Alberta Premier Danielle Smith wants the federal government to act fast on fentanyl.
She met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers on Feb. 4 to discuss fentanyl and border security.
“Alberta is looking forward to the imminent appointment of a ‘fentanyl czar’ to coordinate our nation’s response to the fentanyl crisis,” Smith said. “As well as funding and resources from the federal government to assist our province’s law enforcement initiatives to tackle this issue.”
Additionally, Smith outlined other measures the province is taking.
“I have instructed my government to take immediate steps to significantly increase police and prosecutorial resources to go after the fentanyl labs, kingpins and dealers that are responsible for killing 49,000 Canadians since 2016,” she explained.
Alberta will also continue building recovery centres and secured treatment facilities in Edmonton and Calgary.
Meanwhile, diplomacy with the United States remains high on her agenda.
“In addition, Alberta will continue its diplomatic efforts with U.S. lawmakers and officials,” said Smith. “To this end, I will join my fellow premiers in Washington D.C. next week and will attend the National Governors Association convention the week thereafter.”
She also called for a federal election once the Liberal Party picks its new leader.
Additionally, she believes a national election is an important step forward.
“It is imperative that a federal election is called immediately after the Liberals have chosen their party leader so we have a Prime Minister with a strong mandate to negotiate a new Canada-U.S. trade agreement,” said Smith. “This cannot be properly negotiated by our country from a position of strength without a Prime Minister with a strong and clear mandate from Canadians.”
She wants an election called by March at the latest. That would lead to a late April, early May date.
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