Latest news with #AlbertaAccord
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oil-Rich Alberta Could Vote to Separate from Canada
Alberta could vote next year on whether to separate from Canada if a citizen-led petition gathers the requisite number of signatures requesting such a question to be put to a referendum. That's what Danielle Smith, the Premier of the Alberta province, which is the heart of Canada's oil industry, said this week, just after the Liberals led by Mark Carney won the federal election and ahead of Carney's meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House. Smith stressed that the provincial government itself would not be seeking a referendum on an Alberta secession. 'To be clear from the outset, our government will not be putting a vote on separation from Canada on the referendum ballot; however, if there is a successful citizen-led referendum petition that is able to gather the requisite number of signatures requesting such a question to be put to a referendum, our government will respect the democratic process and include that question on the 2026 provincial referendum ballot as well,' Smith said. The government of Alberta will create an 'Alberta Next' panel aimed at protecting the province from 'any current or future hostile policies of the federal government,' including attempts to block Alberta's resource development. Following the federal election, Alberta will take steps to protect itself from overreaching federal policies and will pursue a new 'Alberta Accord' within Canada, require Alberta's consent on any export restrictions of Canadian resources, and demand guaranteed port access for Alberta energy and resources, Smith said. Related: U.S. Freeport LNG Export Plant Set to Resume Service After Outage The premier reiterated that 'I do not support Alberta separating from Canada. I personally still have hope that there is a path forward for a strong and sovereign Alberta within a United Canada.' 'So I am going to do everything within my power to negotiate a fair deal for Alberta with the new Prime Minister,' Smith noted. For years, Alberta has been opposing federal legislation regarding emissions and resource development. Alberta has been fighting the federal government on the plan to cap emissions from oil and gas production, which the province and the industry see essentially as a cap on output. Analysts are skeptical about whether citizens in the province will gather enough signatures to include a vote on separation in a referendum. 'These grievances are serious,' John Soroski, a political scientist at MacEwan University in Edmonton, told Associated Press. 'I think the prospects of separation are highly unlikely.' The issue of a possible referendum on Alberta's separation was raised hours before the newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney headed to the U.S. to meet with President Trump. The meeting appeared friendlier than many expected, although Trump once again raised the proposal of a 'wonderful marriage' of incorporating Canada into the U.S. Carney firmly rejected the marriage proposal with a carefully worded reply, 'As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale,' and likened Canada to the Oval Office and to Britain's Buckingham Palace. 'Having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign in the last several months, it's not for sale. Won't be for sale, ever.' Before the meeting, President Trump took to his Truth Social platform to express his frustration with the U.S. trade deficit with Canada. 'We don't need their Cars, we don't need their Energy, we don't need their Lumber, we don't need ANYTHING they have, other than their friendship, which hopefully we will always maintain,' President Trump wrote on Tuesday, referring to Canada. But the fact is that the U.S. needs Canada's energy, especially its crude oil, which is being refined in many refineries in the Midwest and on the Gulf Coast. Canada is the single biggest crude oil supplier to the United States, accounting for about 50% of U.S. gross petroleum imports with volumes of more than 4 million barrels per day (bpd). The U.S. trade deficit with Canada jumped to $4.9 billion in March 2025, sharply higher compared to previous months, data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis showed on Tuesday. It was higher imports of cars, crude oil, and finished wood products – goods that Trump claims the U.S. doesn't need from Canada – that pushed up the U.S. deficit with its neighbor to the north. By Tsvetana Paraskova for More Top Reads From Read this article on
Epoch Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Alberta Premier Would Allow Separation Referendum if Petition Requirements Are Met
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Smith made the comments as part of a post-federal election livestream address on May 5, while announcing a set of new initiatives to negotiate with Ottawa for the benefit of her province, including securing a 'guaranteed corridor' for Alberta's oil and gas exports and reforming the equalization program. Smith said Albertans are 'frustrated' by the federal government, noting that the re-elected Liberal government implemented legislation such as the Impact Assessment Act, which she said has effectively stopped pipeline projects. 'It's not that our preferred candidate and party lost—that happens in a democracy,' she said. 'It's that the same Liberal government, with almost all the same ministers responsible for our nation's inflation, housing, crime, and budget crisis, and that oversaw the attack on our provincial economy for the past 10 years, has been returned to power.' Special Negotiating Team, 'Alberta Next' Panel Smith said she will appoint a Special Negotiating Team to work with the federal government on a number of the province's demands, hoping it will result in a 'binding agreement' to be called an 'Alberta Accord.' Included in the demands are ensuring a 'guaranteed corridor and port access to tidewater off the Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic coasts' so Alberta can export its oil, gas, minerals, and other resources to more markets. In addition to scrapping the Impact Assessment Act, which she calls a 'no new pipelines law,' she wants the federal government to end measures such as net zero electricity regulations, the oil tanker ban on the West coast, the emissions cap on the oil and gas sector, restrictions on plastic products, the net zero vehicle mandate, and plans to regulate industrial carbon emissions. Related Stories 5/3/2025 4/30/2025 'These laws are destroying investment confidence and costing Canada and Alberta hundreds of billions in investments each year,' she said. Ottawa 'Cutting pollution in communities across the country is good for our climate, economy, health, and well-being,' the government Smith said the negotiating team would also ask Ottawa to refrain from imposing export tariffs or restrictions on exports from Alberta without the consent of the provincial government. The federal government has said that options for responding to U.S. tariffs include putting restrictions or export tariffs on Alberta's oil and gas exports to the United States. Smith added that Ottawa must provide to Alberta 'the same per capita federal transfers and equalization' that the other large provinces of Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia receive. The equalization program's stated 'We have no issue with Alberta continuing to subsidize smaller provinces with their needs, but there is no excuse for such large and powerful economies like Ontario, Quebec, B.C., or Alberta to be subsidizing one another. That was never the intent of equalization, and it needs to end,' she said. Smith said another initiative would be to set up an 'Alberta Next' panel comprised of judicial, academic, and economic experts holding town halls to gather ideas about the province's future and how to 'better protect Alberta from any current or future hostile policies of the federal government.' She said some of the more popular ideas from the panel would then be included in a provincial referendum sometime in 2026. Separation Referendum Smith said her government wouldn't be putting forth a separation referendum, but if there is a successful citizen-led petition that gathers the required number of signatures, her government would follow the democratic process and allow that question to be on the 2026 referendum ballot. Last week, the province lowered the bar for holding referendums, introducing a bill that would extend the signature collection period from 90 to 120 days and set the threshold at 10 percent of eligible voters who participated in the most recent general election. Currently, constitutional initiatives need backing from 20 percent of province-wide registered voters in two-thirds of Alberta's constituencies, while legislative or policy initiatives only require support from 10 percent of registered voters across the province. The issue of Alberta's secession and a possible separation referendum gained attention during the federal election campaign when a poll Last weekend, hundreds gathered outside the Alberta legislature in Edmonton to for separation from Canada, with some displaying U.S. flags to reflect support for the province becoming part of the United States, something U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he would wish for Canada. 'Let's talk about the elephant in the room—that being separation,' Smith said in her address. 'We are well aware that there is a large and growing number of Albertans that have lost hope in Alberta having a free and prosperous future as a part of Canada.' Smith said people on both sides of the debate shouldn't be vilified. 'They are quite literally our friends and neighbours who have just had enough of having their livelihoods and prosperity attacked by a hostile federal government.' Still, she said, there are many like herself who don't support Alberta separating from Canada. 'I personally still have hope that there is a path forward for a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada,' she said. Legislation like the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act, which she introduced as one of her first acts as premier, has allowed the province to 'fight through much of Ottawa's damaging interference and prosper in spite of it,' she said. 'I am going to do everything within my power to negotiate a fair deal for Alberta with the new prime minister.' She also pledged her government 'will work with Albertans on various initiatives to better protect Alberta's provincial sovereignty and economy from Ottawa should those negotiations fail, and the economic attacks continue.' Smith said the April 28 federal election showed that attitudes among young people are changing when it comes to understanding the importance of free markets and natural resource development. 'People are pushing back against government censorship and 'cancel culture,'' she said. Ahead of the election, polls consistently showed a larger share of young Canadians were intending to vote for the Conservatives than for the Liberals. Just ahead of the election, an April 24 Grievances She noted that her government has already taken legal action or otherwise opposed a number of Ottawa's policies such as the Impact Assessment Act for infringing on provincial jurisdiction and preventing the development of resources in Alberta. She said her experience travelling around the world in recent years has made it evident 'that Canada is not viewed as an attractive place to invest in resource development, manufacturing, or agriculture because of our high carbon taxes, endless red tape, and the uncertainty and chaos brought about by these and other federal government policies.' After the federal election, Smith During the election campaign, Smith Despite the disagreements between the two governments, Smith repeated a comment she made previously that she had a good 'first conversation' with Carney after his April 28 election and that he had 'promising things to say' about changing direction on energy policy. The premier described her first call with Carney on May 2 as a 'positive first step,' noting she brought up the federal policies she believes are holding back Alberta's economy, and that Carney expressed his intention to 'rapidly advance' nation-building projects. In response, Carney During the election campaign, Carney committed to working with provinces to set up energy corridors and speed up the building of projects, while saying he plans on growing both 'clean and conventional' energy projects. However, he has clashed with Alberta on his plan to maintain policies such as the Impact Assessment Act and ramp up carbon taxes on industry. He has said he would ensure regulatory redundancies are avoided and that he would streamline projects.
National Post
06-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Parti Québécois leader stands with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and her ‘strong hand'
OTTAWA — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has an ally in Quebec and his name is Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, the Parti Québécois leader. Article content Article content A day after Smith threatened the federal government of including a referendum question on separation in 2026 if her province didn't have the Accord, she thinks it deserves with Ottawa, St-Pierre Plamondon said Smith made a 'striking gesture' for the 'autonomy and defence of her own province.' Article content 'It doesn't matter what referendum they hold, because obviously it's under construction. But I totally agree with provinces that stand up, that are loyal to their own Parliament, that are capable of showing a strong hand. And that's the key word, strong hand,' said St-Pierre Plamondon, who is often called PSPP in Quebec. Article content Article content In a in a livestreamed address Monday, Premier Smith called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to negotiate a new deal between Ottawa and Alberta guaranteeing more pipelines and changes to equalization. Article content 'We hope this will result in a binding agreement that Albertans can have confidence in. Call it an 'Alberta accord',' said Smith who then called Alberta's separation 'the elephant in the room.' 'The vast majority of (separatists) are not fringe voices… They are loyal Albertans,' she said. 'They're … our friends and neighbours who've just had enough of having their livelihoods and prosperity attacked by a hostile federal government.' Article content At a press conference at Quebec's National Assembly, St-Pierre Plamondon said it was a 'good thing' if other provinces are able to 'stand up to the federal government'. Article content Article content He added that 'other provinces are showing' that Canada has issues that affect all provinces in terms of 'abuse of power'. Article content St-Pierre Plamondon then went on the offensive against the province's journalists for not covering the rebound in support of Quebec secession. Article content A recent Postmedia-Leger poll revealed that support for Quebec independence, which had fallen below 30 per cent in recent month, sits back at nearly 40 per cent. Article content Even though Canada is engaged in a tariff war with its closest ally, support for Quebec independence has reached 36 per cent according to new data. Article content 'The most recent and most precise information is the independence of Quebec at 40 per cent, it is the increase in independence in Alberta,' he said. Article content Léger also polled Canadians from all provinces about their opinion about their province's independence. The result was that 29 per cent of Albertans supported Alberta sovereignty while an overwhelming majority of the 2,309 respondents (71 per cent) were opposed. Article content Article content
Vancouver Sun
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Smith wants to negotiate 'Alberta Accord' guaranteeing pipelines, more federal cash
OTTAWA — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith thrown down the gauntlet to newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney in a livestreamed address Monday, inviting him to the table to negotiate a new deal between Ottawa and Alberta. Article content 'We hope this will result in a binding agreement that Albertans can have confidence in. Call it an 'Alberta Accord,'' said Smith, seated in front of a backdrop of Albertan and Canadian flags. Article content Smith said she would soon appoint a special team to represent Alberta in these negotiations. Article content Article content She set down multiple demands the province intends to make, including guaranteed access to tidewater for its energy exports on all three coasts, the elimination of federal net-zero policies, and the same per-capita federal transfers and equalization payments as Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. Article content 'We have no issue with Alberta continuing to subsidize smaller provinces … but there is no excuse for such large and powerful economies … to be subsidizing one another,' said Smith. Article content 'That was never the intent of equalization and it needs to end.' Article content Smith said it was imperative for Carney to act quickly to 'eliminate the doubts a growing number of Albertans feel' about the province's future in Canada. Article content The premier held a special meeting with her caucus Friday to discuss how the government should respond to the return of another Liberal government to power, with very little representation in Alberta. Article content Article content One member of Smith's caucus, Jason Stephan, told reporters at the province's legislature shortly before the premier's address he wants to see a referendum on Alberta separation. Article content Article content Smith didn't go so far, but did touch on separation in her Monday address, calling it 'the elephant in the room.' Article content She said she believes Alberta has a future in Canada, but understands the frustrations of those fed up with the status quo. Article content Smith said if there were a successful, citizen-led push for a referendum question on separation, which hit the requisite threshold of signatures, she'll include that question on the 2026 provincial referendum ballot.
Calgary Herald
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Smith wants to negotiate 'Alberta Accord' guaranteeing pipelines, more federal cash
Article content OTTAWA — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith thrown down the gauntlet to newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney in a livestreamed address Monday, inviting him to the table to negotiate a new deal between Ottawa and Alberta. Article content 'We hope this will result in a binding agreement that Albertans can have confidence in. Call it an 'Alberta Accord,'' said Smith, seated in front of a backdrop of Albertan and Canadian flags. Article content Article content Smith said she would soon appoint a special team to represent Alberta in these negotiations. Article content Article content She set down multiple demands the province intends to make, including guaranteed access to tidewater for its energy exports on all three coasts, the elimination of federal net-zero policies, and the same per-capita federal transfers and equalization payments as Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. Article content 'We have no issue with Alberta continuing to subsidize smaller provinces … but there is no excuse for such large and powerful economies … to be subsidizing one another,' said Smith. Article content 'That was never the intent of equalization and it needs to end.' Article content Smith said it was imperative for Carney to act quickly to 'eliminate the doubts a growing number of Albertans feel' about the province's future in Canada. Article content The premier held a special meeting with her caucus Friday to discuss how the government should respond to the return of another Liberal government to power, with very little representation in Alberta. Article content Article content One member of Smith's caucus, Jason Stephan, told reporters at the province's legislature shortly before the premier's address he wants to see a referendum on Alberta separation. Article content Article content Smith didn't go so far, but did touch on separation in her Monday address, calling it 'the elephant in the room.' Article content 'They're … our friends and neighbours who've just had enough of having their livelihoods and prosperity attacked by a hostile federal government.' Article content Smith said if there were a successful, citizen-led push for a referendum question on separation, which hit the requisite threshold of signatures, she'll include that question on the 2026 provincial referendum ballot.
