“We know that is not correct”: Kinew confronts Smith over obligation to consult indigenous groups

No, I mean, the way we're going to seek clarity is through the court.We think that the duty to consult is meant to be looked at through a lens of major projects, and we take that very seriously.We had an Indigenous roundtable yesterday where I shared with the premiers how we're using our Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation to help underwrite major project participation, to give revenues to Indigenous nations, and how we want to continue engaging with Indigenous nations on that.The issue, I think, in the court is whether that duty to consult should apply to citizen -initiated petitions, and that's where I think that the court erred in judgment, and I think it's also anti -democratic, the decision that they made.But we'll make the arguments in court about what the limits to duty to consult ought to be, and we'll see how that conversation goes.There's a couple of rounds that we have to go through, obviously, to court of appeal.

probably also to the Supreme Court of Canada, but we want to make sure that we have a very clear understanding of what the duty to consult really means and what it doesn't mean, and I think at the moment there's a lack of clarity on that.

Sorry, I'd like to respond.So I think we know that that is not correct, a lot of what you just said there, Premier Smith.Specifically, and we spoke about this so I don't mind repeating this, It is not up to the petition gatherers to fulfill the duty to consult.It is up to you as the Alberta government to fulfill the duty to consult.And in this case, when there is clearly going to be an impact on well -established existing hunting and fishing rights by putting up an international border, if some would have their way, the judge ruled, and I would agree with the judge's ruling, that that is going to infringe on rights.And so there is a duty to consult.

Now, to take a step further, for the Albertan who's been frustrated over the lack of progress on pipelines, you've got the Premier of BC announcing LNG.We're working on that.on Churchill.We're working on northern trade corridors.This is a moment to get big things built in Manitoba.And I would say now is the time to work together.

Why don't we hold off on this referendum talk?for a year or two and see if we get these pipelines under construction.Because at the end of the day, we want Canada to succeed.We're all very proud of this place.I myself am very, very patriotic.And what I think it's important for us to say when we hear the sorts of discussion happening here in Alberta is for us to say, okay, thank you First Nations in Alberta for hitting the pause button on this.

Now the rest of Canada, let's work together and show Alberta just how appreciated they are in the rest of this country.

And this is why we have the courts, because you can have politicians disagree, and that's why you take it through the court, you take it through the appeals, and you go to the Supreme Court.And ultimately, though, I respect the difference of opinion that Premier Canute has raised.I think we'll wait to see how our court of appeals process goes and see what the courts have to say in the end.