Standing up for Alberta’s interests in Ottawa

By Lethbridge Herald on September 6, 2025.

Rachael Harder
Lethbridge Member of Parliament

After a summer of pancake breakfasts, festivals, and kitchen-table conversations, one message stood out: Canadians are worried. Families are anxious about how Alberta is treated, the rising cost of living, and surging crime.

As Parliament resumes, my priorities are clear: be Alberta’s voice, fight for affordability, and tackle crime.

Albertans have long felt ignored by Ottawa. We supply the country with energy, food, and innovation, yet federal policies strangle development, undercut agriculture, and dismiss our strengths. This fall, Conservatives are advancing a bold solution: the Canadian Sovereignty Act.

The need is urgent. Canada is losing ground on multiple fronts. President Trump’s new tariffs are hammering workers and businesses on both sides of the border. Beijing has now imposed a 75 per cent tariff on Canadian canola seed, on top of 100% tariffs on canola meal, peas, pork, and seafood. That effectively locks Canadian producers out of a market worth $5 billion in 2024.

Canadian agriculture is a superpower — one of the few advantages that sets us apart in a hungry world. Alberta farmers don’t just feed Canadians; they help feed the globe. Yet instead of defending them, Prime Minister Mark Carney has failed to resolve disputes and left producers paying the price. He promised Canadians he was a master negotiator. Instead, he is losing trade wars across the world. The U.S. has doubled tariffs on softwood lumber. Mexico refuses to engage in bilateral deals. Europe has chosen to buy $750 billion worth of U.S. — not Canadian — energy.

Canada cannot afford weakness. Conservatives believe ambition means rejecting the status quo and holding Mr. Carney to his promise to “think big and act bigger.” That’s why we are calling on Parliament to pass the Canadian Sovereignty Act:

• Legalize rapid resource development by repealing Liberal laws like Bill C-69, Bill C-48, the carbon tax, the oil and gas cap, the EV mandate, the plastics ban, and censorship rules that gag Canadian energy producers.

• Reward builders with tax incentives that eliminate capital gains on reinvestments and bonuses for provinces that open markets to fellow Canadians. 

• Protect Canadian innovation by preventing the sell-off of intellectual property to competitors.

• Stand up for Canadian agriculture by ensuring farmers are protected from punitive tariffs and that our food exports remain competitive on the global stage.

By March 14, the one-year anniversary of Carney’s tenure, Conservatives expect progress on two major pipelines, a road to the Ring of Fire, and a new LNG project—while respecting Indigenous rights under Section 35. Leadership is being tested, and Conservatives are ready to collaborate to get it done. The Liberals have the tools and the power; what they lack is the will.

Fall is traditionally a season of new beginnings, especially for students returning to school. Yet basic supplies are increasingly out of reach. From high unemployment to the Liberals’ cost-of-living crisis, Canadians are struggling. Sun Youth reports that school supplies alone have jumped 17% since last year, on top of rising grocery bills, rent, and other essentials.

The Liberal electric vehicle mandate raises costs by about $20,000 per vehicle and reduces choice—particularly for rural Canadians who face long distances, limited charging, and harsh winters. Meanwhile, the Liberals are quietly implementing another carbon tax through the Clean Fuel Regulations, increasing fuel prices 17 cents per litre by 2030, or $136 more per household annually. Single mothers, seniors on fixed incomes, rural households, and transit users will bear the brunt. Conservatives will fight to lower costs, strengthen take-home pay, and grow the economy.

Tackling Crime

Canada is less safe under the Liberals. Since 2015, gun crime has risen 130 per cent, violent crime nearly 55 per cent, homicides over 29 per cent, sexual assaults almost 76 per cent, fraud 94 per cent, and extortion 330 per cent. Yet soft-on-crime policies like Bills C-5 and C-75 have created a revolving door for repeat offenders. Soft sentences for serious crimes, including sexual exploitation and child pornography, endanger communities.

Female victims of domestic violence continue to rise, highlighted by tragic cases such as the murder of an ex-wife just hours after her abuser’s release. Cases like these prove that Liberal policies favour criminals over Canadians. Conservatives will repeal reckless laws, strengthen bail rules, deport temporary residents convicted of crimes, and give law enforcement the tools needed to restore safety. Canadians deserve to walk their streets without fear.

This fall, my Conservative colleagues and I are eager to hold the Liberal government to account and advocate for our great country and the people who call it home. Canadians deserve leadership that delivers results, restores common sense, and protects families and communities. It’s time for Ottawa to act.