UCP ALBERTA SEPARATIST PARTY

Notley asks O'Toole whether he would play ball with Kenney on the equalization referendum;  FIREWALL ALBERTA

Author of the article: Ashley Joannou
Publishing date: Jun 09, 2021 •

Alberta NDP Leader Rachel sent a letter to federal Conservative Opposition Leader Erin O'Toole asking him to weigh in on the province's equalization referendum on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. PHOTO BY GREG SOUTHAM /Postmedia

Alberta NDP Leader Rachel has sent a letter to federal Conservative Opposition Leader Erin O’Toole asking him to weigh in on the province’s equalization referendum by the end of next week.

Alberta MLAs are considering a proposed referendum that would ask municipal election voters this fall if they want to remove part of Canada’s constitution that deals with equalization payments. The province has no ability to actually do that on its own but Premier Jason Kenney says having a clear answer would put the province in a better position to negotiate a better deal with Ottawa.

In a Wednesday letter, Notley asked O’Toole whether he would use his authority if elected prime minister to convene constitutional negotiations.

“It is my view that it is not a matter that should be undertaken lightly, without some clear understanding that there is at least one federal leader who would pursue this objective,” she said.

“To do so would be to raise the ire of a portion of Albertans while at the same time providing no meaningful prospect of securing the outcome they are being asked to choose. In my mind this would be reckless and irresponsible.”

Notley did not send a similar letter to federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday afternoon, Notley called the referendum a “cheap political trick”

She said if the goal is to force the federal government to take equalization concerns more seriously, the referendum should be about the formula.

“But that’s not what the referendum is about. The referendum is about completely eliminating the principle of equalization from the Constitution of Canada, an outcome which we know full well cannot and will not be achieved,” she said.

During question period Wednesday, Kenney did not answer a question about whether he knew O’Toole’s position on the issue.

“This government was elected on a platform to give Albertans a direct voice on equalization and we are keeping that promise with a referendum this October,” Kenney said.