Alberta
Pot Meet Kettle – Group points out hypocrisy in opposition to Smith’s Alberta Sovereignty Act
News release from Free Alberta Strategy
Earlier this week, the UCP leadership candidates running to be Premier participated in their final debate before voting gets underway.
Once again, our Free Alberta Strategy and our Alberta Sovereignty Act were featured heavily, but this time something else caught our eye too.
Throughout the campaign, some of the harshest critics of the Alberta Sovereignty Act have been candidates Travis Toews and Rebecca Schulz, who say that it’s “nuts” for Alberta to do anything that might be unconstitutional, and that such actions would create economic “chaos.”
But, as was revealed during the debate, apparently both candidates actually have no problem doing unconstitutional things…
Travis Toews has, right in his campaign platform, a plan to impose tariffs on goods and services from parts of Canada “deemed hostile to Alberta”.
That’s a clearly unconstitutional proposal, that would certainly cause economic “chaos”, and yet Toews seems perfectly fine with that when it’s *his* idea.
Schulz, meanwhile, is proposing to use the “turn off the taps” legislation to punish other Provinces.
Again, this is clearly unconstitutional, and certain to cause economic “chaos”, and yet Schulz is fine with that as long as it’s *her* idea.
Both of these policies would be a direct violation of section 121 of the Constitution, which states:
“All Articles of the Growth, Produce, or Manufacture of any one of the Provinces shall, from and after the Union, be admitted free into each of the other Provinces.”
This means that arbitrarily setting tariffs on goods from hostile regions, whether justified or not, is clearly a contravention of the constitution.
Now, this isn’t to say that neither Toews nor Schulz are wrong to make these suggestions – it’s vital for Alberta to stand up for itself, and these policies may well help us do so!
But isn’t it interesting that they’re in favour of unconstitutional “chaos-creating” ideas, as long as they’re the ones proposing them?
It’s almost as if it’s more about politics than about implementing the best policies to protect Alberta’s interests.
The Sovereignty Act is a tool to be used to keep the federal government in its lane.
It forms just one piece of our detailed, well-thought-through Free Alberta Strategy, which all works together to help promote Alberta’s interests.
It isn’t a solitary line in a campaign platform, or a talking point to be used at a debate.
It’s a full, 48-page, detailed report that proposes a series of initiatives the Alberta government could implement today, without needing any permission from Ottawa, to make Alberta a sovereign jurisdiction within Canada.
If you want to learn more, and help us advance Alberta’s interests, you can do so by:
- Reading the full, detailed Free Alberta Strategy here.
- Signing, and getting your family and friends to sign, our petition.
- Helping us promote and advance the cause by making a donation.
Thanks for your support, as we continue to develop and promote details solutions to the challenges facing Alberta.
Regards,
The Free Alberta Strategy Team
Alberta
Fortis et Liber: Alberta’s Future in the Canadian Federation
From the C2C Journal
By Barry Cooper, professor of political science, University of Calgary
Canada’s western lands, wrote one prominent academic, became provinces “in the Roman sense” – acquired possessions that, once vanquished, were there to be exploited. Laurentian Canada regarded the hinterlands as existing primarily to serve the interests of the heartland. And the current holders of office in Ottawa often behave as if the Constitution’s federal-provincial distribution of powers is at best advisory, if it needs to be acknowledged at all. Reviewing this history, Barry Cooper places Alberta’s widely criticized Sovereignty Act in the context of the Prairie provinces’ long struggle for due constitutional recognition and the political equality of their citizens. Canada is a federation, notes Cooper. Provinces do have rights. Constitutions do mean something. And when they are no longer working, they can be changed.
Alberta
30 million contraband cigarettes valued at $25 million dollars seized in Alberta
New release from Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC)
Record setting contraband tobacco seizures result from AGLC investigations
Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) recently concluded several investigations which netted two of the largest contraband tobacco seizures in Alberta history. The combined total of the contraband tobacco seized was 154,800 cartons of contraband cigarettes (30.7 million individual cigarettes). These seizures are a result of the work conducted by AGLC’s Tobacco Enforcement Unit with the assistance of provincial law enforcement agencies.
- In a January 2024 investigation, approximately 43,500 cartons (8.7 million individual cigarettes) were seized. This equates to $7 million in retail value with a provincial tax avoidance of $2.4 million. This included the seizure of 15,000 grams of contraband shisha.
- In April of 2024, 60 wrapped pallets were seized from a warehouse setting netting a total of 111,300 cartons of contraband cigarettes (22 million individual cigarettes) which equates to over $18 million in retail value with a provincial tax avoidance of $6.6 million.
- Criminal Charges are pending in both cases.
“These are significant contraband tobacco investigations involving individuals that are part of organized networks whose proceeds defraud Albertans millions of dollars in tax revenue. AGLC will continue to work with our partners to investigate and disrupt the individuals and organizations involved in these illegal activities as part our commitment to a strong contraband tobacco enforcement program in Alberta.”
- Gary Peck, Vice President, Regulatory Services, AGLC
“Contraband tobacco hurts law abiding businesses that follow the rules, and it costs Albertans millions each year from lost tax revenue. Our government is committed to keeping illegal tobacco off the streets and ensuring that the sale of tobacco products comply with the law.”
- Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction
Over the last nine months, AGLC’s Tobacco Enforcement unit has seized an estimated 35 million contraband cigarettes and 115,000 grams of contraband shisha from across the province. The total potential lost tax revenue is estimated to be more than $10.1 million.
Contraband tobacco:
- is any tobacco product that does not comply with federal and provincial laws related to importation, marking, manufacturing, stamping and payment of duties and taxes;
- comes from four main sources: illegal manufacturers, counterfeits, tax-exempt diversions and resale of stolen legal tobacco; and
- can be recognized by the absence of a red (Alberta) or peach/light tan (Canada) stamp bearing the “DUTY PAID CANADA DROIT ACQUITTÉ” on packages of cigarettes and cigars or pouches of tobacco.
In addition to lost revenues that may otherwise benefit Albertans, illegally manufactured products also pose public health and safety risks as they lack regulatory controls and inspections oversight.
Albertans who suspect illegal tobacco production, packaging and/or trafficking are encouraged to contact AGLC’s Tobacco Enforcement Unit at 1-800-577-2522 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Under a Memorandum of Understanding with Alberta Treasury Board and Finance, AGLC enforces the Tobacco Tax Act and conducts criminal investigations related to the possession, distribution and trafficking of contraband tobacco products. In 2022-23, provincial revenue from tobacco taxes was approximately $522 million.
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