“If the UCP was actually involved about what the federal authorities was doing, they’d have engaged with them ages in the past,” stated Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labor
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Talks between Ottawa and plenty of Alberta teams about “transition” of jobs have been ongoing since 2019, behind the backs of the Alberta authorities.
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However it was the PCP that turned its again, whereas enterprise, labor, municipal and curiosity teams in Alberta received absolutely concerned.
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This nearly ensures {that a} new nationwide work technique will likely be designed with out the provincial authorities having the deepest stake within the final result.
Avoiding essential conversations involving the remainder of your society is a weird stance for ruling politicians. This solely is sensible within the context of the PCP’s political curiosity in perpetual warfare with Ottawa.
Final week, Prime Minister Danielle Smith demanded a face-to-face assembly with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in an open letter. She made it sound as if the province, having been shunned, was out of the blue keen to start out negotiating how you can create new jobs within the net-zero emissions economic system.
“That is blowing my thoughts,” Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, stated in a tweet.
“What does she assume occurred? The desk has been set for months, however the VKP refuses to sit.”
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Smith is looking for the proposed federal invoice, tentatively known as the Simply Transition Act, to be modified to the Sustainable Jobs Act.
McGowan stated the AFL and different teams wished it, and Ottawa agreed months in the past.
Federal Pure Sources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson has already stated “simply transition” sends a message he does not like.
“Smith is attempting to take credit score for work achieved by others on a call that has already been made,” McGowan stated.
“If the UCP was actually involved about what the federal authorities was doing, they’d have engaged with them ages in the past,” McGowan stated in an interview.
“The Liberals launched the primary spherical in 2019 and since then there have been a number of consultations.
“There have been hearings of the pure sources committee of Parliament, there have been hearings of the business committee, hearings of the net-zero roundtable, the simply transition session, there have been ministerial roundtables.”
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He stated the AFL had face-to-face periods with Wilkinson, Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan, Deputy First Minister Chrystia Freeland, and a number of other different federal ministers.
“I sat subsequent to those folks bodily and just about. I am unable to even start to inform you what number of consultations I have been part of. However the UCP underneath each (former premier) Jason Kenney and Smith refused to take part.
“There’s a massive distinction between not being consulted and refusing to take part. We requested time and again, asking Alberta ministers, ministerial workers and senior officers in the event that they have been invited. In fact they stated sure, however the authorities selected to not take part.
“Many Albertans determine with the oil and fuel business on a private, visceral stage. Embarking on the trail to alter makes us rightly anxious. However attempting to amplify and exploit this anxiousness and switch it right into a political device is pure political manipulation.”
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McGowan declined to touch upon NDP Chief Rachel Notley’s latest coverage shift, by which she known as for scrapping the federal invoice and beginning over, in addition to lifting the brand new 2030 emissions caps. It’s no secret that the AFL is strongly recognized with the NDP.
However McGowan isn’t fallacious on the difficulty. Whereas the Alberta authorities avoids this course of, some teams they do not care about are on the within, serving to to set federal coverage.
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Braid: Smith invitations Trudeau to Alberta for formal talks on jobs, power
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Smith’s pleas on Simply Transition are welcomed by Feds, however do not assure a gathering with Trudeau
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Varcoe: Cenovus CEO sees silver lining for oil slick in power transition
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Braid: Federal memo exhibits massive influence of ‘simply transition’ on Alberta
This consists of not solely the AFL – which represents 29 unions with 175,000 employees – however chambers of commerce, oil and fuel corporations, aspiring inexperienced industries, municipalities and plenty of others.
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They’re usually aligned in methods which might be each shocking and inspiring.
Like McGowan, Cenovus CEO Alex Pourbaix does not just like the “transition solely” label. The 2 leaders additionally agree that if achieved proper, the power and renewables sector could have much more job alternatives than oil and fuel has now.
On January 19, Pourbaix instructed Postmedia’s Chris Varcoe: “This transition, if it is achieved proper and if we are able to considerably decarbonize the Canadian barrel of oil, I truly assume it means extra jobs – and considerably extra jobs – within the Canadian power sector.” “
There’s good cause to be cautious of Ottawa’s plans and its skill to execute them. As I’ve famous right here earlier than, the Feds have royally tousled many smaller employee transitions, in Newfoundland’s cod fishery and the coal business.
However the change is coming. The street will likely be lengthy and tough.
Significantly better to drive it than to park within the legislature storage.
Don Braid’s column seems repeatedly within the Herald
Twitter: @DonBraid
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