BREAKING: Smith unveils ‘castle law’ to bar police from charging citizens who defend homes

Smith rallied thousands of UCP members at the party’s annual general meeting in Edmonton, announcing a powerful new “castle law” that will protect Albertans who defend their homes from criminals.

Premier Danielle Smith rallied thousands of UCP members at the party’s annual general meeting in Edmonton on Saturday, announcing a powerful new “castle law” that will protect Albertans who defend their homes from criminals.

Smith’s keynote address at the United Conservative Party (UCP) AGM highlighted existing accomplishments, such as regaining provincial jurisdiction in healthcare, energy, and education from former prime minister Justin Trudeau and former NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. However, she also announced several new policies.

Smith took aim at former environment minister Steven Guilbeault, saying he was one of the people “who sought Alberta’s economic demise [and] have seen their political careers come to an abrupt and dramatic end.”

“On behalf of all Albertans, Mr. Guilbeault… we bid you adieu!” Smith said.

Starting next week, the premier announced her government will introduce a motion under the Alberta Sovereignty Within A United Canada Act. This motion will prohibit all provincial and municipal police agencies from enforcing the federal gun confiscation program.

“This sovereignty act motion will also make it clear that these agencies will not enforce or prosecute Albertans defending their homes and families from intruders,” Smith said.

“Here’s a tip for low-life criminals out there: If you don’t want to get shot, don’t break into someone’s house! It’s really that simple.”

Smith added that law enforcement should target actual “criminals, instead of farmers, ranchers, sport shooters and Albertans defending their families and homes.” She also reaffirmed her party would “fund—not defund—the police.”

Organizers confirmed that 4,500 tickets were sold for the event.

Another new policy is that the province will take primary control of immigration in the coming months and years.

“Using our constitutionally protected provincial rights, Alberta will return to a more stable number of primarily economic migrants, so that newcomers come here to work and contribute as they have historically done, while Canadian citizens living in Alberta are given first priority to the jobs and opportunities our economy creates,” she said.

Before her speech, hundreds of attendees voted on 36 policy resolutions. Twenty governance resolutions were voted on Friday night, with 14 passing and six failing.

Smith also defended her $8.6 billion in spending to build new schools, her new private dual practice healthcare model, and invoking the notwithstanding clause to protect children’s education from gender ideology.

While around 750 people attended Friday night, up to 4,000 Albertans were expected at the day-long meeting on Saturday.

The biggest applause on Friday came when General Counsel for the Alberta Prosperity Project Jeffrey Rath addressed the microphone, indicating Smith’s dedicated base still supports separation despite the memorandum of understanding (MOU) she signed this week.

The premier attempted to quell separatist sentiment, urging supporters that better days were ahead.

She celebrated the MOU as marking the end of the oil and gas emissions cap and the federal net-zero power regulations, both of which Alberta had campaigned against. Smith similarly celebrated the agreement for creating a “clear path” for a West Coast pipeline.

“Now, my friends, I am under no illusions. This agreement is just the first step in this journey. There is much hard work ahead of us. And the federal government must earn back the trust of Albertans as we move through the next steps of this process,” she said.

She quoted former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who famously said, “Trust, but verify.”

“On behalf of Albertans, I will be verifying and holding Ottawa accountable every step of the way – you can count on that,” Smith said. “Let us lower our fists, and instead, roll up our sleeves, and get to work on making our province and our people more prosperous than ever before.”