Alberta Energy Minister Sonya Savage. (Canadian Press)

By David Opinko

Province calls Ottawa’s net-zero climate plans “extremely harmful”

Jul 20, 2021 | 2:34 PM

EDMONTON, AB – The federal government has launched an engagement process for how workers and communities can “thrive in a net-zero carbon economy.”

Federal Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O’Regan says the need to transition to a cleaner economy is urgent, both for environmental and economic reasons.

“Workers in the natural resource sectors helped build this country. These same workers will build our low-carbon future. It is their skills, determination and ingenuity that will get us to net zero and ensure our continued prosperity. They won’t be left behind — they will lead the way.”

The “Just Transition” strategy, however, is not sitting well with Alberta’s Energy Minister.

Sonya Savage says the “federal government’s intention to hastily phase out Canada’s world-class oil and gas industry is extremely harmful to the hundreds of thousands who directly and indirectly work in the sector, and will be detrimental to Canada’s economic recovery.”

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She believes that, as the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, strong global demand for oil and gas is projected to continue for decades to come, adding that Alberta is well-positioned to meet that demand.

It is not just oil and gas, though, that the minister says the province has made great strides in advancing.

“Alberta’s oil and gas industry is already at the forefront of innovation and a diversified energy future with emerging opportunities like hydrogen, helium, geothermal development and petrochemicals.”

“These new opportunities clearly demonstrate that the industry has already been transforming to meet post-pandemic energy demand, with many producers having set ambitious net-zero emissions goals.”

Savage says she expects the federal government to stand up for Alberta’s oil and gas sector instead of trying to dismantle it.

Regardless, Ottawa plans to carry on with its Just Transition engagement process. They specifically want to hear the views on Canadians on:

• People-centred just transition principles that put workers and communities at the centre of the government’s policy and decision-making processes on climate change action
• A Just Transition Advisory Body to provide the government with advice on regional and sectoral just transition strategies that support workers and communities
• Other aspects related to just transition – what’s working, what isn’t, and how do we move forward in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion as we move toward a low-carbon economy?

You can participate in the consultations by sending an email to nrcan.justtransition-transitionequitable.rncan@canada.ca before September 30, 2021.

More details here.