Premiers keeping cards close on constitutional changes pitched in Alberta referendum
EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's counterparts across the country are keeping their cards close to their chest on where they stand on the major constitutional reforms Smith is sending to a provincewide vote next month.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is seeking support for four major constitutional reforms in a province-wide vote next month. The proposals include abolishing the Senate, allowing Alberta to choose its own judges for the King's Bench and Court of Appeal, opting out of federal programs without losing funding, and giving provincial laws precedence over federal laws.
While the Senate abolishment is considered a non-starter by other political leaders, Smith's office believes the other proposals could gain traction. Some premiers, such as Saskatchewan's Scott Moe, have declined to comment, while others like Nunavut's John Main are monitoring the referendum results. Yukon Premier Currie Dixon expressed support for Alberta's continued presence in Confederation.
Constitutional law experts suggest that Smith's office may be correct in assuming there could be enough provincial support for two of the proposals, but there are concerns that pursuing constitutional negotiations could lead to disagreements among provinces.
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