Oct 22, 2022 • 4 hours ago • 4 min read • 19 comments Danielle Smith is speaking at the UCP Annual General Meeting on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at the River Cree Resort and Casino. Greg Southam-Postmedia Photo by Greg Southam /Greg Southam

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Premier Danielle Smith vowed on Saturday that her UCP government would not impose federal policies and laws “that attack our economy or infringe on the rights of our people”, vowing not to back down from her leadership platform and pass the controversial law on Dominion of Alberta.

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Addressing UCP members for the first time since being sworn in, Smith was greeted by thunderous applause at the party’s annual general meeting, applauded for her pledge to rule. Sign up to receive daily news headlines from the Edmonton Journal, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. By clicking the subscribe button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

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“I didn’t campaign saying things to win your favor and your votes only to change the channel for you later,” he said, speaking at the River Cree Resort and Casino just outside Edmonton. “We will do this.” Constitutional law experts said the Sovereignty Act is of “dubious constitutionality” with the suggestion that the province can refuse legitimate federal legislation, potentially claiming judicial power to determine what is or is not unconstitutional rather than uses the existing litigation process.

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Smith insisted that the legislation would comply with the constitution. Last week, one of the prime minister’s top advisers said the proposed act would respect Supreme Court rulings – a reversal of a key policy promise to challenge the federal government. But speaking to reporters on Saturday, Smith claimed Ottawa often passes laws that interfere with provincial jurisdiction and “We’re letting them know. We’re not going to take it anymore.” Asked if what she’s proposing could be unconstitutional, Smith replied: “If they disagree with the approach, they can take us to court.” The prime minister said during her speech that work is already underway to write the legislation. She is currently running in the Brooks-Medicine Hat primary set for Nov. 8 and, assuming she wins, wants the sovereignty act in place by the time she takes her seat in the legislature.

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“Then we’re going to introduce it and pass it and use it to push Ottawa back into its own lane every time they step out of line and violate our constitutional rights.”

Smith says health worker shortages are “manufactured” by bad AHS decisions

Government MPs participated in a Parliamentary Committee meeting last week. Smith said he has driven four key priorities: addressing affordability amid inflation, focusing on jobs and the economy, “standing up” to the federal government through the Sovereignty Act and improving health care “on an accelerated basis.” Smith has repeatedly signaled her intention to quickly turn around the province’s health system, saying Saturday that Alberta Health Services has too many managers and consultants, and accusing AHS leaders of failing to fix a “bloated” system.

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He said the substantive change he would be moving towards would be without disrupting the front line, but labor groups representing health workers have called for stability within the system as it begins to decline. Smith told the media that health care staffing shortages “were created by bad decisions at Alberta Health Services, and as we begin to review and reverse them, I believe we will solve the staffing shortages by bringing people back. “ The prime minister also said the government plans to reduce the cost of electricity and look again at abolishing the provincial fuel tax – this relief has already been in place for several months this year, but as of October 1, the tax has been reinstated in partially.

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He also said the province will “immediately readjust and lower your taxes” as he criticized the federal carbon tax. Her speech comes after a difficult start to her tenure, where she had to issue a “clarification” after a comment about unvaccinated people being the most discriminated group she has seen in her lifetime, followed by a sorry for the previous comments about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The prime minister dismissed the swirling controversy as a storm “raging outside our caucus,” saying the UCP is cooperating “while the NDP and much of the media is relentlessly trashing us.” Denouncing “woke up, incompetent NDP policies” as well as “woke up the Twitter mob,” Smith stressed the importance of party unity ahead of the election year. She was introduced by two of her biggest leadership rivals, UCP MLAs Travis Toews and Brian Jean, who echoed the importance of putting the race behind her and keeping Alberta’s Conservatives united as the 2023 provincial election approaches. “Our caucus, like our party, is coming together to prepare for an even bigger fight ahead,” Toews said. Smith said she plans to lead her party like former premier Ralph Klein, who said he “never ruled with an iron fist” and instead empowered his MPs. The remarks came hours after NDP Leader Rachel Notley addressed her party members at their General Assembly in Calgary. Smith concluded with a message that it was time to target the Opposition. “Let’s beat the NDP soundly in 2023.” — With files from Lisa Johnson and The Canadian Press [email protected] @meksmith

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