Alberta Act
Encyclopedia
The Alberta Act, effective September 1, 1905, was the act
of the Parliament of Canada
that created the province of Alberta
. The act is similar in nature to The Saskatchewan Act
, which established the province of Saskatchewan
at the same time. Like the Saskatchewan Act, the Alberta Act was controversial because (sec 21) it allowed the Government of Canada
to maintain control of all of Alberta's natural resources
and public lands
. Alberta did not win control of these resources until the passage of the Natural Resources Transfer Acts
in 1930.
The Alberta Act is part of the Constitution of Canada
.
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament of Canada
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
that created the province of Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. The act is similar in nature to The Saskatchewan Act
The Saskatchewan Act
The Saskatchewan Act is an Act of the Canadian Parliament establishing the new province of Saskatchewan, effective September 1, 1905. Its long title is An Act to establish and provide for the government of the Province of Saskatchewan. The Act was published in chapter 42, pages 201-215 of the...
, which established the province of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
at the same time. Like the Saskatchewan Act, the Alberta Act was controversial because (sec 21) it allowed the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
to maintain control of all of Alberta's natural resources
Natural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
and public lands
Crown land
In Commonwealth realms, Crown land is an area belonging to the monarch , the equivalent of an entailed estate that passed with the monarchy and could not be alienated from it....
. Alberta did not win control of these resources until the passage of the Natural Resources Transfer Acts
Natural Resources Transfer Acts
The Natural Resources Transfer Acts were passed by the Parliament of Canada in 1930 in order to give the Prairie provinces jurisdiction over their crown lands and natural resources, a right they were not given when they entered Confederation...
in 1930.
The Alberta Act is part of the Constitution of Canada
Constitution of Canada
The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law in Canada; the country's constitution is an amalgamation of codified acts and uncodified traditions and conventions. It outlines Canada's system of government, as well as the civil rights of all Canadian citizens and those in Canada...
.