OTTAWA - Federal Conservative caucus members from Saskatchewan, including Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen, have responded to recent comments by federal Justice Minister David Lametti.
In a news release, they say they are upset that Lametti mused about taking control over natural resources from the provinces.
"Saskatchewan Conservative MPs will fight with everything we have to protect Saskatchewan's control over our natural resources. We will never accept any attempt by the Trudeau government to take control of our constitutionally protected resource rights,” the caucus members said.
“Developing our oil, gas and minerals is tough enough with the Liberal government’s regulations designed to stifle projects and [Prime Minister] Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax making costs higher in Canada. Imagine how much worse it would be if the Trudeau Liberals were to take direct control over resource development.”
This is typical of Trudeau, they said.
“He always seeks to divide Canadians, pitting one group against another, or region against region, to distract from the misery he has caused. Provincial control over natural resources is a constitutional principle. To have a federal justice minister make this kind of comment shows just how much contempt Trudeau has for our province's rights.
“Even though the Liberals have attempted to walk back these comments, the very fact that this conversation is happening is evidence of their contempt for provincial rights.”
The Tories are also critical of the silence from the NDP on this front.
“[NDP leader] Jagmeet Singh is Justin Trudeau's coalition partner. Singh and the NDP need to state clearly and immediately that they would not support such a move. If they do not, we will know that the NDP are once again siding with Trudeau, instead of Saskatchewan."
