Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Liberal Leader Mark Carney had little to provide Canada’s most economically prosperous province beyond empty promises.
Carney is under fire for delivering contradictory messages depending on the audience — this time Carney is being called out for conflicting positions on oil and gas emissions caps.
Premier Smith called out Carney’s inconsistency, noting that while he opposed an oil and gas production cap in Edmonton last Thursday, he expressed support for it in Ottawa the very next day.
“The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Liberals clearly have not learned their lesson and have no plan to make our country into the independent economic powerhouse it could be,” said Smith, warning that the cap would cost Alberta and Canada tens of thousands of jobs.
Smith revealed on Friday that despite Carney’s in-person assurances the day before, his environment minister before the election was called, Terry Duguid, told the media that the Liberals’ emissions cap would remain in place.
“This has been the same story for the last 10 years. Liberals come to Alberta – smile for the cameras–tell everyone how much they are going to work with Alberta and support the energy sector. Then they leave, go home, and proceed to do everything in their power to roadblock and scare away investment from the energy sector,” said Smith.
Carney called the election just days after his flip-flop, setting the vote for Apr. 28 — the shortest campaign period allowed by law.
This isn’t the first time Carney has faced criticism for sending contradictory messages. Previously, Carney came under fire for telling English- and French-speaking audiences conflicting stories about the future of pipelines in Canada.
One day after Carney called the election, another report revealing the economic devastation of a federal emissions cap was released by the Conference Board of Canada.
While the federal emissions reduction plan will make all Canadians poorer, according to the report, Albertans will be affected disproportionately.
By 2050, the report highlights that Alberta’s GDP will shrink by 11 per cent, employment will decrease by 4.1 per cent, and the average Albertan will have $3,300 less in disposable income.
By 2030, the report suggests that Alberta will experience a deep recession due to the plan.
Nationally, real GDP will fall by 3.8 per cent due to the emissions cap by 2050. Canadian oil and gas production would drop by 37 per cent by 2050. Nationwide, employment is expected to fall by 2.6 per cent and consumer prices are expected to increase by 2.5 per cent.
The report concluded that despite the immense economic damage, Canada will still fail to meet its emissions target.
“These findings should send a message to whoever ends up being the next federal government. Our province remains firmly committed to protecting the environment and creating a future for our children, but that can’t be achieved by trampling on Canadians’ livelihoods,” said Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz. “Ottawa has offered nothing but penalties and vague rhetoric. Instead of meaningful incentives to reduce emissions, we get carbon taxes, production caps, and layers and layers of costly regulations, all burdening families and workers who are already struggling.”
The recent report followed the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s conclusion that a federal emissions cap would lead to a $20.5 billion decrease in Canada’s GDP by 2032 and the loss of 54,400 jobs.
The emissions reduction plan includes the carbon tax, emissions cap, electricity regulations, and more.
Alberta has already rejected the Liberals’ electricity regulations and threatened a court fight.
Canada’s top energy executives recently called on the federal government to declare a “Canadian energy crisis” and cancel most of the measures contained in the plan.
Smith asked for Carney to offer some clarity to Canadians and tell them whether he’ll proceed with the “job-killing, destructive, and unconstitutional production cap law that his predecessor attacked us with — or not?”
“Albertans and Canadians want the answer before they go to the polls – not after. In fact, we want the answer today. Who wasn’t telling the truth yesterday – the Prime Minister or his environment minister? We all deserve to know.”