Alberta’s UCP Leadership Hopefuls Discuss Smith’s Proposed Sovereignty Act

With nine weeks remaining in Alberta’s United Conservative Party leadership race, seven candidates have been selected to run for party leader or provincial premier.

Running in the race are UCP MLA and former opposition Wildrose party leader Danielle Smith and UCP MLAs Travis Toews, Brian Jean, Rebecca Schulz, Rajan Sawhney, and Leela Aheer, as well as Independent MLA Todd Loewen, who was expelled from the UCP caucus last year for criticizing Premier Jason Kenney’s COVID-19 response.

Sovereignty Act

If polls were to be used as an indicator of party members votes in the leadership election, Smith appears to be the front-runner. A rolling poll conducted by Mainstreet Research for political advocacy group Take Back Alberta showed Smith winning on the sixth ballot with 58.1 percent of support on Aug. 16.

Smith was once best known for defecting as the opposition leader who crossed the floor with eight other MLAs to join Premier Jim Prentice’s Progressive Conservatives in 2014. The following year, Smith lost the PC nomination and the PCs lost the election to the NDP—punishments Smith say resulted from not communicating with party members prior to the floor-crossing.

During Smith’s six-year political exodus Smith gained prominence as a Calgary radio host who was known for her ability to tackle difficult topics. She left that role during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing censorship.

She is now appealing to voters, promising to not lock down the province and resisting pressure from Ottawa. She says that individuals must retain control over their own bodies and must see this right enshrined in law. Smith wants to establish a provincial police force, tax collection agency and a regional Alberta Health Services board.

The Alberta Sovereignty Act—a pinnacle of Smith’s campaign—promises a tougher stance with Ottawa by allowing Alberta to reject federal laws deemed harmful to the province. As a way to build projects in Alberta, she has stated that the sovereignty legislation would be her first piece if elected.

Smith’s rivals have tried to compare themselves with her.

Sawhney described herself as an antidote for Smith. Following the July leadership debate, Danielle Smith said that a Danielle Smith government would “disunify” the party’s caucus. Kenney’s ex-transport minister claimed Smith’s Sovereignty Act is absurd and accused her of being reckless and hotheaded.

“Sawhney stated at that time that it was crucial for all candidates today to voice concern about the policies that Smith has proposed that would be incredibly harmful.

Toews had warned against the Sovereignty Act driving investment away. Toews has positioned himself as an “serious and reliable leader for Alberta”, saying that his role as former finance minister is in danger “if we select a chaotic leader , who uses risky ideas to win the next election to Rachel Notley .”

Aheer stated that the Sovereignty Act was redundant since Canada’s Constitution already recognizes areas of province jurisdiction.

Jean stated that Smith pursues “controversial subjects” following her comments last month about cancer prevention and treatment.

Schulz took aim also at Smith’s comments about cancer. She said that Smith “has a historyof poor judgment.” Rona Ambrose is the former Conservative party interim leader and she has her campaign chair endorsement. Brad Wall was the former Saskatchewan premier.

Loewen, the sole candidate to not attempt to attack Smith. He supports the Sovereignty Act and wants to establish a police force in each province.

Jordon Kosik, founder of the popular Facebook page Holding MLAs Accountable, which hosts over 21,000 Albertans, told The Epoch Times he grew to respect Smith during her time as a radio host. He said that she was the first to use a platform, and well before Loewen, to push back against lockdowns.

Kosik stated that he created his Facebook page in order to unify Albertans and take action during the pandemic. He was motivated after watching Smith’s “feet up to the fire .”

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“She gave me some encouragement to try all of this stuff,” he stated.

Kenney also commented on Smith’s suggestion, calling it a “defacto plan for separatism and a disaster for Alberta” as it would lead to business being displaced.

Smith insists that her plan is legal and says it’s not the federal government who has caused uncertainty in Alberta by policies that have stalled developments in the oil sector.

“Ottawa is responsible for the chaos,” Smith stated.

UCP members are expected to elect an interim leader and premier in October. The leadership contest was launched after Kenney said in May he will step down as party leader and premier since he only received 51.4 percent of party support in a leadership review vote.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.

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