Alberta Premier Danielle Smith met with Quebec Minister of Justice and Canadian Relations Simon Jolin-Barrette on April 10 to discuss “provincial autonomy.”
“Alberta and Quebec have significant common interests with respect to countering overreach by the federal government into matters of exclusive provincial jurisdiction,” Smith said in an April 10 post on the X platform.
Smith posted that they discussed “how our two provinces can work together to enhance provincial autonomy and advocate against the federal government’s destructive policies.”
She cited Bill C-5, saying it lets “dangerous repeat offender[s] out on bail instead of keeping them behind bars.”
Bill C-5, introduced in 2022, removed mandatory minimum sentences for offences like robbery and extortion with a firearm. It was presented as an “anti-racism” measure that would reduce the number of indigenous and black people in prison.
Smith posted her comment in both English and French on the social media platform.
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Jolin-Barrette responded by re-sharing Smith’s post. He also added to the post, saying, “I was pleased to meet with [Danielle Smith] today to discuss protecting and increasing the autonomy of federated states.”
He said it was “clear that our two provinces have many interests in common.”
The minister added that the two provinces would “continue discussions in this regard.”
Jolin-Barrette noted the similarities between Alberta and Quebec in a recent op-ed for the National Post.
In the piece, he said he supported Smith’s initiatives on crime and public safety, again referring to Bill C-5.
“The position taken by Québec and Alberta is legitimate: federated states must be able to make their own choices to ensure public safety. In order to bolster our mutual autonomy, it is vital that we strengthen collaboration between our provinces and that we join forces to combat crime,” he wrote.
