Federal Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti has responded to objections from the premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan regarding comments he made about historical natural resources agreements with the Prairie provinces.
Lametti told the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa on April 5 that he would “commit to looking at” the 1930 natural resources transfer agreements in place with Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta after one indigenous chief called for the act to be rescinded and another said resources were given to the provinces without consulting with indigenous communities.
The justice minister’s comments prompted a swift response from Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on April 10. Moe called Lametti’s comments “outrageous and ill-informed” and said his province would be “relentless” in defending its jurisdiction and autonomy….