Session Resumes with a Bang

There are a number of ways we could go with our feature article this week, and this writer grappled with it. We could have focused on the contents of the budget bill tabled this week, but we also could have focused on Premier Danielle Smith’s back and forth with Ontario Premier Doug Ford with respect to the prospect of applying an export tax to oil and gas shipments to the United States.

For this week, we will instead focus on three of the stories that made waves throughout the province in an incredibly tumultuous news cycle.

Alberta’s Tariff Response

After being an early contrarian to other first ministers across the country, Premier Danielle Smith has finally begun to put retaliatory measures in place against the ongoing tariff and other economic threats being spewed by President Donald Trump.

The province is implementing four measures in response to tariff threats. Those are:

·         Shifting procurement policies to ensure government agencies, school boards, Crown corporations, and municipalities prioritize purchasing goods and services from Alberta companies, Canadian companies, or nations with free trade agreements that Canada upholds;

·         Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis has been directed to suspend purchases of U.S.-made alcohol and video lottery terminals (VLTs) until further notice;

·         The province will work with grocers and retailers to label Canadian products and encourage them to purchase from Alberta, Canada, and outside of the United States; and

·         Alberta will enter into free trade and labour mobility agreements with any province willing to do so.

Although the President implemented yet another pause to his general tariffs (at least on some items), Alberta’s Premier confirmed that the province will “be moving forward with our tariff response until these questions have been adequately dealt with.”

At this week’s conversation with the Council of the Federation, Premier Smith reiterated that she will continue to focus primarily on diplomatic relations between Alberta and the United States but will respond as necessary.

“It is clear that the American public opinion, industry and U.S. leaders are opposing a continued trade dispute with Canada more and more with each passing day. We therefore need to avoid escalation, play the long game and focus on getting to a mutually beneficial trade resolution with our American neighbours.”

In addition to the seemingly perpetual tariff threats from the United States, Alberta is expected to feel significant impact from China’s recent 100% tariff on Canadian canola in response to our nation’s EV tariff on the world’s most populous country. They are also imposing a 25% tariff on pork and aquatic products.

“New tariffs from China on Canadian canola oil and meal will have a devastating impact on canola farmers and the broader value chain at a time of increased trade and geopolitical uncertainty,” says Chris Davison, Canola Council of Canada (CCC) President & CEO. “We urge the federal government to immediately engage with China, with a view to resolving this issue.”

Pete Guthrie Placed on Probation

Following his surprise resignation as Infrastructure Minister at the end of February, MLA Pete Guthrie has been placed on probation from the United Conservative Party Caucus. He published a letter on social media in conjunction with his resignation citing numerous concerns he had with procurement practices following the filing of the lawsuit by former AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos.

According to reports by CBC News, Guthrie confirmed that he has been barred from attending caucus meetings and government committee meetings since February 26th. His probationary period is expected to last for at least thirty days. Next steps following the probationary period are not publicly available.

In an interview with Cochrane Now, a media outlet based in his home riding, MLA Guthrie said he believes he will still be able to be effective in his backbencher capacity.

"There are different rules when you're a cabinet minister and voicing opposition, especially publicly, to some of the elements, like in the budget, is frowned upon. As an MLA, I'm more free to be able to do that. The things I would like to do is one, voice my opinion, and two, work with groups and organizations to help them find their voices."

He also indicated he still supports the UCP.

Scott Sinclair Removed from UCP Caucus

Another UCP MLA has made headlines recently. Following a social media post indicating concerns with the recently tabled provincial budget for his riding, the MLA for Lesser Slave Lake has been removed from his party’s caucus and will now sit as an independent MLA.

On March 1, Sinclair published a post raising concerns about the $5.2 billion deficit in the budget that has “money being funneled into Edmonton and Calgary”, citing a number of funding lines in both of those cities.

“I don’t know who this budget is meant for, but if Trudeau’s former cabinet minister, Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, is thrilled about it— then it’s probably not for Northern Alberta. It’s certainly not for our riding, and it’s definitely not for the majority of Albertans who love this province. This budget is indefensible for the Lesser Slave Lake Constituency, and I will not support or vote for it “as is” without significant changes. I’ll have more to say in the coming days.”

Sinclair indicated that he was voted out during a caucus meeting on March 7.

In an appearance on Real Talk with Ryan Jespersen on Tuesday, Sinclair cleared the air and offered clarity on a few items since he was removed from caucus.

·         He reiterated that he did not vote against the budget and was disappointed to be removed prior to the budget vote even took place;

·         He does not intend on crossing the floor to the Alberta NDP; and

·         He would welcome a reunion with the UCP Caucus in the future.

In a follow-up post on his social media, MLA Sinclair wrote that “I want everyone to know that my family and I are grateful for all of the overwhelming support from the riding and across the province. I tried to read every text, email, [Facebook] message of support from everyone and it’s definitely helped me feel better about what I think is doing the right thing.

In a statement by the UCP Caucus, it was said that “MLA Sinclair has made it clear, both in his social media posts and in his conversations with colleagues, that he intends to vote against the budget. As an elected MLA he has that right, but may not do so as a member of the government caucus.”