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By rdnewsNOW Staff

Alberta

Natural Resources Transfer Agreements: Joint Statement

Apr 12, 2023 | 4:27 PM

A joint statement has been issued by Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith regarding a claim by Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Chief Bobby Cameron that the provinces don’t own their natural resources, suggesting the 1930s Natural Resources Transfer Act agreement is an illegal document.

“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to tell Canadians today that federal Justice Minister David Lametti was not speaking on behalf of the federal government when he said he would look at rescinding the 1930 Natural Resources Transfer Agreements with the Prairie provinces and strip away their constitutional authority and control over natural resources.

These agreements recognized the Prairie provinces with the same rights over resources that all other provinces already had. Those rights have been fundamental to the people and the economic autonomy of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta for nearly 100 years.

The federal government cannot unilaterally change the Constitution. It should not even be considering stripping resource rights away from the three Prairie provinces.

The prime minister needs to immediately retract these dangerous and divisive comments by his justice minister.”

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Federal Justice Minister David Lametti said Tuesday he never committed the government to reviewing areas of provincial jurisdiction — including natural resources — when he met with Indigenous leaders last week.

Lametti said in a statement posted to social media Monday night that the leaders were discussing how to align federal laws and policies with the United Nations Declaration Act when some of them raised the 1930s Natural Resources Transfer Act.

The transfer agreement gives administrative control over lands and natural resources to Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Lametti said in his statement that the focus of the government is to co-develop an action plan with Indigenous partners for aligning federal laws and policies with the U-N declaration.

(With files from the Canadian Press)