Stefanson vows to protect Manitoba’s turf

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This article was published 11/10/2022 (709 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Heather Stefanson hasn’t ruled out borrowing a page from the new Alberta premier to protect Manitoba’s jurisdiction and interests from interference by the federal government.

“I am exceedingly concerned for Manitoba when it comes to the federal government imposing things in areas of provincial jurisdiction,” Stefanson said. “That is happening more and more, and we just want to make sure that that doesn’t continue to happen, and the lines are very clear.”

On Wednesday, Stefanson was asked whether she agrees with other Prairie premiers, including United Conservative Party leader Danielle Smith in Alberta, in asserting provincial authority and challenging the federal government through legislation.

Smith, who was sworn in Tuesday, has proposed legislation to allow Alberta to disobey federal laws and court rulings it decides aren’t in its best interests, and are an illegal intrusion into its influence under the Constitution.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, meanwhile, released a policy paper Tuesday which highlighted the government’s plan to flex its autonomy, beginning with a bill to address federalism.

Stefanson said her government hasn’t made a decision about introducing legislation that would address jurisdictional overreach, adding she would prefer to collaborate with Ottawa.

“So that will be something that we’ll have a discussion about,” Stefanson said. “But, you know again, we will look at moving in that direction if we need to, if it’s in the best interest of Manitobans.”

When pressed by reporters, she did not give examples of where the federal government has imposed its will on Manitoba, and said she was prepared to speak only in general terms.

However, Ottawa’s decision to impose a carbon pricing plan, after it rejected Manitoba’s — which she described as “pretty good” — will have implications in provincial jurisdiction, she said.

When it comes to carbon pricing, Stefanson said Manitoba did not appeal a Federal Court ruling that determined Ottawa has a right to impose a carbon price as a show of goodwill, and to begin a dialogue with the Trudeau government, which she said did not take place.

“They just imposed the backstop,” the premier said. “That kind of thing without really collaborating is not in the best interest, I think, of Manitobans, because that’s then imposing something on Manitobans that Manitobans didn’t decide on.

“So obviously we have concerns about that.”

Stefanson, who chairs the council of premiers, said she welcomed Smith to the new role. To the extent that they can work together on their mutual interests at the Council of the Federation, they will, the premier said.

“To the extent that we can’t, I mean we have our differences, and that’s the same with every province across the country, every political party that is represented as the premiers across the country,” she said.

The council has discussed asserting provincial jurisdiction, the premier added.

“We’ll continue to do that. We’ll call on the federal government on many things, but that will be done at the Council of Federation table, and there’ll be more to come,” Stefanson said.

— with files from The Canadian Press

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca