Commentary
Alberta’s controversial Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act (Bill 1) gained Royal Assent on Dec. 15 and has been formally enshrined into law. Premier Danielle Smith’s government will be itching for the chance to use the new legislation. Battles with Ottawa almost always shore up support for the government in power in Alberta, and Smith needs a good one if she is to validate the political capital she invested into Bill 1. Canada could be barrelling toward a serious constitutional crisis as Alberta refuses to participate in federal laws and legislation.
Ottawa’s attempt to illegalize potentially hundreds of thousands of firearms through Bill C-21 is setting the stage for Smith’s battle, and Alberta’s Justice Minister Tyler Shandro fired off the first shot on Dec. 15 with a short letter sent to federal Justice Minister David Lametti. Shandro announced the province’s Crown prosecution service would be assuming responsibility for prosecutions in the new year, and Ottawa would be advised not to pursue charges against people who may be found with firearms illegalized by C-21. This follows his stance in September when he said he would direct the provincial RCMP not to enforce the confiscation of firearms made illegal under C-21….