Alberta Agenda

The Alberta Agenda (often referred to as the Firewall Letter) was an open letter presented by the Alberta Residents League (ARL) to then Premier of Alberta, Ralph Klein, urging the Alberta government to fully exercise Alberta's constitutional powers. The Alberta Agenda proposed a "new vision" for the province, which focused on "More Alberta, less Ottawa" and set out a five-point "firewall" policy to "protect Alberta" from the alleged "intrusions by the federal government".[1] The five points were laid out in what the media called—the Firewall Letter—which was sent to Premier Klein on January 24, 2001. The letter was composed by six prominent Alberta residents including Stephen Harper, the president of the National Citizens Coalition, who later served as Canada's Prime Minister for three consecutive terms from 2005 to 2015. The letter was signed by 2006 Alberta PC leadership candidate Ted Morton, and 4 other Albertans.[2] The letter was published in its entirety in the National Post on January 27, 2001.[3]

Background

The Alberta Agenda letter was written in the wake of the Jean Chrétien's Liberal government securing its third consecutive majority government in the 2000 Canadian federal election, while the primarily Alberta-based Canadian Alliance's under Stockwell Day formed the official opposition.

Firewall Letter

On January 24, 2001, former Member of Parliament Stephen Harper composed a letter which was signed by six other prominent conservative Albertans and sent to then Premier of Alberta, Ralph Klein. Harper had resigned his seat in Parliament in January 1997 largely due to oppostion between his conservative principles and Preston Manning's populism, following his resignation he would be appointed the vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition, and later president. Others who signed the letter were three University of Calgary professors in public policy—Tom Flanagan, Ted Morton and Rainer Knopff; Andrew Crooks, then-chair of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation; and Ken Boessenkool, who had previously served as Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day's former policy adviser. [2][4][5]

A 2015 National Post article summarizes the Firewall Letter as a plea for Albertans to insulate themselves against an "increasingly hostile government in Ottawa." Proposals in the letter included that the province should let its contract with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police expire in 2012, and establish a provincial police force to replace the RCMP. Alberta had a separate police force from 1917 until 1932. The letter recommended that Alberta withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan and establish a separate Alberta Pension Plan. It called for a separate collection of the province's income tax, as opposed to letting the Canada Revenue Agency handle tax collection. Alberta, like all the other provinces and territories collected its own corporate tax. The letter called on the province to advocate for Senate reform to return to the national agenda; and taking over complete provincial responsibility for health care."[2]

The letter has been referred to as the Firewall Letter from its use of the phrase "build firewalls around Alberta," a reference to the computer software programs which block unwanted intrusions from outside sources.

Premier Klein's personal response was published in the Edmonton Journal on responded to the letter, but rejected implementing the authors' requests for the duration of his premiership.[6][Notes 1]

Notes
  1. The Alberta Agenda should not be confused with Alberta separatism.

References
  1. Klein, Ralph (March 29, 2013). "Premier tackled Alberta 'firewall' proposal". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  2. "'Firewall' letter was a blueprint for Harper policy, and an explanation of why it will be tough for the Liberals to undo it". National Post. November 22, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  3. "ARL - Alberta Agenda Letter". December 14, 2006. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  4. Climenhaga, David (June 18, 2020). "Manufacturing Consent, Alberta Style". The Tyee. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  5. Corbella, Licia (June 18, 2020). "Fair Deal report gets proposed referendum question wrong". Calgary Herald. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  6. Klein, Ralph (February 9, 2001). "Alberta Premier Ralph Klein's response to the Alberta Agenda". Edmonton Journal.
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