The Alberta government is poised to directly challenge federal firearms legislation with a controversial new plan expected to be unveiled on Tuesday. Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party (UCP) government will announce rules designed to allow provincial firearms owners to circumvent the national gun buyback program.
New Rules Under the Sovereignty Act
Premier Smith foreshadowed the move during her keynote speech to more than 4,000 party members at the United Conservative Party's annual general meeting in Edmonton on Saturday. She indicated her government would introduce motions under the Alberta Sovereignty in a United Canada Act in an attempt to exempt the province from the federal law.
"I've got a little tip for the low-lying criminals out there: If you don't want to get shot, don't break into someone's house," Smith told the supportive crowd. The sovereignty act, a cornerstone of Smith's premiership, has not yet been tested in court, and many constitutional experts have questioned its legal validity.
Expanding Property Defence and Directing Police
Beyond the firearms buyback circumvention, Justice Minister Mickey Amery is expected to detail further plans on Tuesday afternoon. These may include directing provincial law enforcement agencies not to prosecute individuals who use force while defending their property.
While full details remain under wraps until the official announcement, Smith's references to property-defence laws have drawn comparisons to U.S.-style "castle doctrines", which offer broader legal protections to homeowners. Smith later told reporters the proposals are "fairly technical from a legal point of view."
A Swift Shift from Cooperation to Confrontation
This planned defiance marks a sharp and rapid pivot in Alberta's relationship with the federal government. It comes just five days after Smith and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood together to announce a landmark energy agreement, heralding a new era of cooperation after years of tension over energy and environmental policy.
The sovereignty act was one of Smith's first legislative actions as Premier, fulfilling a campaign promise to aggressively defend Alberta's interests against Ottawa. The impending announcement on firearms and property defence sets the stage for a significant constitutional and political clash between the province and the federal government.
