Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)
“Alberta is keen to work with the federal government to reset our relationship and repair the damage to Alberta’s economy that has been caused by Ottawa’s last 10 years of anti-resource legislation and policies. During my first meeting with the Prime Minister just over a week ago, we spoke at length about the policies and legislation that are holding back Alberta’s economy and he made it clear that he intended to rapidly advance national building projects in the coming weeks and months.
“Following this meeting, I gave the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt. We wanted to see whether he would take decisive and meaningful action to repair the relationship between Alberta and Ottawa or if this was just more hollow rhetoric that Albertans have become accustomed to.
“Now that Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed his new cabinet, we have our first glimpse into what we can expect from his ‘new’ Liberal government.
“I am very concerned the Prime Minister has appointed what appears to be yet another anti-oil and gas Environment Minister, Julie Dabrusin. Not only is she a self-proclaimed architect of the designation of plastics as toxic, but she is a staunch advocate against oil sands expansion, proponent of phasing out oil and gas, and for the last four years she has served as the right hand to former Environment Minister and militant environmentalist, Steven Guilbeault.
“For more than a decade, Alberta has suffered under the anti-development and anti-resource policies of successive Liberal governments that have threatened our livelihoods, landlocked our resources, and targeted our industries. Now, we are being forced to contend with yet another ‘keep it in the ground’ environment minister.
“This is a step in the wrong direction. I will continue to do everything in my power to negotiate a fair deal for Alberta with the new Prime Minister.
“Albertans will not stand for the status quo from Ottawa. If the Prime Minister is serious about resetting the relationship between Ottawa and Alberta then we need meaningful action now, not more of the same. I call on the new environment minister to support Alberta’s energy industry and work towards increasing production and market access for our resources.”