Western Canada Oil: Key Issue a Week Before Alberta’s Elections

The upcoming Alberta election is centered around the oil and gas sector, the province’s largest industry, with the question of who will be the strongest advocate being a significant interest.

The United Conservative Party (UCP) of Premier Danielle Smith and Rachel Notley’s New Democratic Party (NDP) of the left are neck and neck in the polls ahead of the May 29 election.

“We know that as long as we keep our energy industry strong, we’re going to keep Alberta’s economy strong,” said Smith during a debate on Thursday. “Ms. Notley won’t do that.”

A recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute revealed that 51% of Albertans believe Smith is better equipped to manage the oil and gas sector, while only 32% support Notley.

Notley, who first came to power in 2015, faced the challenge of low oil prices during her term. Her decision to implement output reductions to stabilize prices received mixed reactions from major producers and sparked controversy.

Notley’s loss to UCP leader Jason Kenney in the 2019 election led to Smith assuming the role of Premier. However, Smith has been involved in several controversies in her short time in office and recently faced reprimand for ethical violations.

Notley also collaborated with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the acquisition of the Trans Mountain pipeline in 2018, with the goal of ensuring the pipeline’s expansion and providing an essential export route for Alberta crude. However, Trudeau’s climate-change policies have made him unpopular among Alberta conservatives.

“When we talk about my record in oil and gas, I think it’s kind of hard to forget the big thing, which is the first pipeline to tidewater in 50 years,” said Notley regarding Smith’s comments during the debate.

About two-thirds of Canada’s daily production of 4.9 million barrels comes from Alberta, due to the province’s significant oil reserves, most of which are found in the oil sands of northern Alberta.

“Rachel Notley is perhaps not convincing as many Alberta voters (as Smith) that she is as good or worthy of leading the province on her defense of oil and gas, even if her approach is not vastly different than that of Smith,” said the president of Angus Reid, Shachi Kurl.