Midnight deadline in licence plate row

Rescind rule or face court action, Saskatchewan told

Alberta’s trade minister said the government will file papers in court Thursday if Saskatchewan doesn’t roll back new controversial licence plate rules.

“They have until midnight tonight to smarten up, come to their senses and walk this back or we will be filing a trade injunction,” Economic Development and Trade Minister Deron Bilous said Wednesday. “What we’re trying to prevent, frankly, is an escalation of consequences.”

Last week, Saskatchewan Transportation Minister Dave Marit said Alberta contractors working on government highway and building projects would have to display a local licence plate.

Bilous asserted the move was ridiculous and issued an ultimatum — seven days to take it back, or the Alberta government would go to court.

As the deadline approaches, Bilous told reporters Saskatchewan instituted the rule retroactively, so Alberta plates are already not allowed on worksites.

(If Saskatchewan doesn’t) smarten up, come to their senses and walk this back ... we will be filing a trade injunction.

“It’s non-trade compliant,” he added.

Bilous repeatedly said Saskatchewan officials weren’t answering his calls, but confirmed he spoke to Marit and Minister of Economy Steven Bonk on Tuesday.

“They had said that they felt the onus was on us to contact them,” Bilous said.

“I requested if there are issues that they’re hearing about, I encourage them to pick up the phone and call us.”

When the spat started, Marit said he heard rumours that Saskatchewan contractors were being barred from Alberta sites because they didn’t have local plates.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said Alberta has exhibited a disturbing pattern of protectionist behaviour. He has criticized Alberta for hiking the price of beer sold in the province by $1.25 a litre and launching a grant program to help small Alberta brewers.

“There have been a series of provocations from the NDP government of Alberta that regrettably make this retaliatory measure necessary,” Wall said in a statement sent last Friday to Postmedia.

Bilous said there haven’t been any substantiated claims of Saskatchewan vehicles being banned on Alberta worksites because they lacked Alberta plates.

He said he’ll have more information Thursday about other possible consequences if Saskatchewan doesn’t yield.