Danielle Smith pushes back against ‘just transition’ plan

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Alberta has no intention of following a federal plan to transition staff out of the vitality sector, Premier Danielle Smith stated Saturday.

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The prime minister stated on her Saturday morning radio present that it was nonetheless unclear what the Liberal authorities would suggest with “simply transition” laws aimed toward serving to staff discover new jobs in a low-carbon financial system.

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“We aren’t going to shut our oil and pure fuel business. We’re not going to modify our staff, who’re in good, high-paying significant, essential jobs, to put in photo voltaic panels, which is the idiocy (federal Inexperienced Celebration chief) that Elizabeth Might first proposed when this form of factor got here out. ,” Smith instructed listeners.

Federal Pure Assets Minister Jonathan Wilkinson instructed CBC final week that the Liberals’ transition invoice, which targets “sustainable” jobs, could be launched early this yr.

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Province says he has heard nothing from the federal authorities

Smith stated she had no communication with Ottawa in regards to the intent of the laws.

“It would not assist when (Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) retains firing these pictures throughout the bow at us with out first selecting up the cellphone and calling us to inform us what he has in thoughts,” she stated.

Smith stated job progress within the vitality sector will happen in areas resembling oil properly remediation, hydrogen growth and carbon seize, which the province has been selling for greater than a decade.

“If that is what the prime minister is speaking about, serving to our oil and pure fuel staff discover different jobs in associated industries, then we will work with him, however we’re not going to shut this business.”

Smith stated the province is as an alternative persevering with to judge the growth of oil and fuel manufacturing whereas selling carbon know-how to cut back emissions.

“That is the mindset we now have to enter. That is what we’re combating again towards in Ottawa. They suppose the answer is embedding, they usually’re flawed.”