Referendum on equalization payments scheduled for the fall

Jason Kenney says his province wants a fair share - but just what will an equalization referendum accomplish for Alberta?

EDMONTON – Albertans will be able to voice their thought on equalization payments in a referendum this fall.

Premier Jason Kenney and Justice Minister Kayce Madu made the announcement Monday, explaining the wheels are in motion to get approval for the binding constitutional referendum.

WATCH: Kenney, Madu to give update on equalization payments

The proposed referendum question is, “Should section 36(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982—Parliament and the government of Canada’s commitment to the principle of making equalization payments—be removed from the Constitution?”

The wording of the question will be brought up in the legislature this week and if approved, the Kenney government says the question will be posed to Albertans when they hit the polls in municipal elections this October.

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If the majority of Albertans say they want equalization payments removed, then the province will pursue the issue with the federal government.

The province says Alberta contributed more than $100 billion to the feds from 2014 to 2019, and over the last 25 years, Albertans contributed more than $400 billion more to the nation in tax dollars than they have received back in federal spending.

-with files from Jessika Guse

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