Premier Danielle Smith and Justice Minister Mickey Amery announce action to support changes to the process for appointing judges to provincial superior courts. (Image Credit: Government of Alberta-YoutTube)

By Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press

Provincial Politics

Alberta calling for constitutional change to give provinces say over judge picks

Mar 30, 2026 | 5:04 PM

Alberta’s government is calling on Ottawa to change the Constitution to give provinces more of a say in how judges are appointed at the provincial level.

It comes after Premier Danielle Smith and the premiers of Ontario, Saskatchewan and Quebec wrote a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, saying they would like to see only judges who are approved and recommended by their governments to be appointed.

That request was quickly brushed aside by Ottawa and Alberta’s government says it now needs to up the ante.

Smith says her government will pass a motion in the Alberta legislature calling for the constitutional change and she hopes other provinces and Parliament will do the same.

Changing the Constitution requires approval in the House of Commons, the Senate and at least seven provinces whose combined population represents more than half of Canada.

The judicial appointment process put forward by the premiers has been criticized for trying to politicize the courts, but Smith says it’s important for provinces to have a say in how justice gets delivered.

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N53TnT-YC78

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2026.