Alberta Premier Calls on New Liberal Leader to Change Approach to Oil and Gas Industry

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is urging the newly elected leader of the federal Liberal Party to reconsider its policies towards the oil and gas industry and environmental regulations. Mark Carney, who secured the Liberal leadership with a significant majority of votes from party members, is now facing pressure from Smith to address these concerns.

Smith reiterated her call for a national election to be held promptly so that a prime minister with a clear mandate from voters can be in place. Despite Carney’s background as a central banker, Smith remains skeptical about any potential changes he may bring to the federal government’s stance on the oil sector.

Smith and her cabinet have been vocal critics of the federal Liberals’ approach to the oil and gas industry, particularly their proposed emissions cap. Speaking at CERAWeek, an international energy conference in Houston, Smith expressed her doubts about Carney’s willingness to support the energy sector.

Carney, who previously served as the UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance, has been a proponent of net-zero emissions and sustainable finance. In his recent leadership campaign, he pledged to modernize energy infrastructure to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers and the United States as a primary customer.

Former Alberta energy minister Sonya Savage is eager to see if Carney will prioritize economic concerns over environmental policies, especially in light of energy affordability and reliability. Savage highlighted the importance of energy dominance, particularly in comparison to the United States’ focus on the sector.

Carney, who was born in Fort Smith, N.W.T., and spent his early years in Edmonton, has a background in finance and economics. He previously served as the Governor of the Bank of Canada under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

As the new leader of the federal Liberal Party, Carney faces the challenge of balancing environmental goals with economic interests, particularly in the energy sector. The upcoming months will reveal how his leadership will impact Canada’s energy policies and relationship with the oil and gas industry.