Alberta’s Sovereignty Act stokes controversy

Supporters say the act will deter Ottawa from introducing further legislation affecting oil and gas, while opponents say it creates uncertainty that will harm investment

Alberta premier Danielle Smith and her United Conservative Party (UCP) government passed a piece of quasi-separatist legislation in early December in an attempt to stop the federal government from implementing policies that would affect the province’s oil and gas industry. And the move has generated significant controversy. The heads of both the Calgary and Canadian chambers of commerce warn the uncertainty caused will deter capital investment in Alberta. Rachel Notley, the leader of the centre-left New Democratic Party (NDP) has labelled the legislation as “job killing” and has said her first order of business if she regains power in a late May provincial election will be to revoke it. Petr