The reality is, and read this carefully, there is huge news beyond the flipping of flapjacks.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau comes to Calgary, has a brief meeting with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and … now wait for it.
Yikes!
Then, less than a couple hours later, Trudeau speaks to the Liberal party faithful in southwest Calgary and all you have to do is read between the lines to figure out what’s going on.
There is no Kumbaya between Trudeau and Smith.
Not even close.
There is no meeting of the minds. There is a cracking of the skulls.
At the photo opportunity before the meeting, with cameras clicking, Smith starts off by telling us, in front of Trudeau, how there are serious issues to be discussed.
Afterward the showdown with Trudeau, Smith fires off a statement.
Premier says there are “several concerning issues” needing to be dealt with before Alberta and Trudeau’s Ottawa can agree on a plan to reduce emissions.
Trudeau IS NOT recognizing Alberta can set its own targets for reducing emissions.
Trudeau IS sticking to a 42% reduction in energy sector emissions by 2030.
Trudeau IS sticking to a net-zero emissions electricity power grid by 2035.
Smith is still saying what Trudeau wants cannot be done. Period. Full stop.
In fact, says the Alberta premier, those moves by Trudeau will drive billions of dollars in investment out of Alberta.
Electricity costs will skyrocket.
Tens of thousands of Alberta jobs will be lost.
They DO NOT include a “carve-out” for Alberta.
In the regulations, there is no more extra time given for Alberta to get to a carbon-neutral power grid since Alberta relies on natural gas-fired electricity.
Smith fires back in the statement. She is clearly pissed off.
The premier says Alberta has the non-negotiable “sovereign and exclusive constitutional jurisdiction” when it comes to regulating energy and electricity in the province.
Smith has asked Trudeau “to come to the table in good faith” and “assess the realities of our power grid and the true magnitude of being the fifth-largest producer of oil and gas in the world.”
If you don’t happen to have a political dictionary handy “alternative policy options” means bringing in Alberta’s sovereignty act and the power to defy Ottawa.
To rub salt in the wound, right after Trudeau met with Smith he went to southwest Calgary to rally his Liberal troops.
Trudeau tells them the world is starting to change.
He tells the Liberal loyalists “Conservative politicians are still fighting over whether climate change exists when big business here in Alberta, including lots of major oilsands companies, have recognized the need to get to net zero, the need to invest in renewables, the need to understand the world is changing for the better.”
Punch line.
“And Alberta should be at the centre of it, not fighting it.”
Yelps and yahoos from the Liberal crowd.
Everyone knows what he’s really saying.
Let’s get ready to rumble.
Share This:
