Premier Jason Kenney says the implementation of the Sovereignty Act in Alberta would be "catastrophically stupid" and he would not support it..In a Tuesday press conference, Kenney responded to many questions about UCP leadership candidate Danielle Smith's Alberta Sovereignty Act. However, Kenney said he's not following the leadership race "closely" and the act he is talking about was coined a year ago by a "far right extremist group."."I am repeating my assessment of the catastrophically stupid sovereignty act that was proposed by this right wing special interest group over a year ago," Kenney said..Smith released an overview of the proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act on Tuesday which prompted mainstream media to ask Kenney about the act during his press conference. Reporters asked Kenney his opinion on the overview released by Smith which left the premier puzzled.."I don't know what you're talking about. Today. I am looking at the detailed outline that was published for the sovereignty act by a far right special interest group a year ago. That's the one I've been commenting on now for a year," Kenney said..The premier was recently accused of interfering in the UCP leadership race with his comments towards the act, however, Kenney claims he is talking about another act and not the one just released by Smith..Read More:Smith releases overview of proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act."The Alberta Sovereignty Act would provide Alberta's legislature with the authority to refuse enforcement of any specific federal court ruling. So the Alberta legislature could just by whim ignore the supreme rulings of the Supreme Court of Canada," Kenney said.."It says it black-and-white, it's been out there for a year. That's what we're talking about here. That is banana republic. That's not the rule of law. You cannot have a functioning economy. You cannot attract investment with a government that is committed to ignoring the authority of the courts. period, full stop. This is what I've been saying for a year and will continue to say.".Kenney then defended his position on his comments about the sovereignty act.."It's completely with precedent for a premier to articulate and defend government policy. The government I lead, was elected on a platform to build a strong Alberta in a united Canada to create jobs economy and get pipelines built and to respect the rule of law," Kenney said..Kenney said: "The so called Sovereignty Act would effectively take us to the brink of separation from the Canadian federation would shred the rule of law and would do devastating damage to jobs, the economy and the prospect of pipelines."."This is a cockamamie idea that was first floated by a far right special interest group a year ago. I was asked to comment on it last fall through the winter, in public forums, on telephone town halls, local town halls that I attended across the province over the past year. I'm simply restating the position I articulated.".Kenney then told reporters, "I'm not engaging in the leadership election, I'm not endorsing or opposing a particular candidate."."I am maintaining the consistent position of the democratically elected government, which is to defend a strong Alberta in the United Canada. The rule of law and to defend Alberta's economy."."There are other candidates who have taken positions, I understand it's at variance with government policy, that's fine. That's their prerogative. It's all in the nature of leadership debate or election," Kenney said.."I have always been consistent in my belief the rule of law is a fundamental conservative principle. The so called Alberta Sovereignty Act is a full frontal attack on the rule of law. And I share the frustration of most Albertans about how we are treated by Ottawa by the Trudeau government."."I have always been unapologetically a Canadian patriot. I'm not about to become spineless on my patriotism or my support for the rule of law because somebody in a leadership campaign disagrees," Kenney said..If he keeps is seat after the UCP ballot, Kenney said he would vote against any act in the Legislature.
Premier Jason Kenney says the implementation of the Sovereignty Act in Alberta would be "catastrophically stupid" and he would not support it..In a Tuesday press conference, Kenney responded to many questions about UCP leadership candidate Danielle Smith's Alberta Sovereignty Act. However, Kenney said he's not following the leadership race "closely" and the act he is talking about was coined a year ago by a "far right extremist group."."I am repeating my assessment of the catastrophically stupid sovereignty act that was proposed by this right wing special interest group over a year ago," Kenney said..Smith released an overview of the proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act on Tuesday which prompted mainstream media to ask Kenney about the act during his press conference. Reporters asked Kenney his opinion on the overview released by Smith which left the premier puzzled.."I don't know what you're talking about. Today. I am looking at the detailed outline that was published for the sovereignty act by a far right special interest group a year ago. That's the one I've been commenting on now for a year," Kenney said..The premier was recently accused of interfering in the UCP leadership race with his comments towards the act, however, Kenney claims he is talking about another act and not the one just released by Smith..Read More:Smith releases overview of proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act."The Alberta Sovereignty Act would provide Alberta's legislature with the authority to refuse enforcement of any specific federal court ruling. So the Alberta legislature could just by whim ignore the supreme rulings of the Supreme Court of Canada," Kenney said.."It says it black-and-white, it's been out there for a year. That's what we're talking about here. That is banana republic. That's not the rule of law. You cannot have a functioning economy. You cannot attract investment with a government that is committed to ignoring the authority of the courts. period, full stop. This is what I've been saying for a year and will continue to say.".Kenney then defended his position on his comments about the sovereignty act.."It's completely with precedent for a premier to articulate and defend government policy. The government I lead, was elected on a platform to build a strong Alberta in a united Canada to create jobs economy and get pipelines built and to respect the rule of law," Kenney said..Kenney said: "The so called Sovereignty Act would effectively take us to the brink of separation from the Canadian federation would shred the rule of law and would do devastating damage to jobs, the economy and the prospect of pipelines."."This is a cockamamie idea that was first floated by a far right special interest group a year ago. I was asked to comment on it last fall through the winter, in public forums, on telephone town halls, local town halls that I attended across the province over the past year. I'm simply restating the position I articulated.".Kenney then told reporters, "I'm not engaging in the leadership election, I'm not endorsing or opposing a particular candidate."."I am maintaining the consistent position of the democratically elected government, which is to defend a strong Alberta in the United Canada. The rule of law and to defend Alberta's economy."."There are other candidates who have taken positions, I understand it's at variance with government policy, that's fine. That's their prerogative. It's all in the nature of leadership debate or election," Kenney said.."I have always been consistent in my belief the rule of law is a fundamental conservative principle. The so called Alberta Sovereignty Act is a full frontal attack on the rule of law. And I share the frustration of most Albertans about how we are treated by Ottawa by the Trudeau government."."I have always been unapologetically a Canadian patriot. I'm not about to become spineless on my patriotism or my support for the rule of law because somebody in a leadership campaign disagrees," Kenney said..If he keeps is seat after the UCP ballot, Kenney said he would vote against any act in the Legislature.
