Premier Smith Shifts Tone Toward Ottawa Ahead of Sovereignty Referendum
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
Once critical of federal 'punishment' of the energy sector, Alberta's leader now claims Canada is functioning better than ever as she campaigns to stay in the federation.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has significantly altered her rhetoric regarding the federal government, asserting that Canada is currently "working better than it ever has," as CBC News first reported.
The shift comes as Alberta prepares for a non-binding referendum on sovereignty. Smith, who has confirmed she will vote for the province to remain in Canada, recently appeared at a campaign stop in Red Deer with Prime Minister Mark Carney. During the event, Smith described Carney as a "different type of leader" who respects the constitutional division of powers between provincial and federal jurisdictions.
This collaborative tone marks a departure from Smith's previous criticisms. CBC News reports that last year, Smith claimed Ottawa was fixated on "punishing" the energy sector and implementing policies to keep resources in the ground. This followed a period where her predecessor, Jason Kenney, characterized the federal government as "killing the golden goose."
Smith attributes the improved relationship to Ottawa's willingness to move quickly on major initiatives, specifically citing the Pacific Link pipeline and a general refusal to stand in the way of resource development.
Central to this rapprochement is Smith's demand in March 2025 to address "nine bad laws" to prevent a "national unity crisis." These issues included the EV mandate, the oil and gas emissions cap, net-zero power regulations, the prohibition on single-use plastics, and the repeal of Bill C-69 (the Impact Assessment Act). Smith also sought the lifting of the B.C. tanker ban, guaranteed access to oil and gas corridors, an end to the "federal censorship" of energy firms, and the return of industrial carbon tax oversight to provinces.
Ryan Fournier, a spokesperson for the premier's office, stated via email that seven of those nine items have been "scrapped or reformed." Fournier added that soaring investment and the progression of major projects serve as evidence of a more collaborative relationship.
However, the pivot has not silenced critics. Keith Wilson, a prominent leader in the Alberta separatist movement, dismissed the current harmony as "political platitudes." Wilson argued that the province's future prosperity should not depend on the personal relationship between a premier and a prime minister, questioning what would happen if the two leaders stopped getting along.