Sustainable Jobs Act introduced in Ottawa, Smith calls it threat to Alberta oil and gas

While the federal liberals pass the first reading of the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act, Alberta’s Premier Danielle Smith says it interferes with Alberta’s oil industry, and the province may not even recognize it.

The federal Liberals’ Bill C-50 would mandate the federal government to create five-year plans to transition the country’s energy sector workers into green energy jobs while reducing emissions.

Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said it is not about shutting down Canada’s oil and gas industry.

“I can say that definitively,” Wilkinson said in an interview with The Canadian Press after introducing Bill C-50 in the House of Commons.

He is set to meet with the premier next week, but Smith has already made the province’s case.

“As the development of Alberta’s natural resources and the regulation of our energy sector workforce are constitutional rights and the responsibility of Alberta, any recommendations provided by this new federal advisory council must align” with that plan, her statement reads.

“Alberta will not recognize, cooperate with or enforce any attempt to phase out our province’s oil and gas industry or its workforce. This is non-negotiable.”

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However, the premier is already facing opposition, this time from one of the unions supporting the federal plan.

“She’s trying to suggest that this bill is about shutting down the Alberta economy, when in fact, it’s just about starting conversations that could lead to actually strengthening the Alberta economy,” said Gil McGowan, the Alberta Federation of Labour president, to CityNews.

Opposition NDP leader Rachel Notley also called out Smith in a statement about her opposition to Bill C-50.

“The introduction of this Act represents a missed opportunity and highlights how ineffective the UCP has been in standing up for Alberta’s industry and protecting our leadership in the energy sector,” Notley’s statement reads.

“This falls squarely on Danielle Smith and the UCP, who were not at the table advocating for Alberta jobs and investment. Now, the federal government is investing in multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects elsewhere in the country, such as icebreakers and shipbuilding in Quebec and electric battery facilities in Ontario. Meanwhile, we’ve seen nothing for Alberta.”

However, McGowan says both parties failed to sell Albertans the necessity and economic opportunities in sustainable transition during the provincial election.

“Albertans should have heard that from our leaders — and I think both our parties let Albertans down by not engaging in this conversation,” McGowan said.

-With files from The Canadian Press