Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Parks Jason Nixon has used some blunt language to describe the Trudeau government’s plan to cut emissions in the oil and gas sector by almost half.
The 42% target was revealed in the federal government’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan released yesterday.
“Bringing forward a climate plan of this nature is insane — that’s the only word for it. This will result in devastating economic consequences all across the country, for our largest industry, at the same time with no environmental impact of any significance,” said Nixon in response to the report.
The sentiments were echoed by Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley, who called the projected targets “a fantasy.”
“It’s a fantasy. We’re not going to get there. There are practical physical limits on how quickly facilities can be constructed or upgraded or projects even approved,” said Notley.
Much of the plan targetted the oil and gas sector, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claiming that the industry has seen record profits.
“With record profits, this is the moment for the oil and gas sector to invest in the sustainable future that will be good for business, good for communities, and good for our future,” Trudeau said.
According to Nixon, the modelling the report was based on could lead to a fall of 10.6% in oilsands production by 2030.
“That could cost at least around 13,000 jobs in the oil and gas industry in this province alone. We need to work together on emissions reductions, but we can’t do it in such a way that is catastrophic to both the provincial and the Canadian economy,” said Nixon.
The federal plan also includes $9 billion in new spending on climate grant and loan programs with an additional $1.7 billion in electric vehicle rebates.
The Trudeau government’s report and reduction targets also come amidst increased calls to ramp up Canadian oil and gas production, with the war between Russia and Ukraine causing shortages and record fuel prices at the pumps.
Conservative MP and leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre also promised last week to end imports of oil from overseas within five years of being elected Prime Minister.
“Justin Trudeau supports oil – as long as it is foreign oil,” Poilievre said. “Every time he kills a Canadian energy project, foreign dictators like Putin do a victory dance, because they get to dominate the world market.”
Poilievre’s plan would double Newfoundland’s oil production and support projects that get western oil to eastern Canadian markets whether by pipeline or rail.
