Alberta’s government is set to eliminate the restriction on the oilsands by collaborating to construct pipelines to British Columbia’s northwest coast and Ontario, according to Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani in the throne speech marking the beginning of a new legislative session. The speech highlights the success of convincing the rest of Canada about the significance of selling Alberta’s natural resources and reaffirms the commitment to doubling oil and gas production without specifying a timeline. It also mentions Alberta’s successful diplomatic approach in addressing U.S. tariff threats.
The speech emphasizes that Alberta’s sovereignty does not imply separation but underscores the importance of reaching an economic autonomy agreement with the federal government. Following the Liberal victory in the federal election in April, there has been a rise in separatist sentiments in Alberta, leading to discussions about a potential referendum on Alberta’s continued inclusion in Canada.
Premier Danielle Smith introduced the government’s first bill of the session, the International Agreements Act, clarifying Alberta’s role in international agreements. The proposed bill aims to ensure that international agreements are only enforceable in Alberta if implemented under provincial legislation. The legislation is inspired by a Quebec law from 25 years ago.
Additionally, the government plans to introduce a bill for Alberta driver’s licenses and identification cards to include a marker for Canadian citizens by the next year. The speech also reaffirms the government’s commitment to various initiatives, such as developing a passenger rail system, hiring more police officers, restructuring healthcare administrative bodies, and modernizing school infrastructure over the next seven years.
Opposition leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the throne speech for lacking focus on improving public services, healthcare, and affordability, while independent MLA Pete Guthrie raised concerns about political motives overshadowing the province’s interests in the government’s flagship legislation, Bill 1.