Premier Danielle Smith has introduced new legislation that would give Alberta more control over how international agreements signed by Ottawa apply within the province.
Smith said it clarifies that while the federal government can sign treaties and global deals, those agreements would only take effect in Alberta if the province passes its own implementing legislation.
“The Constitution is clear. Provinces have authority over matters within their jurisdiction, and that authority cannot be signed away by Ottawa,” Smith said during a news conference. “ International Agreements Act bill ensures that Alberta laws, not federal agreements, govern areas that belong to the province.”
Smith said the measure builds on earlier Alberta legislation that focused on trade and investment agreements by extending the same principle to all areas of provincial responsibility, including natural resources, education, and healthcare. She added that the approach is similar to Quebec’s long-standing practice of requiring provincial consent before international commitments can apply.
Smith mentioned the past frustrations with federal decisions, which has excluded provinces from negotiations that affected oil and gas policy. “We just want to make it clear that they cannot make decisions in our areas of jurisdiction without including us,” she said.
The premier acknowledged that Alberta has not yet faced a direct conflict arising from an international treaty but said the legislation is meant to prevent problems before they occur. “Quebec has had a similar process for years. We’re simply ensuring Alberta has the same safeguards,” she said.
Smith also confirmed plans to open new Alberta trade offices inside Canadian embassies abroad and said the province has renamed its Intergovernmental Affairs Ministry to include international relations.
Smith dismissed those concerns, saying the bill reinforces the province’s ability to protect its industries and economy from what she described as “overreach” by the federal government. “We’ve seen tens of billions of dollars in lost investment. Alberta will not pay that price again,” she said.
The bill comes as the province also faces pressure to resolve a teacher strike that has kept thousands of students out of classrooms. When asked whether the timing of the new bill was meant to divert attention, Smith said the government can handle multiple priorities. “We can do two things at once,” she said. “This legislation was planned months ago, long before the current labour dispute.”
Bill 1 will be debated in the legislature in the coming days. Its passage would mark another step in Smith’s broader effort to assert Alberta’s autonomy within the federation, a theme she has emphasized since taking office.