Alberta Agenda
Encyclopedia
The Alberta Agenda is a loosely-organized political movement
initiated by a letter written by prominent Alberta
ns, including future Prime Minister Stephen Harper
and 2006 Alberta PC leadership candidate Ted Morton
, urging Albertan Premier Ralph Klein to fully exercise Alberta's constitutional powers
. The letter was published by the National Post
on January 27, 2001, in the wake of the Alberta-based Canadian Alliance
's defeat in the 2000 Canadian federal election
.
The letter has been referred to as the Firewall Letter from its use of the phrase "build firewalls around Alberta," a reference to the computer software programs which block unwanted intrusions from outside sources. Its main recommendations were:
Klein personally responded to the letter, but rejected implementing the authors' requests for the duration of his premiership.
The Alberta Agenda should not be confused with Alberta separatism
, as the Alberta Agenda's proponents reject separatism
and claim their policies, if enacted, would not weaken Canada but would strengthen it, because all the above ideas are constitutional.
Political movement
A political movement is a social movement in the area of politics. A political movement may be organized around a single issue or set of issues, or around a set of shared concerns of a social group...
initiated by a letter written by prominent Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
ns, including future Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
and 2006 Alberta PC leadership candidate Ted Morton
Ted Morton
Frederick Lee Morton , known commonly as Ted Morton, is a Canadian politician and Minister of Energy for the Province of Alberta. As a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta he represents the constituency of Foothills-Rocky View as a Progressive Conservative...
, urging Albertan Premier Ralph Klein to fully exercise Alberta's constitutional powers
Canadian federalism
Canada is a federation with two distinct jurisdictions of political authority: the country-wide federal government and the ten regionally-based provincial governments. It also has three territorial governments in the far north, though these are subject to the federal government...
. The letter was published by the National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
on January 27, 2001, in the wake of the Alberta-based Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
's defeat in the 2000 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
.
The letter has been referred to as the Firewall Letter from its use of the phrase "build firewalls around Alberta," a reference to the computer software programs which block unwanted intrusions from outside sources. Its main recommendations were:
- Allowing the province's contract with the Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceRoyal Canadian Mounted PoliceThe Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
to expire in 2012, establishing a provincial police force to take the RCMP's place. Alberta had a separate police forceAlberta Provincial PoliceThe Alberta Provincial Police was a police force active in Alberta, Canada between 1917 and 1932. In 1917, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police left Alberta due to a lack of sufficient resources in light of its increased responsibilities for national security during World War I...
from 1917 until 1932.
- Withdrawal from the Canada Pension PlanCanada Pension PlanThe Canada Pension Plan is a contributory, earnings-related social insurance program. It forms one of the two major components of Canada's public retirement income system, the other component being Old Age Security...
and establishing a separate Alberta Pension Plan. Many Albertans believe that given the province's youthful demographics, staying in the CPP makes little sense since a separate "APP" would provide higher benefits for a lower premium.
- Separate collection of the province's income taxIncome taxAn income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
, as opposed to letting the Canada Revenue AgencyCanada Revenue AgencyThe Canada Revenue Agency is a federal agency that administers tax laws for the Government of Canada and for most provinces and territories, international trade legislation, and various social and economic benefit and incentive programs delivered through the tax system...
handle tax collection. Alberta already collects its own corporate taxCorporate taxMany countries impose corporate tax or company tax on the income or capital of some types of legal entities. A similar tax may be imposed at state or lower levels. The taxes may also be referred to as income tax or capital tax. Entities treated as partnerships are generally not taxed at the...
.
Klein personally responded to the letter, but rejected implementing the authors' requests for the duration of his premiership.
The Alberta Agenda should not be confused with Alberta separatism
Alberta separatism
Alberta separatism is a movement that advocates the secession of the province of Alberta from Canada either by forming an independent nation, or by creating a new federation with one or more of Canada's other three westernmost provinces.-Foundations:...
, as the Alberta Agenda's proponents reject separatism
Separatism
Separatism is the advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group. While it often refers to full political secession, separatist groups may seek nothing more than greater autonomy...
and claim their policies, if enacted, would not weaken Canada but would strengthen it, because all the above ideas are constitutional.