Alberta Files Second Lawsuit Against Federal Impact Act

Alberta is escalating its legal battles against the federal government, filing a new lawsuit challenging the amended Impact Assessment Act, which it claims infringes on provincial jurisdiction over resource projects. Alberta officials argue that the federal amendments failed to address constitutional concerns raised by the Supreme Court in October 2023, which deemed the original act largely unconstitutional. Premier Danielle Smith has criticized the federal government for not adequately consulting Alberta and for creating uncertainty for investors in the province's oil and gas sector. The Alberta government is seeking to have the Court of Appeal declare the amended act unconstitutional, asserting that it complicates project approvals and deters investment. Critics from Alberta's NDP argue that the UCP government is avoiding negotiations and fostering conflict rather than collaboration with Ottawa. The ongoing legal disputes, now totaling ten, raise questions about the financial burden on Alberta taxpayers amidst claims that the costs of litigation are outweighed by the potential economic impacts of federal regulations.