Premiers keeping cards close on constitutional changes pitched in Alberta referendum

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is sending major constitutional reforms to a provincewide vote next month, but her fellow premiers are keeping their opinions close to their chest. The four proposals include abolishing the Senate, allowing Alberta to choose provincial judges, opting out of federal programs without losing funding, and giving provincial laws precedence over federal laws.

Smith's government concedes that abolishing the Senate is unlikely to gain support from other provinces, as it would require unanimous cross-country backing. However, they believe targeted amendments to Canada's legal and administrative structure have a better chance of becoming reality. Canadian premiers have not directly commented on Smith's proposals, but one constitutional law expert noted that there may be support for two of the proposals beyond the ballot, such as having provinces choose their own judges and opting out of federal programs without financial punishment.