Alberta Premier Danielle Smith likened Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault’s newly released draft oil and gas cap to a scorched earth economic policy meant to unfairly target one of Canada’s most prosperous provinces.
Smith pulled no punches during a Monday press conference in which she condemned the Liberals’ draft cap regulations for the energy sector.
“I’m pissed. I’m absolutely angry because we’ve been working with these guys for two years. Because we have a plan that would reduce emissions responsibly by 2050, and they continue to act like they’re working collaboratively with us. And then they come out with exactly the same policy that they put forward a year ago with no changes whatsoever,” said Smith. “How are you supposed to participate in good faith with a partner who hammers you over the head when your back is turned? That’s how we feel today.”
The Liberals’ announcement comes despite various organizations warning the feds that any such cap would devastate the Canadian economy, reducing the GDP by trillions, and wiping out hundreds of thousands of jobs.
On top of that, Smith said the cap violates Canada’s constitution, which grants provinces exclusive jurisdiction over non-renewable natural resource development.
An S&P study showed that if implemented, the cap would cut production by two million barrels of oil daily. Smith said that half of that, one million barrels of oil daily, would result in losing $3 billion to $7 billion annually. The entire budget for roads and bridges, income assistance for the severely handicapped, and post-secondary budgets would be wiped out entirely.
Smith added that $28 billion would disappear from Alberta’s GDP annually, with Canada taking a $97 billion annual hit nationally.
“Once again, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is putting reckless policy ahead of the needs and concerns of everyday Canadians. I made note that he would do this on his way out the door. It’s like a bad renter who’s burning the furniture on their way out,” said Smith.
Premier Smith said the Liberals continue to lie and mislead the public about the province’s record, which has seen production increase and emissions fall simultaneously thanks to introducing new technologies.
Smith said that emissions reduction can be done responsibly over time by implementing new technologies, but rushing it will do nothing but harm the province and country.
“That is not acceptable. Not for a government that is at what? 20% in the polls? Not for a government that is on its way out the door,” said Smith. “It cannot destroy the most important industry in the country by targeting our province with this kind of unilateral action. We just won’t stand for it.”
She added that Trudeau needed to call an election now but was putting up roadblocks instead of providing actual solutions to global energy security.
Alberta and Canada could provide energy security to the world, Smith said. However, instead, Canada’s energy industry is under attack by the Liberals, which empowers dictatorships like Venezuela, Iran, and China.
Smith said that her province was being unfairly targeted and that Guilbeault’s policies would cost Canadians $419 per month.
“This is not responsible policy. This is a vendetta. He has a deranged vendetta against Alberta. It’s very obvious. We’ve been watching it for some time,” Smith said of Guilbeault.
Smith responded to Guilbeault’s accusation that she, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe don’t believe in climate change.
“That is just absolute nonsense. And he continues to say such things because he’s trying to demonize our province, and he’s trying to demonize our sector, and he’s trying to justify unconstitutional policy. And it’s absolutely unacceptable,” said Smith. “We expect our national leaders to engage in nation-building as opposed to nation-destruction. And that is what they are doing by having a particular type of emissions cap targeted to our particular industry, that is going to impact our particular province for no other reason than to be vindictive.”
Smith said she would immediately task her justice minister to take the feds to court. She will also begin drafting a motion under the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act immediately.
“We will not stand idly by while the federal government sacrifices our prosperity, our constitution, and our quality of life for its extreme agenda,” reads Alberta’s joint statement.
