GATEKEEPER BILL

Smith said the aggregate housing money amounts to less than Alberta’s per capita share and falls far behind what other provinces are getting.

The bill is the next chapter in a long-running war of words and court battles between Smith’s United Conservative Party government and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government.

Alberta has accused Ottawa of repeated intrusions into provincial areas of constitutional authority, particularly when it comes to energy industry regulations and rules to green the electricity grid.

Under Wednesday’s priorities bill, any entity that is regulated by the province would not be allowed to enter, renew or extend a deal with Ottawa without approval from the province.

It would apply to a sweeping range of provincial bodies, including municipalities, post-secondary schools, school boards, health authorities and other Crown-controlled organizations.

“Any entity that we regulate has to follow these rules,” said Smith.

The bill mirrors similar legislation in Quebec.

Alberta’s proposed law would not apply to existing deals but to all agreements if it comes into force, which is expected to be early 2025.

When asked what the consequences would be for those who defy the law, Smith said there won’t be any because the federal government won’t be allowed to unilaterally make the deals.

Smith also addressed questions around increased bureaucracy with the proposed law.

The UCP government has made red tape reduction a core value and created a ministry for red tape reduction.

Smith and Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver said the law won’t create more red tape because, if applied properly, it would create a one-stop funding shop for the federal government rather than having Ottawa work with individual agencies and municipalities.