While speaking at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, lockdown advocate and Alberta NDP supporter Dr. Joe Vipond laid the blame for Canada’s poor climate performance squarely at the feet of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
Speaking on the UCP government’s decision to invoke the Sovereignty Act to combat the federal government’s overreaching Clean Electricity Regulations on constitutional grounds, Vipond claimed Canada was failing to meet international commitments because of Alberta.
“This was like three days ago, they said that they’re going to do the Sovereignty Act to stop any kind of clean electricity regulations from being implemented. Clean electricity is how we get to net zero. If we don’t have clean electricity, we don’t get there,” said Vipond.
“Let’s be clear, Canada is not doing well because of Alberta. In fact, Alberta has 38% of all of our country’s emissions and it’s increased 55% since 1990. So we’re failing because of our province.”
Vipond presented on a panel titled “Phasing out Fossils at COP28: What needs to happen and who is holding us back?” representing the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and the Calgary Climate Hub alongside several Canadian climate activists.
During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vipond was cited extensively by the legacy media for advocating increasingly stringent lockdown measures.
He actively led protests against the Alberta government when it decided to ease most pandemic restrictions, including a call for a general strike.
Moreover, in August 2021, True North reported that despite Dr. Vipond’s denial of any affiliation with the rival party, he had a significant history of contributing to the Alberta NDP.
Data from Alberta elections finance revealed that a Joe or Joseph Vipond residing in Calgary had donated $19,387.50 to the Alberta NDP over the past seven years.
Vipond’s contributions included an $8,000 donation to a 2015 NDP campaign, a $4,000 campaign contribution in 2019, and consistent annual donations ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 from 2014 to 2019.
