EDMONTON -- Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach took heat in the legislature yesterday over his government's free-trade agreement with B.C.

Liberal MLA Bill Bonko said Albertans are concerned about the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement -- dubbed TILMA -- since the deal wasn't even debated in the legislature.

"The government refuses to bring this before the House, the democratic heart of Alberta," Bonko told the legislature. He noted B.C. brought forward the legislation.

NDP MLA Ray Martin wanted to know why there were no public consultations with the people who will be affected by the deal. But Stelmach boasted the deal makes the two provinces the second-largest market force in Canada.