Alberta tables gatekeeper bill on federal funding
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has introduced a gatekeeping law that would allow the province to veto any future deal struck between municipalities and the federal government.
Smith says recent unilateral federal housing grants to some Alberta cities were the final straw.
Smith also says the bill, introduced in the house Wednesday, acts as a bulwark against Ottawa muscling in to fund federal ideological priorities - such as safe supply addiction treatment and green power mandates - that run counter to her province’s objectives.
“It’s come to a head in the last month, because they’ve been so outrageous and egregious in how unfairly they’re treating our province and how unfairly they’re treating our municipalities (on housing),” Smith told reporters before introducing the proposed provincial priorities act.
“The federal government is picking favourites.
“They’re not giving us our fair per capita funding, and they are making municipalities jump through a bunch of hoops and agree to a bunch of onerous conditions in order to be able to receive it.”
In recent weeks, Ottawa has announced millions of dollars in grant programs with Calgary, Edmonton and smaller municipalities under its Housing Accelerator Fund.
The fund goes to municipalities proposing innovative ways, such as zoning and planning changes, to get more affordable housing built.
Federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser said last month the fund is tied to innovation and not population. He said multiple municipalities are benefiting, and Alberta is getting close to its 12 per cent per capita share at around $450 million.