Letter to Editor: How Alberta Can Have More Provincial Autonomy Without Separating

An Alberta flag flaps in the breeze with Mt. Kidd in the background in Kananaskis, Alta., on June 2, 2025. The Canadian PressJeff McIntosh

By former Newfoundland Premier Brian Peckford

I’m writing regarding the recent opinion article “Will Premier Smith Have the Last Word on the Best Path Forward for Alberta and Canada?” by Preston Manning.

My question is: Why doesn’t Mr. Manning mention what Alberta can do now under the existing Constitution and then propose specific constitutional changes through the existing amending formula adopted in 1982?

Alberta is playing all sides.

If advocates of more provincial autonomy within the existing Constitution are serious, the province of Alberta should right now:

Project 1

1. Move to a provincial police force like Ontario and Quebec already have. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador has provincial policing in its major population centres.

2. Assert Alberta’s existing jurisdiction over health care. Be as assertive here as the province is on non-renewable resources and the environment. This year (2026–2027) Alberta is accepting over $7 billion in health transfers from the federal government under the Canada Health Act. Is this behaving like a sovereign province in a united Canada?

3. Make specific proposals for federal/provincial agreements on immigration and agriculture or propose specific constitutional proposals under the amending formula re: Project 2 below.

4. Present a specific proposal to the federal government on a pension transfer to the province. If Alberta can devise/develop complex tax proposals re: the oil and gas industry it surely can develop a credible pension plan for the province. Quebec already has such a plan. So if Quebec can do it, why can’t wealthy Alberta?

Project 2

Constitutional amending formula Section 38 of the Constitution Act 1982:

Why has this been ignored? One of the chief purposes of the 1982 Constitution was to get an amending formula so that we could change our own Constitution. Now that we have it, we ignore it.

So Alberta should propose a constitutional conference laying on the table specific proposals for reform. The province can propose this using Section 46 of the Constitution Act 1982:

• 46 (1) The procedures for amendment under sections 38, 41, 42 and 43 may be initiated either by the Senate or the House of Commons or by the legislative assembly of a province.

Items that Alberta has often referenced and criticized could include:

A. Clarity on non-renewal resources wording.

B. Changes to the equalization system.

C. More defined lines on federal/provincial jurisdiction on environmental issues and immigration and agriculture issues.

D. More definition on Section 35, aboriginal matters.

Alberta has not used its existing authority under the Constitution. If the actions outlined in Project 1 were taken, Canadians outside of Alberta would be more understanding of its position. And if it used the existing constitutional provisions in Project 2 for constitutional change, Canadians would even be more understanding, I submit.

Hon. A. Brian Peckford Parksville, British Columbia

Brian Peckford was the third premier of Newfoundland, in office from 1979 to 1989. He is the last surviving architect of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.