Premier Scott Moe joined his prairie counterparts in delivering a strong message to  the federal justice minister following comments that the feds are looking into revoking resource transfer agreements. Those agreements allowed provinces a measure of control over handling and distribution of resources. 

Federal Justice Minister David Lametti made his remarks at the Assembly of First Nations meeting on April 5. Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte of the Prince Albert Grand Council and Chief Donald Maracle of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte pointed out that transfer agreements were signed in 1930 without any First Nations consultation. In response, Lametti promised to “look at” the legislation, sparking conjecture that the statement was an attempt to strip those powers from the prairie provinces. 

Moe, in a joint statement including Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, directed Prime Minister Trudeau to intervene on behalf of the provinces. 

“The Prime Minister needs to tell Canadians today that his Justice Minister 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 stripping away their constitutional authority and control over natural resources,” read the statement. “These agreements recognized that the prairie provinces have the same rights over resources that all of the other provinces already had. Those rights have been fundamental to the people and the economic autonomy of Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba for nearly 100 years.

The statement from Moe et al cautioned that the federal government cannot unilaterally change the constitution. Moe is expecting the Prime Minister to react to the statements offered by the federal justice minister.