Hours after the operators of the province’s power grid warned that new federal electricity regulations could lead to blackouts, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said her government is preparing for the possibility of enacting her signature legislation in an effort to push back against Ottawa’s planned emissions reductions.
“We’re preparing a Sovereignty Act motion, and I’m hoping we don’t have to use it. That’s why we’re at the table having these negotiations,” Smith said, referring to a recently formed Alberta-Ottawa working group focused on emissions reductions.
“But we are going to defend our constitutional jurisdiction to make sure that we develop our oil and gas industry at our own pace, and that we develop our electricity system so that it achieves the goal of reliability and affordability.”
When asked at what point she would potentially invoke the act, Smith said she has continually said she would do so if Ottawa “comes through with emissions caps that are unconstitutional.”
I’m shocked.
We’re in for an interesting few years with Alberta. Anecdotally, some of my friends who live in rural Alberta voted for the UCP because the Alberta NDP allegedly cost them billions in oilfield investment.
When I pointed out that all cars were going to be electric by 2030/35, this was news to them. They had no idea that now was the time to pivot the economy to solar/wind and prepare for the not so distant future.
This is very much a get my friends rich scheme, while the people suffer. There is a precipitous cliff coming for Albertans, and ignorance won’t be an option.
In rural Alberta “she’s NDP” is enough of a reason. Literally, during the election I heard someone list all the reasons they don’t agree with the UCP ideology and then finish with that verbatim.