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.”

  • @[email protected]
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    61 year ago

    Two things:

    It’s easy to ask “why didn’t Alberta diversify a bit more so this wouldn’t have been so ‘impossible’ to do?” From this point of view, all the fuss being made comes off as Alberta whining because of their own short-sightedness.

    Second, the AESO is contradicting themselves now to match the UCP narrative? Sourced from here:

    Last year, an AESO report said there are multiple pathways to achieve net-zero emissions in the province’s power system by 2035, estimating the transition would require an additional $44 billion to $52 billion of investment.

    Now they’re saying:

    Alberta won’t have enough supply to ensure the reliability of the system in 2035 and the severity of a shortfall would increase over the years.

    ??

    • @[email protected]
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      41 year ago

      It’s easy to ask "why didn’t Alberta diversify a bit more

      It’s a harder question when we consider that diversification and diverse investments was the biggest plank of the platform Peter Lougheed won the province with and gave the Cons their first victory over the strong NDP incumbents in a long time.

      Like, the Cons took the province on that platform.

      Now ask why it didn’t happen. (hint: greed)

    • @charliespider
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      21 year ago

      Makes sense when you realize the Albertan politicians are all suckling at the big oil teets.