet, Smith enumerated several policy announcements they were involved in, including the freezing of the industrial carbon tax, the banning of books from school libraries which the province said features 'extremely graphic and age-inappropriate' content, and court challenges on the federal firearms ban, Bill C-69, and plastic and fertilizer regulations.
Article content
Article content
Smith also referenced the UCP-led Bill 54, which amends Alberta's rules, such as halving the threshold for a citizen-led referendum to 10 per cent of people who voted in the last election, and stretching the duration of collecting those signatures to 120 days from 90. The bill was enacted May 15.
Article content
Article content
'Some have raised concerns over this legislation, and I think it's because they don't believe that people have a right to put forward contentious issues for a vote,' she said.
Article content
Article content
'I believe otherwise. I believe Albertans deserve to be able to put forward issues of importance to them, and if they receive the required number of signatures, then it should be able to be put to a vote — I trust Albertans to make the right decision.'
Article content
Smith also voiced disappointment at the Liberal Party's election victory, telling a room full of supporters, 'I know that there is a lot of concern and frankly, frustration in the room over the results of the most recent federal election. And why wouldn't Albertans be frustrated?'
Article content
Article content
She deployed the trope of freedom, calling on the federal government to let the province 'develop and export the incredible wealth of resources that we have for the benefit of our families and future generations,' and 'choose how best to provide health care and education and other needed social services for our people, even if it's done differently than what Ottawa might want.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Calgary Herald
27 minutes ago
- Calgary Herald
Bell: Danielle Smith and Alberta give Mark Carney an offer he shouldn't refuse
It is a letter. A five-page letter. Article content Article content You could call it THE letter. Whatever happens with this letter will play a big, big part in Alberta's place in Canada going forward. Article content It is dated May 16, signed by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney. Article content On Monday, June 2, this letter will be on the table when Carney sits down with the premiers in Saskatoon. Article content Article content Before Smith gets around to making her offer, she begins her letter to Carney talking about how what Alberta wants will 'address serious issues plaguing Canada's economic well-being and the very real sense of alienation felt across the West.' Article content Article content This is serious stuff. Alberta has had more than enough. Article content She says Asian customers in Japan and South Korea have told her they believe Canada needs to 'accelerate market access of our oil, LNG, ammonia and critical minerals faster.' Article content Article content Alberta's pitch is to build out the B.C. port of Prince Rupert. Article content 'We must build on what TMX delivered by creating another pipeline that delivers similar economic uplift, jobs, opportunities for reconciliation and Canadian security.' Article content Article content The premier says an oil pipeline has to be on Carney's list of nation-building projects to be fast-tracked. Article content It will also … and read between these lines … 'send an unwelcome signal to Albertans concerned about Ottawa's commitment to national unity.' Article content Smith adds there must be 'a clear path to increasing oil and gas production so that Canada can achieve its full economic potential by avoiding the stranding of trillions of dollars of energy assets in Alberta.'
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Poilievre could face leadership review as early as March
The Conservative party's national council is expected to meet mid-June to determine when leader Pierre Poilievre will face a leadership review, but there's still no sign of an overarching review of the party's failure to defeat the Liberals on April 28. The election returned a Liberal minority government, and while some Conservatives privately say Prime Minister Mark Carney could govern for as long as four years, others say work on fixing their failure to defeat him must start now. Two Conservative sources told The Globe and Mail the party's executive director is proposing national council sign off on a March leadership review, which would give party members the chance to vote on whether Mr. Poilievre should remain as leader. The Globe is not identifying the sources as they were not authorized to speak publicly about internal party matters. But, Calgary MP Greg McLean, recently appointed to lead an economic growth council advising Mr. Poilievre, told the Globe he's been instructed to be ready to present his findings at a January convention. The party did not return a request for comment. Since the formation of the modern Conservative Party, one other leader has faced a leadership review: Stephen Harper. He lost the 2004 election, held shortly after he became leader. In the review, members voted overwhelmingly to let him stay, and he went on to win three elections. Opinion: In Poilievre's defeat, a familiar call for patience – and a new appreciation for second chances Neither of Mr. Harper's successors – Andrew Scheer and Erin O'Toole – made it to a leadership review. Mr. Scheer stepped down, and Mr. O'Toole was forced out by MPs. When asked by reporters Friday if he was worried about a challenge to his leadership, Mr. Poilievre said 'no.' 'We had the biggest vote count in our party's history, the biggest increase in our party's history, the biggest vote share since 1988 and we're going to continue to work to get over the finish line,' he said. Mr. Harper, Mr. Scheer and Mr. O'Toole all commissioned reviews of their election defeats. MPs and grassroots party members insist one needs to be done now too. One effort by MPs to get a former colleague to do a probe fell flat. Some rank-and-file party members are considering organizing to force a public discussion of what they see as the campaign's failings if public steps to address and correct them aren't taken soon. Specific frustrations include the target seat program, bottlenecks around decision making, outdated campaign literature and top-down control over what local candidates could do. But the biggest anger is around nominations, and people blocked from running at the last minute in favour of hand-picked candidates. Riding and campaign managers in Ontario and British Columbia told the Globe that national campaign manager Jenni Byrne must address those shortcomings, and step back from future campaigns, or they will try to band together to oust her. Opinion: The good and unnecessarily bad of Pierre Poilievre The Globe is not naming the sources so they could speak candidly about internal party affairs. The last Conservative convention was in 2023, so one was expected soon anyway. National council can call a convention with 90 days notice, which could also neutralize grassroots efforts to force changes as there wouldn't be enough time to engage formal policy or constitutional processes. Though Conservatives did win more seats, Mr. Poilievre lost his own. He's planning to run in a by-election for an Alberta riding. Those close to him say few major changes will be made to anything the party does until that election ends. Still, there are smaller steps being taken. Long-time Conservative communications professional Katy Merrifield will soon join the staff. Jeff Ballingall, a conservative strategist, is also being brought on to help with Mr. Poilievre's image and message. Mr. McLean, the MP leading Mr. Poilievre's economic council, said his group is working to keeping policy going in the right direction. 'What Canadians saw at the end of the day was the Liberals embracing Conservative policy positions,' he said. 'Part of what we're doing with this exercise is [ensuring] we do have the ability to continue that kind of process: 'Here are the Conservative policies, Mark Carney et al, can you please follow these policies? They're better for the country than what you've been putting forward so far.''
Toronto Star
10 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Mark Carney warns that ‘foreign threats' mean Canada needs to move faster
There is a need for speed. That's the message from Prime Minister Mark Carney as he convenes the premiers Sunday in Saskatoon. Carney told the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in Ottawa on Friday that he wants to work with the provinces to fast-track the building of housing on a massive scale in Canada as well as accelerating 'nation-building' projects and streamlining environmental assessments. Without mentioning U.S. President Donald Trump's name, the prime minister prompted laughter from mayors when he underscored the importance of Canada moving quickly to make its economy more resilient. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'In face of foreign threats — no prize for guessing what I'm saying, I'm trying to learn some diplomacy from the King,' he said, referring to King Charles, who delivered Monday's throne speech, 'a core priority of this government is to build projects of national significance, projects that reinforce our country's resilience, projects that connect Canada, projects that partner with Indigenous Peoples, that diversify our trading partners and create a more sustainable future for all.' Carney cited potential projects like the long-discussed high-speed rail line between Windsor and Quebec City, upgrades to ports and other infrastructure as key to diversifying Canada's trading relationships and reducing its reliance on the U.S. 'We will move from delay to delivery, ensuring that the Canadian government becomes a catalyst for, not an impediment to, nation building projects that will supercharge growth in communities both large and small,' he said. That was music to the ears of Premier Doug Ford, who would like to expedite the Ring of Fire mining project in northern Ontario and new nuclear reactors, among other big-ticket priorities. 'He wants to work collaboratively,' Ford said of Carney, noting that was not always the case with former prime minister Justin Trudeau. 'The previous government and previous prime minister didn't show enough love, in my opinion, to Alberta and Saskatchewan. We have to be a united country,' said the Ontarian, who chairs the Council of the Federation. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'I believe (Carney) is creating that environment of making sure that we build large national infrastructure projects,' he said, expressing hope the prime minister will revisit Trudeau's Impact Assessment Act that limits pipeline construction and is unpopular in Alberta and Saskatchewan. 'As long as you have Bill C-69 it's like five steps forward, 10 steps backwards. We should all be in agreement right across the country, you can't move forward as long as you have Bill C-69.' Ford's comments at Queen's Park come as his Progressive Conservative government is in the midst of pushing through its controversial Bill 5 that would limit environmental assessments and create 'special economic zones' exempt from many municipal and provincial rules to speed up infrastructure projects. Provincial Politics First Nations chief warns of 'fierce resistance' to Premier Doug Ford's mining bill Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler said last-minute government amendments aimed at easing Indigenous That has raised concerns from some Indigenous leaders that First Nation treaty rights are being violated, which could lead to protests. 'I had a great meeting with Chief (Abram) Benedict last week when I had him over to the house. This isn't about hurting First Nations. This is about giving them an opportunity,' Ford said of the Ontario Regional Chief. 'We're always going to respect treaty rights. We're always going to have duty to consult but let's look across the country,' he said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Forget political stripes. We have ... NDP Premier (David) Eby (in British Columbia) saying we have to move on this. We have a Liberal government (in Ottawa) that's saying it's ridiculous it takes 15 years (to approve a mine). Either make changes or you fall behind and you get destroyed by the rest of the world that will eat our lunch.' Carney suggested in an interview earlier this week with David Cochrane on CBC Power and Politics that he is prepared to release a list of projects that would be fast-tracked after the summit. Ahead of the meeting, Quebec Premier François Legault told reporters he believes the federal government should help foot the bill for Quebec's planned expansion of hydroelectrical developments in Labrador. Already several First Nations leaders have suggested they want a greater say in what developments get the green light. Carney's governing agenda, laid out in the throne speech Tuesday pledged that Ottawa would work with Indigenous groups. 'As Canada moves forward with nation-building projects, the government will always be firmly guided by the principle of free, prior, and informed consent,' it said, echoing the principle enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Natan Obed, leader of the national group representing Inuit people, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, said in an interview that Ottawa's requirement to consult, work with and obtain the consent of Inuit communities is 'baked into' the modern-day treaties that govern the relationship between the federal government and the Inuit. He has appealed to Carney to include Indigenous leaders in talks with the premiers in Saskatoon. 'We recognize as Inuit that there will be issues that first ministers will need to discuss with the Canadian prime minister' that deal with their particular concerns, but he said 'there are shared interests, and there's shared governance and we have to be a part of these conversations that will lead to decisions that are made on behalf of all Canadians.' Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
