Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba of misinterpreting remarks by a federal minister on whether Ottawa might review agreements that give those provinces control of natural resources.
“Let me be very clear. The minister of justice said no such thing,” Trudeau said.
At an Assembly of First Nations special chiefs’ meeting last week, Minister of Justice David Lametti said that the government would be “looking at” the 1930 Natural Resources Transfer Agreements (NRTA). The agreements, signed by the federal government and the four western provinces, gave Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia control over their natural resources.
Justice Minister David Lametti
