The Saskatchewan First Act was introduced in the Legislature today (Tues) which a news release from the provincial government says is to confirm this province’s autonomy and exclusive jurisdiction over its natural resources, which it already has under the Constitution.

Director of the Constitutional Law Branch, Mitch McAdam, says the Act asserts Saskatchewan’s exclusive legislative jurisdiction under the Constitution of Canada over areas like the exploration for non-renewable natural resources, the development, conservation and management of non-renewable natural and forestry resources, and the operation of sites and facilities for the generation and production of electrical energy.

McAdam adds that the Act will also create an Economic Impact Assessment Tribunal which will look at the economic harm and will determine the impact of a federal regulation or initiative actually is in Saskatchewan. It will define, quantify, and report on the economic repercussions of federal initiatives on provincial investment and Saskatchewan projects, businesses and people.

Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre says, “This legislation asserts that the constitutional doctrine of inter-jurisdictional immunity applies to exclusive provincial legislative jurisdiction the same way it applies to exclusive federal jurisdiction.” (with files from CKRM)