Ruttan Bates

@PardyBruce "no stipulated outcomes on that or any other issue" includes secession. Negotiations after legit referendum are by existing gov't of AB...bound by Canadian Constitution. They can try to obtain any outcome on any issue, but they are not an independent state during negotiations

@appeallawAB Yes. The first means a path consistent with the SCC's description (a clear question supported by a clear majority, etc). The second means that the topic should be discussed. That's what "taken into account" means. There are no stipulated outcomes on that or any other issue.

Not so. Independence is a "repudiation of the existing constitutional order." So says the SCC. There will be "no conclusions predetermined by law on ANY ISSUE." Discussion about Alberta's future DOES NOT have to take place within the framework of the Canadian constitution.

@CoryBMorgan Yes, AB gov't can call a referendum...but how it does so matters when the issue is secession. The Clarity Act does not say "by any process you like". A citizen petition may or may not be lawful process for this issue. And it is legitimate for a party to ask the Court to decide.

An injunction against a referendum would violate the Clarity Act. "WHEREAS the government of any province of Canada is entitled to consult its population by referendum on any issue and is entitled to formulate the wording of its referendum question"

@thecritcomp @DennisKalma Dennis seems reasonable...Question: From the Nov '25 statscan report, annual fed corrections expenditures in AB were $279,950,000 in 23/24. No mention of this or capital cost of 7 fed institutions...do you admit VALUE OF FREEDOM is not 'fully costed'? #ableg #AlbertaIndependence

In this clip from a forthcoming interview, The Value of Freedom document author @DennisKalma explains some of the biggest mistakes in Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and how an independent Alberta can rectify them with the clarity of a robust constitutional republic.

@JeffreyRWRath @JasonLavigneAB Will you agree the VALUE OF FREEDOM model is deeply flawed when the Chief Economist forgot things like capital costs of 7 Corrections Canada institutions and the annual operating costs of approx. $280 million? Jeff will not respond #ableg #AlbertaIndependence

In fact, I had our Chief Economist run projections using THE VALUE OF FREEDOM model. He confirmed that in 2027 Alberta could afford to double all CPP and OAS payments, end all federal income tax while expanding present levels of federal and provincial services. #AlbertaIndependence

@boehmerB @Bratt_world Refusing to follow the Clarity Act and not triggering any legal obligation for secession negotiations is one way to go. And those against separation are "the people of Alberta" too. It is odd for unelected individuals to claim to represent what "the people of Alberta" are doing

I just feel like the people with legal treaty’s should have a say on Albertan separation as much as retired snowbirds who don’t like Albertan weather should. 🤷🏻‍♀️

@boehmerB @Bratt_world cbc.ca/news/canada/ed…

@boehmerB @Bratt_world "Everyone gets one vote" is not really the law. House votes whether referendum is a clear expression of democratic will considering "any formal statements or resolutions by the representatives of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada, especially..." in province proposing secession

@CoryBMorgan If a citizen petition asking for a secession referendum is unconstitutional, you do not have the democratic legitimacy you claim. A majority gov't elected to set a referendum is not the same as that gov't seeking a secession "mandate" from as few as 177,000 voters #ableg

Don't cork the bottle. We have a democratic means of expression here. Taking it away wouldn't work out well for anyone.

@onlyafewcows @CoryBMorgan @ikwilson No problem! Under old law, EA could ask court if a separation petition was unconstitutional (court said it was). Under new law, EA can't ask...but anyone affected can still ask the court...and Treaty First Nations are asking (based on precedent that ruled in their favour) #ableg

@CoryBMorgan @ikwilson I wish someone could explain: The petition met whatever standards and laws that EA set for it a few weeks ago. It is “legal”. Suddenly someone objects, now, not then, and the law no longer applies? It could be “illegal” or illegitimate? What’s the point of EA then?

@boehmerB When the gov't passed a law delegating decisions about which constitutional amendments to seek to a small % of unelected citizens via petition, interpreting the validity of the law became the legal jurisdiction and duty of the court. A wise judge will ignore you #ableg #RuleOfLaw

@Martyupnorth @Reil76 "It is foreseeable that even negotiations carried out in conformity with the underlying constitutional principles could reach an impasse.  We need not speculate here as to what would then transpire.  Under the Constitution, secession requires that an amendment be negotiated."

@Martyupnorth @Reil76 Please be honest about what the SCC Quebec Secession Reference actually says: "...there would be no absolute legal entitlement to [secession] and no assumption that an agreement reconciling all relevant rights and obligations would actually be reached..." #AlbertaIndependence

So Alberta you win the referendum, you succeed in negotiating with the federal government. You’re thissss close to being removed from the Confederation, can just one of you explain how you think you’re going to get 7/10 provinces to agree to the constitutional amendment that WOULD BE REQUIRED?!?

@JeffreyRWRath Will you at least admit your VALUE OF FREEDOM plan is not 'fully costed' as claimed since you forgot things like massive capital costs to acquire 7 Corrections Canada institutions and taking over the annual operating costs of approx. $280 million? #ableg #AlbertaIndependence

After independence Alberta will be a third world country. A Third World Country with more university degrees per capita than Ireland, 10 times the land of Ireland, more barrels of oil per capita than Saudi Arabia and complete free trade with the United States. FYI Graham - After Luxembourg, Ireland with 5 million people has the highest GDP per capita in the world. I know who’s lying. His name is Graham Barker. #AlbertaIndependence

@CoryBMorgan Bill 14 amended the Referendum Act to add s.4(3) so government "...is not required to implement the results of the referendum if doing so would contravene sections 1 to 35.1 of the [Charter]." May have gifted an injunction to Treaty Nations suing to stop the petition #ableg

Said it before and I will say it again. If Smith wanted to block an independence referendum, all she needed to do was not table Bill 14. Quit sweating and keep getting signatures. An independence referendum will be held.

@LawScribes Referendum Act - Constitutional Qs 'binding'. Policy Qs are too if declared. BUT government can ignore 'binding' result if it would be required to take steps outside its jurisdiction, if no steps deemed 'advisable', or if taking steps would violate Charter ss 1 to 35.1 #ableg

Question for those in #Alberta are the premier's recently announced 'referendum' questions backed up by statute or can the provincial govt completely ignore the results if the premier doesn't like them. Thus a mere plebiscite. #ableg #democracy

@boehmerB @KnightLegg Merely setting court filing fees too high violates the Canadian Constitution because it unjustly prevents people from being able to access s.96 courts. How is threatening to unconstitutionally undermine lawfully appointed judges an attempt to negotiate in good faith?

For those who said it was immediately rejected by the Feds I think it’s critical to start understanding why people have had it with Canada and why so many nw want to restructure the architecture of federalism to allow more independence for Alberta. It’s not just pipelines and global trading access and economics. It’s also cultural and lifestyle issues like knowing your kids can play in your neighbourhood or your wife can walk downtown again. The rapid decline of our cities is the result of a set of bad policy choices that include placing activists on the bench. This is killing businesses and a sense of personal security in the places we want to call home. Everyone knows it isn’t this way in many other nations andeasnt this way previously and doesn’t have to be this way now. It’s fixable. As a nation and province when something isn’t working we need new ways of doing things and new processes for making better decisions. That’s why letters like this one from the Premier matter. It gives the Feds - and the country- a path to work together across levels of govt to better reflect popular will by the appeal whose lives are most impacted by the consequences of years of bad decisions. In this case it helps us deal with a bad judicial activism problem contributing to violent crime epidemic and tiered justice. Any steps to restore faith in our judicial system that would support law enforcement and enhance public trust should be taken. This is a basic achievable step. Why reject it? Why not take it?

Be honest @JeffreyRWRath and @ABProsperityPrj a $1/2 Trillion USD debt would be "secured" by mortgaging AB's oil, gas, land, water & trees as collateral. And Trump could then get anything he wants by threatening to call the loan. Shocker...US admin supports your "plan"🤡#ableg

Honest question in return @jkenney. Before calling to override presumption of innocence and right not be denied reasonable bail, have you considered these 99 stories? wrongfulconvictions.ca/cases Bail reform is more complex than saying people are monsters because police charged them.

@CoryBMorgan Over the last approx. 150 yrs there have been many aboriginal and constitutional law cases that interpret what the treaties actually mean (based on evidence and legal arguments). Pretending those cases do not exist is seriously misleading to Albertans... #ableg #abpoli

More chiefs who desperately need to be told "Too fucking bad" They should be encouraged to read Treaty 7 as well.