Smith says 'common ground' found during positive first meeting with Carney
Article content
Article content
The conversation was the first since Carney's Liberals won last week's election and occurred a day after the province launched legal action challenging Ottawa's clean electricity grid regulations.
Article content
Article content
Smith had previously issued a list of nine economic-focused demands for the next prime minister and pledged to strike a panel to ask Albertans what they would want if the Liberals won a fourth consecutive term.
Article content
Article content
Speaking on her call-in radio show Saturday, the premier said 'some common ground' was found as she raised each of those demands and the two discussed projects of importance to Alberta.
Article content
'He listened attentively. He did not dismiss out of hand or reject anything that I said, and that's a very positive first step,' Smith said.
Article content
'For me though, it's more than words. We have to see action and that is what I will be pressing for.'
Article content
Asked if she would advance a referendum if the federal government doesn't agree to her directives, Smith said more assessment is warranted.
Article content
'What I have overwhelmingly heard is that people want me to give this new relationship, and this new prime minister, a chance to correct some of the issues that have festered for the last 10 years, and I will go into those discussions in good faith, and I did,' she said.
Article content
Article content
The Alberta government tabled legislation last week that lowers the bar for citizens to initiate referendums, including a possible vote on Alberta separating from Canada.
Article content
Article content
Indigenous leaders from across the province and country have condemned the move, saying Smith is stoking separatism and violating treaty commitments in the process.
Article content
'Large swaths of this province are governed by the sacred Treaties between First Nations and the Imperial Crown, including Treaty 7,' reads a joint statement issued Friday by the Tsuut'ina, Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney Nations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Calgary Herald
28 minutes ago
- Calgary Herald
Opinion: PM needs to end his government's war on worker bargaining power
Defending worker bargaining power is particularly urgent in the context of the current affordability crisis. No political party or government can legitimately say they're on the side of working people if they don't have a plan to maintain or expand worker bargaining power. If they're doing the reverse — as is the case with Section 107 — then they're part of the problem, not the solution. Article content The fear among Canadian unions is that if the Liberals get away with watering down the right to strike at the federal level (which has legislative responsibility for about 10 per cent of Canadian workplaces), it will only be a matter of time before provincial governments draft their own versions of Section 107 for provincially regulated workplaces. Article content We see this as an existential threat to the post-Second World War 'Great Compromise,' which saw workers agree to swear off wildcat strikes in exchange for a regulated system of labour relations that promised fair outcomes for both workers and employers. Article content Article content This is why Air Canada workers defied the back-to-work order prior to a tentative agreement reached Tuesday. If the system created by the 'Great Compromise' can no longer be counted on to deliver fair outcomes for workers, why should workers respect it? Article content If Prime Minister Carney really wants labour peace — and if he doesn't want to go down in history as the prime minister who weakened workers' bargaining power at the worst possible time — then he needs to repeal Section 107.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Quebec government renews promise to make changes to forestry reform bill
Quebec Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière responds to the Opposition during question period, in the National Assembly in Quebec City, Wednesday, June 5, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot MONTREAL — The Quebec government is renewing its promise to modify a forestry bill that has provoked blockades and growing tension in the province. Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière said Tuesday evening that the forestry reform bill must be amended to take into account the rights of First Nations. His social media statement came after a six-hour meeting with First Nations leaders and representatives of the forest industry. He and Natural Resources Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina are expected to meet today with the Assembly of First Nations Quebec–Labrador and the office of Premier François Legault. The legislation would designate certain areas of public land as forestry zones, but Indigenous leaders say it infringes on their rights. A series of blockades in recent months in opposition to the bill has disrupted operations for some in the forestry sector. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2025.
Edmonton Journal
2 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Wednesday's letters: Bring back traffic enforcement
Article content The powers that be removed cameras that regulated traffic somewhat on city streets and on the Henday. Now, it is obvious that few obey rules that once were followed. As a pedestrian, crossing the street is a dangerous action depending on whether the driver coming toward you is following the rules; you may be struck down or you may be allowed to cross in safety. Article content Lights mean nothing as many race through red lights without a thought. The many accidents and injured pedestrians can be laid at the door of those who removed those cameras because drivers are ignoring all driving rules and lights mean little. Article content Article content Article content When will this stop? Will it take the deaths of children when they return to school next month? I understand slowing down in a school zone is also an option so how many children have to be injured, or worse, before we bring back those dreadful cameras that kept us honest. Article content Article content Regarding defunding of Red Deer harm-reduction sites: The latest move by the province sickens me — a beat-down to another vulnerable group of Albertans by an inept UCP government led by a truth-bending premier. On what basis was this decision made, supposed input from involved people? Just like the two revisions to speed limits when passing roadside service/police vehicles, COVID vaccinations, Alberta's own police force, the flip-flop on coal mining on the eastern slopes and all the other supposed inputs for changes or new legislation that fly directly in the face of science, public opinion and just plain common sense. Article content Article content It's time for all you UCP lemmings to wake up and realize that our premier's continued imposition of her personal beliefs through whatever means possible is going to cost us dearly. Article content I am just appalled by Danielle Smith's decision to claw back the feds' Canada Disability Benefits (CDB). I'm under the AISH program (payments of $511) and AISH is removing $200 in CDB from my wife and a $200 CDB from me plus a Canada disability pension of $1,252 that is taxable monthly that AISH made me apply for before I was approved for AISH. Article content Don't forget this income is for both my wife and I who are legally disabled. In our opinion, this is 100-per-cent theft in the grossest way. I can't believe the public hasn't fought back. Article content In 2019, we moved to a skinny on 127 Street. There's a bike lane in front of our house. That means no parking directly in front of us. Know what? We don't care. The parade that passes is a delight. In summer, the families are out in force. In winter, intrepid souls make their way to work no matter the weather.
