Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips speaks with reporters about Bill 18 on Friday, April 19, 2024. (Photo: LNN)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge-West MLA condemns Provincial Priorities Act

Apr 19, 2024 | 2:12 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – “In many ways, this is more destructive to the province than the Sovereignty Act because the Sovereignty Act was at least a piece of political theatre, at least as far as we can tell.”

That’s from Lethbridge-West NDP MLA Shannon Phillips, in response to Bill 18.

The proposed legislation was introduced by the governing UCP earlier this month.

READ MORE: Alberta introduces bill giving it gatekeeping role on federal funding

It would allow the Alberta government to veto any deal struck between provincial entities like municipalities, post-secondary institutions and health authorities.

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“There is no question that this is a massive overreach,” says Phillips.

The province has defended the legislation, with Minister of Municipal Affairs, Ric McIver, saying it was presented in the best interest of Albertans and could help reduce red tape.

READ MORE: Minister defends Alberta’s proposed federal funding veto bill

However, Phillips believes it could be detrimental to post-secondary and research institutions, with these entities relying heavily on federal funding for their work.

“We just need folks to be able to continue to contribute to the economy here in southern Alberta without interruption or interference by Danielle Smith, adds the MLA.

Phillips remarks that these institutions “don’t need more bureaucracy [and] red tape in a process that has worked perfectly fine for the better part of the 20^th and 21^st century.”

“It is millions of dollars, even into Lethbridge alone, that comes through tri-council grants into both of our institutions. That’s to say nothing of what comes into the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta and where those researchers might be conducting research down here.”

She adds the effects of Bill 18 could be felt by other technical institutes, polytechnics, regional colleges, nonprofits, housing authorities, seniors’ and Indigenous groups and school boards.

“The fact of the matter is, we live in a country that has been taken along reasonably well in terms of how federal funds flow through to post-secondary institutions, the K to 12 education system, cities and towns and across our health care system,” says Phillips.

“Danielle Smith inserting her bizarre priorities and extremist ideology in service to the separatist agenda is not welcome, she did not run on it, and it poses a grave threat to the economy here in southern Alberta and across the province.”

READ MORE: Alberta dismisses fears federal funding veto bill would put chill on academic freedom

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