Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she’s prepared to form a coalition with allied premiers over Ottawa’s plans to further regulate and stymie the energy sector.
The Trudeau government plans to impose an emissions cap on Canada’s oil and gas sector and to introduce regulations for a net-zero power grid by 2035.
“I prefer collaboration as the first option,” Smith said of Ottawa on Tuesday, after speaking at the opening day of the annual Global Energy Show in Calgary.
“I think I have drawn the line in the sand … I’ve already raised it with my provincial counterparts that if we need to develop a coalition so that we can fight back against Ottawa, if need be, then that’s what we’re going to do.”
Those allies include Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who told conference attendees it’s impossible for his province to move its electricity system to net-zero by 2035.
About two-thirds of Saskatchewan’s electrical generation is powered by natural gas and coal.
“Quite simply, it isn’t attainable in Saskatchewan and, quite frankly, isn’t attainable in many other jurisdictions either,” Moe said.
“They (Ottawa) come forward with unconsulted, ideological and unrealistic policies, time and time again and now these policies are layering on top of one another.”
Federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc will fly to Alberta next week to meet with Smith.
The premier said she’s hopeful they can find common ground on the issues.
Alberta has made an aspirational commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. But the province says Ottawa’s emissions cap would be a production cap and impose on Alberta’s right over resource development.
