STATEMENT: Premier and Justice Minister committing judicial interference to push separatist agenda

Rakhi Pancholi, Deputy Leader, Alberta’s New Democrats, reacts to current premier and justice minister committing judicial interference to push separatist agenda: 

“Yet again, Danielle Smith and her UCP government’s authoritarian tendencies, corruption and incompetence are on full display. 

“The Premier and her UCP government passed legislation just two months ago empowering the Chief Electoral Officer to refer a matter to the courts to determine if a referendum question potentially violates the Constitution. 

“Now, to appease the separatists in their party, they want the Chief Electoral Officer to ignore those very rules. 

“Once again, the Premier is improperly attempting to apply political pressure on an independent decision-maker and interfere with the rule of law. 

“This is completely inappropriate. 

“You can't believe what Danielle Smith and her UCP government say, you need to watch what they do. 

“The UCP government is only interested in keeping their political base happy, which means supporting separation. They are willing to interfere in the rule of law when it serves them. They know this isn't the right thing to do, but they're too focused on keeping their party together to focus on what Albertans need – better health care, proper funding for schools, and action to manage the UCP caused affordability crisis. 

“Albertans deserve better than a government hell-bent on tearing our country apart to save their political skins.” 

-30-