Article content

The province’s largest labour organization, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, is about to make trouble for the NDP government. But not on purpose.

The AUPE is holding its annual convention in Edmonton. Among the resolutions to be debated by the 1,000 delegates is the sale of cannabis.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Graham Thomson: Does the AUPE want to become the Alberta Union of Pot Employees? Back to video

The AUPE’s resolution calls for the union to “adopt the position that all cannabis retail outlets be publicly owned and operated by the Government of Alberta or one of its regulated agencies.”

This is an emergency resolution that was supposed to have been debated Friday afternoon, but because it was added to the schedule at the last minute, was shuffled off until Saturday morning.

But no matter when the debate takes place, it’s sure to create a headache for the NDP government.

This is all about the government’s plan to introduce legislation this fall to regulate the distribution and sale of pot when possession becomes legal across Canada next July.

One of the questions unanswered by the Alberta government at this point is whether it will set up government-run outlets rather than having pot, like alcohol, sold in privately owned stores.