Alberta legislature. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Alberta’s Fair Deal report recommends referendum on equalization, replacing RCMP

Jun 17, 2020 | 1:30 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A panel that spoke extensively with Albertans over the last year is recommending several major changes to the way the province operates and for its relationship with Ottawa.

They held 10 large town halls, 15 additional town halls hosted by local MLAs, and an online survey in March say more than 40,000 Albertans take part.

“Sentiments across the province varied from outright anger and a call for immediate separation, to a more nuanced sense of frustration and disappointment with the federal government, and sometimes other parts of Canada. Much of the frustration came from a combination of economic pain and a sense that the rest of the country wants to eliminate our way of life,” reads a section of the report.

The authors claim that, while some people expressed satisfaction with the fairness of the status quo, the majority of the responses were negative.

They add that sentiments of separation will likely grow if Albertans feel like they are not being heard by the federal government, but “the best option is to achieve a fairer deal for Albertans.”

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Broadly speaking, suggestions made by residents mainly boil down to requiring better collaboration between governments and things the Government of Alberta can be unilaterally.

A total of 25 recommendations were made by the panel for actions the Government of Alberta could take. Taken verbatim from the report, they include:

1. Press strenuously for the removal of the current constraints on the Fiscal Stabilization Program, which prevent Albertans from receiving a $2.4 billion equalization rebate
2. Proceed with the proposed referendum on equalization, asking a clear question along the lines of: “Do you support the removal of Section 36, which deals with the principle of equalization, from the Constitution Act, 1982?”
3. Collaborate with other jurisdictions to reduce trade barriers within Canada and pressure the federal government to enforce free trade in Canada
4. Collaborate with other jurisdictions and other stakeholders to secure cross-border rights of way and create unobstructed corridors within Canada to tidewater and world markets
5. Collaborate with other jurisdictions to design and advance regional strategies for northern development; pressure the federal government to implement those strategies
6. a) Support and press for the strictest possible application of the principle of representation by population in the House of Commons. b) Work with other provinces and the federal government to democratize the Senate appointment process
7. Secure a fairer share of federal civil service opportunities and federal offices in Western Canada
8. Abolish or at least change the residency requirement for the federal courts
9. Assert more control over immigration for the economic benefit of Alberta
10. Collaborate with other provinces and industry to advance market-based approaches to environmental protection, including a reduction in GHG emissions
11. Continue to challenge federal legislation that affects provincial jurisdiction
12. Work with other provinces to secure a federal-provincial agreement prohibiting the federal government from spending, taxing, legislating, or treaty making in areas of provincial or joint jurisdiction without the consent of the affected province(s)
13. a) Develop a comprehensive plan to create an Alberta Pension Plan and withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan. b) Subsequently, provide Albertans the opportunity, via a referendum, to vote for or against withdrawing from the Canada Pension Plan and creating the Alberta Pension Plan
14. Create an Alberta Police Service to replace the RCMP
15. Appoint an Alberta Chief Firearms Officer (CFO)
16. Secure a seat at the table when the federal government negotiates and implements international agreements and treaties affecting Alberta’s interests
17. Strengthen Alberta’s presence in Ottawa
18. Opt out of new federal cost-shared programs, subject to Alberta receiving full compensation
19. Resist federal intrusions into health and social programming, and do not seek to exchange cash payments for tax points at this time
20. Continue to diversify Alberta’s economy in the energy sector and beyond
21. Vigorously pursue access to markets for Alberta’s exports
22. Make no changes, at this time, to the administration of agreements that Alberta public agencies and municipalities have with the Government of Canada
23. a) Make no changes to tax collection in Alberta at this time. b) Support Quebec in its bid to collect the federal and provincial portions of personal income taxes and, if Quebec is successful, pursue the same strategy if it is advantageous
24. Use democratic tools such as referenda and citizens’ initiatives to seek Albertans’ guidance on selected Fair Deal Panel proposals and other initiatives
25. Explore ways and means to affirm Alberta’s cultural, economic and political uniqueness in law and government policy

Premier Jason Kenney says what they heard from Albertans reflects many of the recommendations.

“The report reveals a people with great love for their province and their country, but also a people that have suffered through years of economic stagnation, mainly caused by bad policy choices by governments, especially the federal government policies that discriminate against our province and its largest industry, even as they enjoy the wealth that Albertans create for Canada.”

As of the matter of equalization, the panel claims Alberta has paid $239-billion into the system between 2007 and 2018, ranging between $15.3-billion to $27.1-billion each year.

A Fair Deal town hall was held in Lethbridge in December 2019 which saw 200 attendees and 34 speakers. The MLAs representing Fort Macleod and Brooks also held town halls in their communities.

Equalization payments Alberta has made between 2007 and 2018. (Fair Deal Panel)

The satisfaction among Canadians in the federal government. (Angus Reid Institute)

Albertans’ feelings about getting a “fair share”. (Ipsos)

Businesses on getting a “fair deal”. (Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses)