Alberta’s Smith denounces “federal interference” ahead of prime ministers’ meeting

Alberta Prime Minister Danielle Blacksmith believes she will have allies in her fight against so-called federal overreach when she attends this week’s meeting of provincial and territorial premiers in Winnipeg.

Blacksmith made the remarks Monday at the annual Premier’s Stampede Breakfast in Calgary, where she flipped pancakes in front of a crowd of hundreds just hours before her scheduled departure for the three-day premier conference.

“I am so excited to be going to the Council of the Federation this week because I can tell you what has surprised me the most is that no matter what political streak the Prime Ministers have, every single one of them has been frustrated by federal interference in their business,” Blacksmith told reporters.

“I’ve seen Saskatchewan flinch, and I think you’ll increasingly see the other provinces flinch as well.”

Blacksmith is fresh off a private meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was also in Calgary on Friday to flip pancakes and engage in some Stampede politics.

After that meeting Blacksmith released a statement saying the federal government continues to refuse to budge on its overall targets and milestones for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as its commitment to achieving a grid-zero power grid by 2035.

Alberta has said Ottawa’s goals and timetables are unachievable, and has drawn up its own plan to bring the energy-producing province to zero by 2050.

“We’ll align with a 2050 target, but (Trudeau) also needs to meet us in part, by doing it in a way that’s reasonable and works for our economy.” Blacksmith said Monday.

“We’re just not going to do anything that hurts our economy or anything that indicates that our oil and gas industry will be phased out.”

Blacksmith said there have been positive developments recently in what has been a generally frosty relationship between her administration and the Trudeau liberals.

She said she is pleased the federal government has agreed to form a bilateral working group with Alberta to develop a framework to encourage investment in carbon capture and storage and other emission reduction technologies.

She added that she was also pleased with Trudeau’s apparent openness to the idea that nuclear technology – through the use of small modular reactors – is part of Alberta’s overall solution to climate change.

“That says to me there could be a way forward for all of us,” she said.

But she added that her government will not back down from its position that oil and gas development, as well as electricity, are under provincial jurisdiction. She said Alberta remains adamant that a promised federal limit on oil and gas emissions, as well as any “too aggressive” net-zero electricity regulation, would be unconstitutional.

“They can take us to court if they want…but I honestly don’t think they have a leg to stand on.” Blacksmith said.

Saskatchewan Prime Minister Scott Moe also opposed the federal government’s climate goals, calling Ottawa’s plan for a clean power grid unrealistic. The province has released its own alternative plan to move to a net-zero grid by 2050 instead.

And prime ministers in Atlantic Canada have called on the federal government to suspend or delay implementation of the new Clean Fuel Standard, which took effect July 1, and a 15 percent cut in the emission intensity of automotive fuels used in Canada. by 2030.

But Blacksmith said there are areas where the counties can work with the federal government on emission reductions. She said she looks forward to speaking with BC Premier David Eby to learn more about how to balance reducing emissions with a growing liquefied natural gas industry.

There may also be opportunities in the future to work with BC and Manitoba on inter-provincial power grid connections, potentially helping Alberta green its power system by importing hydropower from other provinces.

“These are all answers. But they are not answers that can happen overnight.” Blacksmith said.

“And that’s why the 2050 target is achievable and reasonable as long as we take steps in that direction.”