Dr. Jordan Peterson chimed in to the recent threat Natural Resources agreement controversy, telling Alberta to separate from Canada if necessary.
Earlier this week, Canada’s federal Justice Minister David Lametti said he was “looking at” rescinding the Natural Resources Transfer Agreements (NRTA) between the feds and prairie provinces.
Subsequently, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe condemned Lametti for his comment, and demanded an apology from Prime Minister Trudeau.
On Tuesday, Dr. Peterson chimed in, telling Premier Smith to “Reject. Rebel. Separate if necessary.”
Alberta separatism has been flaring up under Trudeau’s regime, just like it did under his father.
The NRTA was signed in 1930 between the federal government of Canada and the provincial governments of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, effectively transferring control over the natural resources, such as minerals, forests, and waterways, from the federal government to the provincial governments.
Following Lametti’s comments, and the Premiers’ backlash, Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre also rebuked the idea.
“I’ll never allow this attack by the costly coalition on our Prairie resource workers,” Poilievre said.
Smith likewise had called the idea an “unprecedented risk to national unity.”
Smith added, “Alberta condemns this federal threat in the strongest possible terms.”
Saskatchewan’s Premier Moe said Lametti’s comments were “outrageous.” Moe also demanded Prime Minister Trudeau “immediately” put Lametti in his place.
On Tuesday, Lametti responded to all the backlash with a statement. In it, he said he didn’t “commit” to rescinding the agreement.
“What I did promise Indigenous partners is what I will always promise Indigenous partners – to listen,” he said.
