The gloves are off in the legislature over Bill 1 as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and NDP leader Rachel Notley went toe to toe during the question period on Thursday..Things got so heated, one NDP MLA compared Smith to Russian strongman Vladimir Putin..Notley claimed the introduction of the Alberta Sovereignty Act (ASA) is driving investment out of the province.."This bill creates economic and unrest investor uncertainty, no question that is very well established, but you know what else creates uncertainty? Having a premier who can't read her own laws," Notley claimed.."Who won't admit when she got it wrong, who ceases this power and steps on the rights of Albertans while arrogantly refusing to acknowledge that she's done it.".Smith fired back at Notley.."Mr. Speaker, we know that the only thing that's creating investor uncertainty right now is the anti-industry and anti-oil and gas policies of the Liberal/NDP coalition in Ottawa that has chased over $100 billion of investment out of our province," Smith said during question period.."We know the only thing that would create investment uncertainty is if this opposition ever forms government again.".Smith claimed investment fled the province once the NDP became the government.."We sure don't want to repeat that. I just saw the stats, actually. We are now at the lowest level of unemployment. We haven't seen unemployment levels this low since the members opposite formed the government in 2014. I think that's a testament to the fact people are investing in this province because they have the ASA to protect them against federal overreach.".During the question period, NDP member Deron Bilous compared Smith to Putin.."Albertans expect the government to stand up for the rights of Albertans, but why does Bill 1 look like something out of Vladimir Putin's Russia?" Bilous said claiming Bill 1 is causing uncertainty.."Uncertainty is the kind of policies the members opposite brought in when they were in this chair bringing through an emissions cap on oil sands," Smith said.."Where do you think the federal Liberal/NDP coalition got that idea from? Now they want to come through and bring in a 42% reduction in oil and gas, and a 30% reduction in fertilizer emissions. We know that that kind of emissions would come as a de facto production cap that is not in line with our constitution. We have the right to develop our resources in our own way and I would invite the members to stand with supporting pushing back.".Alberta NDP Deputy leader Sarah Hoffman claimed Smith was elected by 1% of the Alberta voters and now she wants to give herself "dictatorial powers.”.“Danielle Smith and the UCP are focused on creating more chaos, costs, and conflict with her Sovereignty Act," Hoffman said..Minister of Justice Tyler Shandro said "that is not true" as he defended the ASA.."This begins with a process that is a resolution in this chamber, an open democratic process for all of us to pass, all of us to vote on, this is what the NDP are mad about," Shandro said.."What they're upset about is a government that would stand up against Justin Trudeau. That makes them angry, that this is a government that's now proposing to stand up against that alliance in Ottawa.".Notley later said: “We need the UCP Government to immediately revoke the economically destructive and undemocratic Sovereignty Act. We don’t need Ottawa’s involvement — I'm not asking the federal government to intervene. I am calling on the members of the UCP to do the right thing and clean up this mess. Albertans need to get loud and put a stop to this legislation. This is about protecting our economic future.”
The gloves are off in the legislature over Bill 1 as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and NDP leader Rachel Notley went toe to toe during the question period on Thursday..Things got so heated, one NDP MLA compared Smith to Russian strongman Vladimir Putin..Notley claimed the introduction of the Alberta Sovereignty Act (ASA) is driving investment out of the province.."This bill creates economic and unrest investor uncertainty, no question that is very well established, but you know what else creates uncertainty? Having a premier who can't read her own laws," Notley claimed.."Who won't admit when she got it wrong, who ceases this power and steps on the rights of Albertans while arrogantly refusing to acknowledge that she's done it.".Smith fired back at Notley.."Mr. Speaker, we know that the only thing that's creating investor uncertainty right now is the anti-industry and anti-oil and gas policies of the Liberal/NDP coalition in Ottawa that has chased over $100 billion of investment out of our province," Smith said during question period.."We know the only thing that would create investment uncertainty is if this opposition ever forms government again.".Smith claimed investment fled the province once the NDP became the government.."We sure don't want to repeat that. I just saw the stats, actually. We are now at the lowest level of unemployment. We haven't seen unemployment levels this low since the members opposite formed the government in 2014. I think that's a testament to the fact people are investing in this province because they have the ASA to protect them against federal overreach.".During the question period, NDP member Deron Bilous compared Smith to Putin.."Albertans expect the government to stand up for the rights of Albertans, but why does Bill 1 look like something out of Vladimir Putin's Russia?" Bilous said claiming Bill 1 is causing uncertainty.."Uncertainty is the kind of policies the members opposite brought in when they were in this chair bringing through an emissions cap on oil sands," Smith said.."Where do you think the federal Liberal/NDP coalition got that idea from? Now they want to come through and bring in a 42% reduction in oil and gas, and a 30% reduction in fertilizer emissions. We know that that kind of emissions would come as a de facto production cap that is not in line with our constitution. We have the right to develop our resources in our own way and I would invite the members to stand with supporting pushing back.".Alberta NDP Deputy leader Sarah Hoffman claimed Smith was elected by 1% of the Alberta voters and now she wants to give herself "dictatorial powers.”.“Danielle Smith and the UCP are focused on creating more chaos, costs, and conflict with her Sovereignty Act," Hoffman said..Minister of Justice Tyler Shandro said "that is not true" as he defended the ASA.."This begins with a process that is a resolution in this chamber, an open democratic process for all of us to pass, all of us to vote on, this is what the NDP are mad about," Shandro said.."What they're upset about is a government that would stand up against Justin Trudeau. That makes them angry, that this is a government that's now proposing to stand up against that alliance in Ottawa.".Notley later said: “We need the UCP Government to immediately revoke the economically destructive and undemocratic Sovereignty Act. We don’t need Ottawa’s involvement — I'm not asking the federal government to intervene. I am calling on the members of the UCP to do the right thing and clean up this mess. Albertans need to get loud and put a stop to this legislation. This is about protecting our economic future.”
