Prairies premiers have a message for the Liberal government in Ottawa..On Tuesday, a joint statement was released by Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith..The Prairie premiers say Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to tell Canadians immediately that federal Justice Minister David Lametti was not speaking on behalf of the federal government when he said he would look at rescinding the 1930 Natural Resources Transfer Agreements (NRTA) with the Prairie provinces and strip away their constitutional authority and control over natural resources..“These agreements recognized the Prairie provinces with the same rights over resources that all other provinces already had,” the statement read..“Those rights have been fundamental to the people and the economic autonomy of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta for nearly 100 years. The federal government cannot unilaterally change the Constitution. It should not even be considering stripping resource rights away from the three Prairie provinces.”.The three premiers then called on Trudeau to correct the comments of his justice minister..“The prime minister needs to immediately retract these dangerous and divisive comments by his justice minister,” the statement said..On Monday, Smith said she received word the federal Justice minister may attempt to rescind the NRTA with the prairie provinces..“This would pose an unprecedented risk to national unity and Alberta condemns this federal threat in the strongest possible terms,” Smith said..Alberta has a constitutional obligation under the NRTA to transfer back to Canada unoccupied Crown lands necessary to allow Canada to fulfill its treaty obligations with First Nations..Since 1986, Alberta settled 11 different land claims, contributed 178,281 acres of unoccupied Crown land to Canada in trust for First Nations and also $57.6 million in compensation..“All lands included in reserves within the province, including those selected and surveyed but not yet confirmed, as well as those confirmed, shall continue to be vested in the Crown and administered by the Government of Canada for the purposes of Canada, and the province will from time to time upon the request of the superintendent general of Indian Affairs, set aside, out of the unoccupied Crown lands hereby,” the agreement reads.. Pierre Poilievre .Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said "Trudeau's Justice Minister David Lametti threatened to overturn the constitution and take federal control over provincial resources."."I’ll never allow this attack by the costly coalition on our prairie resource workers.".Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said it's “outrageous” the Trudeau government would even think of changing the NRTA..READ MORE: Moe and Smith object to Trudeau gov rescinding natural resources agreement.Moe wants to know how the federal justice minister thinks he has the authority to take natural resources away from the provinces..Moe, Stefanson and Smith are all ready to fight for provincial jurisdiction and autonomy..“The federal justice minister suggested he’s 'looking at' taking away provincial authority of our natural resources in the prairies,” Stefanson said..“That’s reckless. @JustinTrudeau this needs clarification ASAP.”
Prairies premiers have a message for the Liberal government in Ottawa..On Tuesday, a joint statement was released by Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith..The Prairie premiers say Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to tell Canadians immediately that federal Justice Minister David Lametti was not speaking on behalf of the federal government when he said he would look at rescinding the 1930 Natural Resources Transfer Agreements (NRTA) with the Prairie provinces and strip away their constitutional authority and control over natural resources..“These agreements recognized the Prairie provinces with the same rights over resources that all other provinces already had,” the statement read..“Those rights have been fundamental to the people and the economic autonomy of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta for nearly 100 years. The federal government cannot unilaterally change the Constitution. It should not even be considering stripping resource rights away from the three Prairie provinces.”.The three premiers then called on Trudeau to correct the comments of his justice minister..“The prime minister needs to immediately retract these dangerous and divisive comments by his justice minister,” the statement said..On Monday, Smith said she received word the federal Justice minister may attempt to rescind the NRTA with the prairie provinces..“This would pose an unprecedented risk to national unity and Alberta condemns this federal threat in the strongest possible terms,” Smith said..Alberta has a constitutional obligation under the NRTA to transfer back to Canada unoccupied Crown lands necessary to allow Canada to fulfill its treaty obligations with First Nations..Since 1986, Alberta settled 11 different land claims, contributed 178,281 acres of unoccupied Crown land to Canada in trust for First Nations and also $57.6 million in compensation..“All lands included in reserves within the province, including those selected and surveyed but not yet confirmed, as well as those confirmed, shall continue to be vested in the Crown and administered by the Government of Canada for the purposes of Canada, and the province will from time to time upon the request of the superintendent general of Indian Affairs, set aside, out of the unoccupied Crown lands hereby,” the agreement reads.. Pierre Poilievre .Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said "Trudeau's Justice Minister David Lametti threatened to overturn the constitution and take federal control over provincial resources."."I’ll never allow this attack by the costly coalition on our prairie resource workers.".Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said it's “outrageous” the Trudeau government would even think of changing the NRTA..READ MORE: Moe and Smith object to Trudeau gov rescinding natural resources agreement.Moe wants to know how the federal justice minister thinks he has the authority to take natural resources away from the provinces..Moe, Stefanson and Smith are all ready to fight for provincial jurisdiction and autonomy..“The federal justice minister suggested he’s 'looking at' taking away provincial authority of our natural resources in the prairies,” Stefanson said..“That’s reckless. @JustinTrudeau this needs clarification ASAP.”
