What does Alberta sovereignty mean?

Introduction

Alberta, a land of untapped potential and resilient spirit. Today, we stand at a crossroads, facing a future where our province’s destiny is in our hands. This is our story, our path to sovereignty and prosperity. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, sovereignty signifies freedom from external control.

By definition, Canada is a federation. In a federation, regions delegate certain powers to a central government while retaining other powers for themselves. So the federal government of Canada has authority over matters that affect the entire country (e.g., the military, money, citizenship, telecommunications, mail), while the provincial governments have authority over more local matters (e.g., education, healthcare, natural resources, social services). Each level, in theory, has their own “lane” to stay within.

Alberta sovereignty, in the context of its relationship with Canada, refers to the aspiration for Alberta to gain greater autonomy and control over provincial areas of responsibility, distinct from the federal government’s areas of responsibility. However, a combination of economic, political, cultural, and human rights factors, each highlighting the province’s unique position within Canada, has resulted in many Albertans defining “Alberta sovereignty” to mean Alberta becoming an independent country and taking control of all matters that fall within the jurisdiction of an independent nation.

Economic Factors

Economically, Alberta has long been one of Canada’s most prosperous provinces, largely due to its abundant natural resources, especially oil and gas. However, this prosperity hasn’t always translated into equitable returns within the federation. Calls for greater sovereignty stem from disproportionate financial contributions to federal programs and perceived unfair treatment in resource distribution.

Example of economic grievances include the following:

• Canada’s National Energy Policy (NEP) and the economic equalization formula has transferred over $700 billion from Alberta to the eastern Canada, with approximatley 2/3rds (>$500 billion) of this amount going to Quebec.
• Federal transfers of our own money for healthcare, education, social services, and infrastructure developments (i.e., provincial responsibilities) are granted by the federal government to Alberta via negotiation and results in less than half (approximately $27 billion) of the $60 billion per year Ottawa receives through federal taxation coming back to fund provincial expenses.
• For the past 60 years, the Liberal and Conservative federal parties have won federal elections by promising and implementing policies that transfer wealth from resource-rich/voter-poor Alberta to purportedly poorer regions – most especially Quebec. This strategy was immortalized by the memorable words of Pierre Trudeau’s 1980 campaign strategist Keith Davey: “Screw the West. We’ll take the rest.”
• The loss of over $200 billion of investment planned for Alberta subsequent to 2006 due to unreasonably restrictive federal regulatory policies which, via the multiplier effect, has
• likley cost Alberta more than $1 trillion of increased economic activity, which would have significantly benefited both Alberta and all of Canada.
• Illegitimate or “odious” debt; i.e., money borrowed by the federal government, not for the benefit of the people of Alberta or Canada, but to fund a political party’s ideology or causes that most Albertans would not want to fund (e.g., foreign NGOs, other countries, dictators, terrorist groups, foundations, etc.).

Governance and Legislation Factors

From a governance perspective, sovereignty for Alberta means having the authority to make legislative decisions without federal intervention, especially in areas deemed critical to the province’s prosperity and way of life. This includes energy development, environmental policies, and taxation. Many federal initiatives in these areas have been viewed by Albertans as overreach into provincial jurisdiction and detrimental to the provincial economy. Increased sovereignty would allow Alberta to craft policies more closely aligned with its own interests and economic realities.

There are a number of examples of governance and legislation that have or will impact the prosperity of Albertans:

• The restrictive Bill C-69 (Impact Assessment Act), which would effectively block the development of new pipelines and limit Alberta’s export of oil and gas.
• The Oil Tanker Moratorium Act (Bill C-48), which bans oil tankers carrying more than 12,500 metric tonnes of crude oil from docking along British Columbia’s north coast, significantly limiting Alberta’s ability to export its crude oil via one of the most economical and efficient routes available to the Asia-Pacific markets.
• The federal carbon tax on oil and gas, which constrains the development and transport of Alberta’s natural resources and the sustainability of Alberta’s agricultural sector (which relies on the hydrocarbon industry to produce fertilizer).
• The inability to market Alberta oil and gas to countries other than the United States, which costs Alberta at least $25 billion annually, with the resultant loss from the multiplier effect of approximately $125 billion of economic output.
• · The Federal Government’s plan to phase out Alberta’s oil and gas industry by 2050, while importing foreign oil from countries with lower environmental standards and social values.
• The federal government’s failure to acknowledge that Alberta’s oil and gas industry provides not just energy for transportation, heating, cooling, and electricity, but also for the development of over 6000 others products that we use routinely and cannot do without, such as medications, anesthetic agents, and fertilizer.
• The Canada Health Act, which interferes with Alberta’s authority over healthcare as provided in the Constitution (Section 92, Constitution Act, 1867) and prevents creative solutions to improve access, quality, and cost. (Globally, the Canadian healthcare system now functions in the lowest quartile of quality at the highest quartile of cost.

Cultural and Identity Factors

Culturally, the sovereignty movement reflects a broader sense of Western alienation, where Alberta’s distinct identity and values feel marginalized within the national dialogue. Grievances range from historical injustices against Indigenous communities to cultural impositions by the federal government.

Some examples of cultural grievances include:

• The federal control and oppression of Alberta’s Indigenous citizens as evidenced by unresolved historical grievances, as well as the Indian Act.
• The Official Languages Act of 1969 by Pierre E Trudeau, which included cultural change that promoted social engineering, imposed the cost of bilingualism, and prevented federal government employment for those who are not bilingual.
• The Federal Government’s unilateral stated decision to change Canada to a “Socialist/ Marxist Post National State” without consultation with the provinces and/or the People of Canada.
• The Federal Government’s stated intention to relinquish the sovereignty of Canada to an unelected supranational organization/community, the United Nations (UN).
• The Liberal Government stating that Canada has no identity.
• The Federal Government’s support of wokeness, cancel culture, critical race theory, the rewriting of history, and the tearing down of historical monuments.

Human Rights Factors

Sovereignty concerns extend from infringements on basic rights and freedoms, such as during the recent public health crisis and with proposed legislative changes. Albertans are also resistant to the perceived erosion of the moral and ethical foundations of governance.

Examples include the following:

• Using a questionable public health crisis to infringe on basic constitutional freedoms (e.g., freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom to travel) and mortgage the futures of our children with grossly wasteful spending and crippling debt.
• The Federal Government’s plan to eliminate the right to self-defence (including the right to use whatever force is available to defend life, liberty, and property) and the right to own and bear arms.
• The elimination of the supremacy of God, which provides a moral and ethical foundation for a civil society, the rule of law, policies, and governance, as well as for the development of a “Constitution” that protects individual freedoms and rights, and which is foundational to the success of Western civilization.

Summary

Alberta sovereignty encompasses economic, governance, cultural, and human rights dimensions, fueled by grievances against perceived federal overreach and neglect. It’s a multifaceted aspiration driven by a desire for greater self-determination and fair treatment within or outside of the federation of Canada.