Varcoe: Alberta enterprise leaders in Ottawa meet Trudeau, touting unity

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A bunch of 48 Alberta enterprise leaders trekked to Ottawa and met with the prime minister and several other cupboard ministers Tuesday, at the same time as tensions between the federal and provincial governments have escalated in latest months.

Their message was easy — Alberta needs to work with the feds on widespread goals.

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However the group, led by the Enterprise Council of Alberta and together with members from the Calgary and Edmonton Chambers of Commerce, stays involved about two contentious power insurance policies: Ottawa’s push for a net-zero electrical energy system by 2035, and an incoming cap on greenhouse-gas emissions from the nation’s oil and fuel sector.

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Council president Adam Legge mentioned Ottawa’s draft Clear Electrical energy Rules (CER) aren’t achievable for provinces that don’t have entry to low-emissions energy era, reminiscent of the massive hydro sources obtainable in Quebec, Manitoba or British Columbia.

Alberta isn’t looking for a provincial exemption to the rule, one thing federal Setting Minister Steven Guilbeault dominated out on Friday. However it’s pushing for a 2050 timeline, permitting extra time for big-ticket investments and technological developments to achieve the goal.

The enterprise council needs Ottawa to simply accept a regional method that displays the realities of provinces reminiscent of Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Alberta, the place 72 per cent of all energy era final 12 months got here from burning pure fuel.

“The notion of getting a one-size-fits-all electrical energy regulation for a rustic this huge, this huge, this totally different, just isn’t life like,” Legge mentioned in an interview from Ottawa.

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“Let’s create a regionalized method to what’s a really regional-specific problem.”

The difficulty of the province’s energy system reaching net-zero emissions by 2035 is the newest conflict between the Trudeau and Smith governments, an inventory that additionally contains the UCP’s examination of pulling out of the Canada Pension Plan and the oilpatch emissions restrict.

Final week, Premier Danielle Smith mentioned her authorities is making ready a sovereignty act movement if Ottawa pushes forward with the draft regulation for a net-zero grid by 2035.

Towards this backdrop comes the enterprise journey to Ottawa, which was deliberate months in the past to construct relationships and speak about Canada’s capability to be a frontrunner and proceed increasing in areas reminiscent of meals, power, well being care and synthetic intelligence.

There are additionally billions of {dollars} of proposed investments in net-zero tasks throughout the province, together with hydrogen, petrochemical developments, and carbon seize and storage. Most are nonetheless awaiting remaining funding choices.

That makes the timing of the journey important.

“Whatever the political discourse and what could also be occurring between governments . . . the necessity to nonetheless interact with Ottawa is as vital as ever,” mentioned Michael Solberg, a political strategist and companion with New West Public Affairs.

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The enterprise group notes the province has the most important photo voltaic mission within the nation, the most important CO2 trunk line on this planet and an array of net-zero tasks throughout a number of sectors on the drafting board.

“It’s myth-busting,” Calgary Financial Growth CEO Brad Parry mentioned of the journey to Ottawa. “It’s letting folks perceive what is occurring, letting them hear straight from CEOs and entrepreneurs.”

The Alberta group of 48 contains AltaLink CEO Gary Hart, Cenovus Vitality government chair Alex Pourbaix, Spartan Controls CEO Grant Wilde, together with the heads of the Calgary and Edmonton chambers, Calgary Financial Growth and Edmonton International.

Through the go to, the delegation is slated to fulfill with the prime minister, Guilbeault, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Trade Minister Francois–Philippe Champagne, Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault.

“We’re pushing again about any of the language, or narrative or rhetoric about separatism, or that Alberta doesn’t need to be a part of the federation — it’s fairly the alternative,” mentioned Legge.

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Boissonnault mentioned the journey is constructing bridges and making a dialogue.

“The connection between Alberta and Canada stays robust and constructive, and there most likely will all the time be some recordsdata on which we disagree,” mentioned the Edmonton Centre MP.

“There have been some very constructive conversations . . . Robust relations between Alberta and Canada are good for the entire nation.”

But, there are apparent friction factors.

In an announcement, Smith mentioned Tuesday she hopes the enterprise group conveys “Alberta’s eagerness to be on the forefront of lowering greenhouse fuel emissions, albeit inside an affordable time-frame.”

Throughout a speech Tuesday night time to the Alberta delegation’s reception, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned the federal authorities has dedicated to partnering with companies, reminiscent of offering an funding tax credit score for carbon seize tasks.

“Sadly, there are politicians who would reasonably rile up folks’s fears and anxieties, as a substitute of specializing in what we are able to do, what we have to do, to safe a powerful future for our economic system,” he mentioned.

“The politicians who’d reasonably deny the information of the matter than take motion to fulfill this second are denying certainty to buyers and enterprise leaders, denying staff alternatives and denying our children and grandkids the safe future they deserve.”

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On Friday, Guilbeault mentioned there will probably be no exceptions for provinces to achieve net-zero emissions of their electrical energy grids by 2035. Some provinces are a lot nearer to the goal attributable to their present era combine, reminiscent of using nuclear or hydro.

In Saskatchewan, about two-thirds of its electrical era is powered by pure fuel and, to a lesser extent, coal. In Nova Scotia, coal accounted for 51 per cent of its energy era in 2019.

“Engaged on regional options makes a number of sense as a result of all people has strengths, all people has weaknesses, and you may leverage sources and infrastructure higher,” mentioned Calgary Chamber CEO Deborah Yedlin.

Legge mentioned the enterprise council doesn’t see the necessity for an oil and fuel emissions cap, noting it will disproportionately penalize one sector within the nation. The group is hoping to speak with the federal setting minister about its concepts on the Clear Electrical energy Rules.

“Alberta can not moderately get to a 2035 net-zero grid, largely simply because it will put the price of electrical energy so excessive on this province that it will be untenable for many Albertans,” he added.

“We’re not asking for particular therapy, however recognition that there are areas of the nation that may’t get there as simply and shortly and affordably as some others.”

Chris Varcoe is a Calgary Herald columnist.

cvarcoe@postmedia.com

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