Alberta Referendum Question Does Not Fall Under Clarity Act: Carney
Carney said federal legal advice found the proposed vote is a preliminary question, not a direct secession question, so Ottawa will not intervene.
- On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the House of Commons won't weigh in on Alberta's October referendum question after receiving expert legal advice that the Clarity Act does not apply because Alberta's question is 'a question on a question' rather than a direct separation referendum.
- The Clarity Act, passed in 2000 following Quebec's 1995 sovereignty referendum, requires the House of Commons to determine if a provincial separation question indicates willingness to secede; Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced last week her government will hold an October referendum asking voters whether to remain in Canada or start the legal process for a binding separation vote.
- Justice Minister Sean Fraser explained Tuesday that the Clarity Act requires a clear question about whether a jurisdiction would be removed from Canada, and the federal Department of Justice found Smith's two-step referendum structure does not directly meet that threshold.
- Bloc Québécois MP Christine Normandin raised the issue during Question Period, with her party calling the Clarity Act an 'anti-democratic overreach' and demanding the federal government repeal it, while arguing that a clear majority should mean 50 per cent plus one.
- Carney defended respecting expert counsel, stating 'as prime minister, one needs to respect the advice of experts,' while Normandin countered that Carney's own 174-MP majority represents just over 50 per cent of House votes, yet he applies a higher threshold under the Clarity Act.
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Carney says majority will not be enough for Alberta to secede, citing the Clarity Act
Source: CPACAuthor: Clayton DeMaineBloc Québécois MPs are calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to drop the Clarity Act, arguing it complicates secession referendums by adding conditions beyond a simple majority vote. Carney, however, said the Clarity Act does not apply to the current Alberta independence question and defended the Act’s requirements.During Question Period in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Carney said the 50 per cent “plus one”…
Alberta referendum question does not fall under Clarity Act: Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney says the federal government believes the Clarity Act will not apply to the separation referendum question Albertans will be asked in October. “As premier, you have to respect the advice of experts,” Carney said Tuesday during Question Period in the House of Commons. “I just received advice from experts regarding the […]
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