Moe fires back at federal minister over NRTA

Premier Scott Moe is firing back with some strong words at the federal justice minister after the minister made some comments last week about the Natural Resources Transfer Agreements (NRTA).

Justice Minister David Lametti, while speaking with First Nations leaders, said he would look at rescinding the agreement, in some places reported as he “committed” to rescinding the agreement.

The NRTA was an agreement from the 1930s which transferred control of land and natural resources to the prairie provinces, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It has been a bone of contention for many First Nations as they move to assert their own rights over land and natural resources.

In his response, posted to Twitter, Moe called the minister’s comment “outrageous and ill-informed” and said it’s “a threat to the unity of the country.”

Moe said that provincial control over natural resources was entrenched in the Canadian constitution since 1930. It’s a similar argument made in the Sask. First Act which just passed this spring and aims to reaffirm provincial control over natural resources.

“On what basis does the federal Justice Minister think he has the authority to unilaterally strip Saskatchewan and the other western provinces of our constitutional authority over our natural resources?” asked Moe in the statement.

The premier said the province will be relentless in defending its jurisdiction and autonomy.

“The Prime Minister needs to immediately tell his Justice Minister he has no business even speculating about rescinding western provinces’ constitutional authority to control our natural resources,” ended Moe’s statement.

With files from The Canadian Press