An Alberta judge has ruled that a proposed referendum question regarding equalization payments is unconstitutional.
The question, which was put forward by the Alberta government, asked voters if they wanted to remove equalization from the Constitution of Canada.
Justice Robert Hall stated in his ruling that the question was outside the jurisdiction of the provincial government and that it would require a constitutional amendment.
Equalization payments are a federal program that redistributes money from wealthier provinces to those with lower fiscal capacity. Alberta has been a major contributor to the program in recent years due to its struggling oil and gas industry.
The proposed referendum question was seen as a way for the Alberta government to put pressure on the federal government to address the province’s economic concerns.
However, Justice Hall stated that the question was not a valid exercise of the province’s powers and that it would require the support of at least seven provinces representing 50% of the population to be successful.
The ruling was met with mixed reactions from both the Alberta government and opposition parties.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney expressed disappointment with the decision, stating that it was a missed opportunity for Albertans to have their voices heard on the issue.
Meanwhile, opposition parties praised the ruling, stating that it was a victory for the rule of law and the Constitution.
The Alberta government has not yet announced if they will appeal the decision.
This ruling comes at a time of heightened tensions between the federal and provincial governments, with Alberta pushing for more autonomy and control over its resources.
It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the relationship between the two levels of government and the ongoing debate over equalization payments.
