Olivia Woods
Premier Danielle Smith called the federal government’s new clean electricity regulations (CER) for the energy industry “unconstitutional and irresponsible” and said Alberta would “chart its own path.”
A policy document outlining incentives for provinces to achieve the objective was released earlier this week. The regulations aim to create a net-zero power grid across Canada by 2035.
Smith released a statement hours after Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault revealed the proposal in Toronto, arguing that the measures will threaten the reliability of Alberta’s power infrastructure and lead to higher electricity rates.
“They will not be implemented in our province, period,” she said in her statement.
She said that if the province and Ottawa can’t come to an agreement, “Alberta will chart its own path to ensuring we have additional reliable and affordable electricity brought onto our power grid that is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
Smith praised her administration’s goal of establishing “a reliable and affordable carbon-neutral grid by 2050.”
“This is the direction Alberta is going. We invite the federal government to support us, rather than hinder us, in doing so.”
Achieving Ottawa’s 2035 target has been considered impossible by the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
While draft regulations have been up for public feedback for 75 days, final regulations are not likely to be ready until early next year.
The proposed regulations are not addressed in the premier’s statement, nor is the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act, which was passed to oppose federal policies the province perceives to be unconstitutional, mentioned.
On Thursday, Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz raised constitutional concerns about proposed regulations on future natural gas projects.
“That is absolutely an area of provincial jurisdiction,” she said, adding that the Sovereignty Act was a tool, but “ideally not something we’d have to use.”
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