Alberta threatens use of Sovereignty Act in throne speech

The Alberta government intends to lower electricity and auto insurance costs, as well as use the Sovereignty Act against the federal government if it tries to enforce emissions caps or a net-zero electricity grid by 2035, Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani said in Monday's throne speech.

The Alberta government intends to lower electricity and auto insurance costs, as well as use the Sovereignty Act against the federal government if it tries to enforce emissions caps or a net-zero electricity grid by 2035, Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani said in Monday's throne speech.

The speech, which outlines the province's priorities, marks the start of Alberta's 31st legislature. It comes five months after Premier Danielle Smith and her United Conservative Party won a majority government. The speech focuses on affordability issues as well as grievances against the federal government. Ottawa is called one of the "powerful forces" in Canada forcing Albertans to fundamentally alter our provincial economy and way of life."

The province is prepared to use the Sovereignty within a United Canada Act in order to ignore legislation implemented by the federal government.

At a news conference Monday, Smith said motions could be used against emissions caps on oil, gas, methane, and fertilizer, and the plan to make the electricity grid net-zero by 2035, which she contends is not realistic. "Those are all circumstances that if they proceed unilaterally, we would have to defend our constitutional jurisdiction," she said.