REGINA - Premier Scott Moe has issued a statement trashing the federal government over a suggestion by the federal justice minister that he might take a look at rescinding the 1930s Natural Resources Transfer Agreements.
“The federal Justice Minister says he will look at taking control over natural resources away from the provinces,” Moe posted on Twitter Monday.
“It's an outrageous statement.”
Moe’s comments were in reaction to comments by Justice Minister David Lametti, speaking to the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly in Ottawa on April 5. During that conference, Lametti was asked about the Natural Resource Transfer Agreements.
Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte from Prince Albert Grand Council called on Lametti to rescind the Act, saying it “affects our treaty rights”, while Chief Don Maracle of Mohawks of Bay of Quinte noted natural resources were given to the provinces “without ever asking one Indian if it was okay to do that or what benefits would the First Nations expect to receive by Canada consenting to that arrangement.”
“I take from Chief Brian and also Chief Don Maracle the point about the Natural Resources Transfer Agreement,” responded Lametti.
“Chief Maracle did it indirectly, Chief Brian did it directly. You’re on the record for that. I obviously can’t pronounce on that right now but I do commit to looking at that. It won’t be uncontroversial, is the only thing I would say with a bit of a smile,” Lametti said.
Premier Moe's full statement in response was as follows:
“These dangerous and divisive comments from the federal justice minister are a threat to the unity of our country.
“The federal Justice Minister says he will look at resending the 1930s Natural Resources Transfer Agreements that gave control over natural resources to Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba. This is an outrageous and ill-informed comment, as those agreements and the provinces’ control over natural resources have been entrenched in the Canadian constitution since 1930.
“On what basis does the federal Justice Minister think he has the authority to unilaterally strip Saskatchewan and the other western provinces of our constitutional authority over our natural resources?
“Saskatchewan has always had reason to be concerned about the federal government’s agenda to infringe on provincial jurisdiction and autonomy, and we will be relentless in defending our jurisdiction and autonomy.
“The Prime Minister needs to immediately tell his Justice Minister he has no business even speculating about rescinding western provinces’ constitutional authority to control our natural resources.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith also condemned the comments of Lametti, posting the following on Twitter:
“I just received word that the Federal Justice Minister may attempt to rescind the 1930 Natural Resources Transfer Agreement with the prairie provinces.
“This would pose an unprecedented risk to national unity and Alberta condemns this federal threat in the strongest possible terms.
“I will be contacting Premiers Scott Moe and Heather Stefanson to discuss next steps and call on the Prime Minister to immediately have his Justice Minister retract and apologize for these comments immediately.”
