Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he supports Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in her worries about Ottawa’s anti-oil-and-gas agenda. Poilievre stated to reporters in Calgary on Wednesday that he discussed healthcare, public safety, and defending Canada’s oil sector when he had a meeting with his Alberta Conservative counterpart in Ottawa. Smith has expressed her disagreement with the upcoming federal legislation, known as “just transition,” which is intended to help Canadian workers adjust to the global shift towards renewable energy. Smith has charged the federal Liberal government of implementing discriminatory laws and legislation on non-renewable resource development that she believes is obstructing Alberta’s energy sector. In December, her United Conservative Party government passed a sovereignty act that gives Alberta the authority to direct its agencies to disobey federal laws and initiatives seen as damaging to provincial interests. However, Smith has not committed to using the province’s act to oppose the federal “just transition” legislation. Poilievre said on Wednesday that the federal government’s agenda would make Canada reliant on foreign, polluting dictatorships and permit Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue to control the European energy market to fund his war against Ukraine. “I do share Alberta’s concern about Trudeau’s anti-energy and anti-resource agenda,” Poilievre said. “He has said he wants to phase out our oilsands. He says southern Ontario should move away from manufacturing. He has attacked our mining sector. Every time Justin Trudeau attacks our energy sector, a big smile appears on the face of Vladimir Putin.”
Poilievre supports Alberta’s worries about federal “Just Transition” laws.
