Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has called for a re-evaluation of the federal equalization program, suggesting it should prioritize smaller provincial economies like those in Atlantic Canada instead of subsidizing larger provinces such as Ontario and Quebec. Newfoundland and Labrador’s government agrees, claiming the current rules disadvantage its residents by not accounting for service delivery costs in its vast geography. Smith’s remarks follow a 2021 referendum where 62% of Albertans voted to remove equalization from the Constitution, emphasizing Alberta’s desire for equitable federal transfers.
