Exclusive-Ottawa and Alberta clash over who must pay to lift Canada's carbon capture credits

By Steve Scherer and Nia Williams - REUTERS - TODAY

The Imperial Strathcona Refinery which produces petrochemicals is seen near Edmonton

OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada's federal government and the main oil producing province of Alberta are at odds over who should pay to bolster tax credits and scale up a crucial technology meant to help the country attain its net-zero emissions goal, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

After the United States passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August, which included massive tax credits to develop carbon capture and storage (CCS) there, the Canadian oil and gas industry has been seeking an increase to what was promised in the April federal budget.


 A TORC Oil & Gas pump jack near Granum

But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has told oil and gas companies to look to Alberta's government, saying it has yet to do its fair share, said the sources.

CCS is emerging as a key plank in the fight against carbon pollution and climate change around the world. The Canadian oil and gas industry wants a level playing field as Ottawa targets net zero emissions by 2050, the same goal set by U.S. President Joe Biden.


A tanker truck used to haul oil products operates at a facility near Brooks

Canada is home to the world's third-largest oil reserves and is the fifth-biggest producer of natural gas, and the industry says it needs more government rebates to help scale up CCS technology.

In the federal budget, Canada estimated it would spend C$2.6 billion ($1.9 billion) on the tax credits in the first five years, and then C$1.5 billion per year through 2030.

"We've given a lot... If more money is needed, then it should come from the provinces," a senior government source said this week, adding that requests for more federal spending on carbon capture are coming "mostly from Alberta."

Oil and gas is Canada's highest-polluting sector, but also contributes around 7.5% annually to national GDP and is a major employer in Alberta. Supporters of CCS say it is key to keeping the western oil patch at work while at the same time allowing Canada to meet its commitment to cutting carbon emissions.


Canada's Prime Minister Trudeau visits Edmonton

"We've ponied up big time," said a second senior source on Friday. "The province can have a role here, too... They can totally be partners in this."

Both sources were not authorized to speak on the record.

URGING OTTAWA TO DO MORE

The province responded by batting the ball back at the federal government.

"We are strongly urging Ottawa to expand the proposed investment tax credit to meet or exceed the Inflation Reduction Act – otherwise, carbon capture investments will be drawn south of the border," Alberta Energy ministry spokesperson Alex Puddifant said.

The province has already "invested or committed" C$1.8 billion ($1.3 billion) to develop CCS, Puddifant said. Neither the oil and gas companies nor the province have said how much in additional spending is needed.

Over the last decade, the Alberta government has invested in infrastructure including the Quest carbon capture project, operated by Shell and the Alberta Carbon Trunk Line.

Canada has welcomed introduction of the IRA because it puts the United States on a path toward the green transition without penalizing Canada with electric vehicle consumer tax credits only for American carmakers, as had initially been announced.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said this week that she would look to bolster incentives in some areas - without saying which ones - to help industry scale up clean technologies and level the playing field with the United States.

In March, Alberta picked six proposals to move forward on developing a carbon storage hub near Edmonton. Earlier this month, it released a list of 19 other projects chosen to explore developing potential storage hubs, including one by the Oilsands Pathways Alliance to Net Zero, which includes Canada's biggest oil producers Canadian Natural Resources Ltd and Suncor Energy.

"We continue to have discussions with both federal and provincial governments about the level of financial support needed to kickstart major CCS investment in Canada," said Mark Cameron, vice president of external relations for Pathways Alliance.

"The United States... offers financial incentives that are much more generous to build major CCS projects in the U.S. than in Canada," he added.

($1 = 1.3663 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Steve Scherer in Ottawa and Nia Williams in British Columbia, additional reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg; Editing by Bill Berkrot)

PHOTOS © Reuters/TODD KOROL

PROGRESSIVE GREEN NDP BC 
Critics denounce use of military-grade rifles by province in B.C. wolf cull

"It's essentially a declaration of war on wildlife."

Amy Judd and Paul Johnson -  Global News

A Freedom of Information request obtained by the environmental charity Pacific Wild Alliance reveals military-style assault rifles and high-capacity 30-round prohibited military-grade magazines are being used to shoot wolves in British Columbia, as part of the provincial wolf culling program.


END THE BC WOLF HUNT

Bryce Casavant, director of conservation intelligence at Pacific Alliance Canada, told Global News hundreds of wolves have been killed by aerial gunning since the cull was first put in place in 2015.

However, he said the Freedom of Information request has revealed something more about this program.

‘It’s shameful, it’s horrifying’: B.C. conservationists call for end to controversial wolf cull

Casavant outlined the two issues with what they have learned.

One is the Judas Wolf Program, where an Alpha male wolf is caught, fixed with a tracking device, and that wolf is then followed back to his pack. That is when helicopters are dispatched to kill the family unit from the air.

"The second issue is the manner in which the CBK (Capture, Betray, Kill) programs, or the Judas Programs, are being carried out in the province of B.C.," Casavant said.

"Pacific Wild did raise a court action a year ago for a judicial review of the permits that were being issued to allow this to occur," he added.

He said the province is allowing " semi-automatic, military-grade weapons with high-capacity magazines" to be used in the program.

"Those are prohibited items."

Video: Conservationists call for end to B.C. government wolf cull program

In a statement to Global News, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service said it has used patrol rifles for more than two years following a successful pilot project.

"The patrol rifle is a standard-issue firearm for Conservation Officers (COs) across the province, allowing them to do their jobs more safely."

However, conservation officers are not involved in shooting wolves through the wolf cull program.

"As the primary first responder agency addressing human-wildlife conflicts and predator attacks, Conservation Officers face dynamic and fluid circumstances in all types of weather -- such as a charging bear or other predator species -- and require a firearm best suited to the task of defending themselves," the service said in a statement.

Cassavant said if there is a need for high-capacity assault rifles in the wolf cull program, then that throws into question whether wolves can be killed humanely by this method.

"This concept that we need 30 rounds and the ability to fire them very quickly is the exact antithesis of an ethical shooting activity.

“We are paramilitarizing our police and our wildlife conservation services. There is no need to kill wolves, or any wildlife, in this manner.”

Judge denies group’s request to halt controversial wolf cull

In a statement to Global News in April, the Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship said the wolf cull “provides data to government biologists about wolf movements and pack territories and helps facilitate the removal of packs during winter wolf reduction efforts. The removal of packs within treatment areas is critical to supporting caribou survival.”

However, Casavant said this practice is "very concerning" and inappropriate.

"It's essentially a declaration of war on wildlife."

ALBERTA

First Nations lawyers, law student fight against swearing allegiance to oppressors

Next spring when Anita Cardinal takes her oath to practise law in Alberta, she’s confident it won’t include swearing allegiance to the king or his heirs and successors.

Cardinal is one of three Indigenous women engaged in legal action against the province and the Law Society of Alberta, the self-governing body that sets standards for Alberta lawyers, to ensure that doesn’t happen.

“That oath in itself is disregarding the full meaning of the treaties and how that was between two sovereign nations. As Indigenous people, we cannot swear (allegiance) because that would be admitting the Crown is our sovereign and the Crown is not. We are our own sovereign people,” said Cardinal, a member of the Woodland Cree First Nation. “No allegiance to each other is necessary to practice law.”

Beyond that, she says, the Crown symbolizes the genocide of Indigenous people in Canada.

“You’re asking people who are victims of genocide…(You’re) asking us to swear allegiance and subjugate ourselves to an institution that has been…a tool of that oppression,” said Cardinal, who is presently articling with the Edmonton-area firm Cooper Regel LLP.

There are Indigenous lawyers in the province, and Cardinal is quick to say, “They’ve done what they’ve had no choice to do so they can go and practise law, because without swearing that you cannot practise law…in Alberta.”

Cardinal is joined in her legal action by Janice Makokis of Saddle Lake Cree Nation and Rachel Snow of the Wesley First Nation.

According to the statement of claim filed Sept. 7, neither Snow nor Makokis, both having graduated with law degrees from different universities outside of the province, have been called to the bar in Alberta. Snow says she will not swear an oath “to the system that has caused generational and ongoing harms to her people,” while Makokis says such an oath is “an affront to her beliefs, laws and conscience.”

Both women want to practise their profession in Alberta.

“The oath requirement,” reads the statement of claim, “breaches their Treaty rights and/or their rights to religious freedom and equality as protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”

Further, says the statement of claim, the women either seek an exemption from the existing oath or “seek to provide an oath that does not infringe their inherent and Treaty rights, their beliefs or otherwise perpetuate the discrimination against them as Indigenous people…”

A week after filing their statement of claim, the women filed for intervenor status in a similar case already before the Alberta Court of King’s Bench.

In that case, introduced in July, articling student Prabjot Singh Wirring challenged the oath of allegiance as incompatible with his religious beliefs as an Amritdhari Sikh.

However, intervenor status was not granted to the women as the Wirring action was viewed as supporting the Cardinal et al case instead of providing a unique take on the proceedings.

“It was disappointing. Obviously, we were very invested in the outcome because it could affect us for sure. Being able to help in anyway to change that, to be allies in that sense, to support one another in that sense, is going to be helpful to one another for both of our claims,” said Cardinal.

She adds that if Wirring wins, “it will help set a precedent for sure.”

Wirring was scheduled to be heard on Sept. 29 but has been adjourned until Nov. 24 and Nov. 25.

Wirring’s action was supported by law professors from the universities of Alberta and Calgary in an open letter to Justice Minister Tyler Shandro. In that letter, the professors suggested an amendment of the Legal Profession Act to make the oath of allegiance optional. They called it an “uncontroversial step that the Government of Alberta can take to promote diversity, equality and inclusion in the legal profession and across the communities where lawyers serve.”

Hadley Friedland, academic director of Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge at the University of Alberta, was one of the signatories of that letter.

“The importance of the oath is to say you’re going to uphold the law and you’re going to be a good and ethical lawyer. So having to swear you’re going to uphold the queen, and now the king, is not necessarily necessary. I think with the history and ongoing harms of colonialism, asking Indigenous peoples to have to swear allegiance and uphold the sovereign does create a crisis of conscience for many,” she said.

Friedland points to other provinces, such as Ontario and British Columbia, which have either changed their oaths or made them optional.

“I feel it’s a very simple fix, to be honest, and it hasn’t had any negative effects in the provinces that removed that part of the oath. So I feel as if Alberta doesn’t respond to that, it’s likely more political than principled,” she said.

In an email response to Windspeaker.com, Justice spokesperson Katherine Thompson said Shandro acknowledged the concerns raised in the letter by the law professors, but “since the matter is the subject of active litigation involving the province of Alberta, it would be inappropriate to comment on the substance of those concerns.”

Earlier this month, Shandro changed the name of Alberta’s provincial court to the Alberta Court of Justice through an order-in-council. However, Thompson said an oath change isn’t as easy. A Cabinet decision to change the name of the court is set out in the Provincial Court Act, but the same process is not available to change an oath in either the Legal Profession Act or the Oaths of Office Act.

“They can’t unilaterally change it,” said Orlagh O’Kelly, legal counsel for the three Indigenous women. “The oath is legislated…so either it’s amended by (Premier) Danielle Smith and crew or the court strikes it down.”

Cardinal says an optional oath would be determined by working with Elders and could be personalized depending on the nation and the treaty area.

“It certainly is a very exciting thing to think about and that is something we would definitely take our time with and something that would be so meaningful to us,” she said.

Cardinal says there is support for the change even if the province isn’t ready to get on board yet.

“I only think it’s a matter of time and I understand it’s going to be a fight. We’ve been fighting for a very long time and, no matter how long it takes, we’re not going to give up…Us as Indigenous people, we’ll persevere,” said Cardinal.

If the requirement doesn’t change by the time she is called to the bar, Cardinal said, “I’m going to stand there and say everything but the oath.”

Whether that means she won’t be able to practise in Alberta, she said, “Who knows? It all depends because…there have been other students who haven’t said it and they’ve gone through. It all depends.”

The Law Society of Alberta (LSA) could not confirm for Windspeaker.com if that has been the case.

“We do not oversee administration of the oath and have no authority to grant exemptions,” said LSA spokesperson Avery Stodalka in an email.

In an updated statement issued Sept. 28, the LSA said, “While it is not within the power of the Law Society to amend legislation, we support an amendment to the Oaths of Office Act that would create flexibility for articling students by making the oath of allegiance to the King optional.”

Such a change, says LSA, “would remove inequitable barriers to the practice of law in our province.”

No date has been set yet as to when the Cardinal, Snow and Makokis action will be heard.

Windspeaker.com

By Shari Narine, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com, Windspeaker.com

BIEN VUE

Second Quebec opposition party refuses constitutionally required loyalty oath to King

QUEBEC — Members of a second Quebec opposition party have refused to swear allegiance to King Charles III, as required by the Canadian Constitution, putting their ability to sit in the legislature into question.


Second Quebec opposition party refuses constitutionally required loyalty oath to King

© Provided by The Canadian Press

The three Parti Québécois members elected to the province's legislature Oct. 3 took an oath of loyalty to the people of Quebec, but not to the monarch, as they were sworn in Friday morning.

Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said he believes the oath of office should be meaningful and sincere — which he says isn't the case with an oath to a monarchy that Quebecers never consented to.

The oath is a "straitjacket that condemns each elected representative of the people of Quebec to hypocrisy," St-Pierre Plamondon said in a speech. "A straitjacket that forces democrats of all parties to take an oath they do not believe in and therefore to perjure themselves, to sully the value of their word and to do that in the first act they are called on to take as representatives of citizens."

Members of all provincial legislatures and the federal Parliament are required to swear an oath to the Crown before taking office, while the second oath to the people of Quebec is required under provincial law.

Earlier this week, the 11 members of Québec solidaire — which like the PQ supports Quebec sovereignty — also refused to swear allegiance to the King.

Spokesman Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois said at the time that he'd been told members of the party would not be allowed to sit in the legislature, participate in debates or vote, but would have access to their legislative offices and budgets.

Related video: PQ leader wants oath to Canada’s monarch to be optional

Speaking to reporters after the swearing-in, St-Pierre Plamondon said he now wants to meet with the leaders of the other parties to find a way for his members to sit in the legislature without having to take the oath.

He said he believes a simple motion in the province's national assembly could allow the members to sit.

He cited an Ontario Court of Appeal ruling that found the oath to the queen sworn by a new Canadian citizen was not to the queen herself, but to the institutions and the government. "So based on that judgment of 2014, once we've taken an oath towards the people of Quebec and the constitution of Quebec, we have fulfilled that standard," he said.

On Tuesday, Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette said it will take more than a motion to allow the members to sit — but he believes the oath could be eliminated if the assembly passes a bill.

Asked if he would swear the oath if negotiations do not advance, or if the PQ members would attempt to sit without making the pledge, St-Pierre Plamondon said he wasn't ruling anything out.

Constitutional scholars differ on whether the Quebec legislature has the power to allow members to participate in legislative debates and votes without taking the oath.

Benoît Pelletier, a constitutional law professor at the University of Ottawa, said he believes the legislature could allow the dissident members to sit by passing a motion. Pelletier said he believes Quebec could change the oath through the power provinces possess to change their own constitutions, but other experts believe it would require the consent of all provinces and the two houses of Parliament.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2022.

— By Jacob Serebrin in Montreal.

The Canadian Press

SAME GUY FROM LAST TIME
'Never say never': Alberta health minister says future COVID-19 restrictions can't be ruled out

Bill Kaufmann -  Calgary Herald

While he’s confident Alberta’s current defences against COVID-19 will hold, the government would consider additional measures if confronted with a major flare-up, Health Minister Jason Copping said Friday.

NOT ACCORDING TO HIS BOSS

Health Minister Jason Copping says Alberta's health system has been strained by the pandemic, but the provincial government is working to make it stronger. ROFLMAO

Copping, who retained his portfolio in Premier Danielle Smith’s cabinet that was announced Friday, defended his government’s intention of immediately and dramatically reforming Alberta Health Services despite the medical system’s current struggles.

And he said the party is eager for a general election mandate for the new premier.

But for now, he said the trajectory of the deadly virus suggests defences in place are sufficient to keep it under control and from overwhelming the health-care system.

“Each successive wave is less severe . . . With the tools we have in place, we are going to be able to manage what comes at us next,” said Copping.

Smith has said that under her government, there will be no going back to restrictions that included vaccine passports and mandates, and limits on businesses or places of worship.

But Copping said if a severe unforeseen surge in COVID-19 changes the public safety equation, some measures could be taken.

“You can never say never. If something comes at us we’ll have to look at it and say, ‘OK, what additional tools we may need to put in place at that point in time,’ ” he said.

“But we are going to be focused on supporting Albertans through this as we actually go through wave to wave with as little impact as possible on people.”

In the early summer of 2021, then-premier Jason Kenney insisted COVID-19 restrictions were finished, only to introduce so-called vaccine passports in the fall of that year.

COVID-19 hospitalizations have recently been climbing, with 1,070 people admitted with the illness as of earlier this week. The average monthly figure is larger than the past two pandemic Octobers.

Related
Premier Smith signals swift changes to management of Alberta's health system

No apology from Danielle Smith over comments on discrimination of unvaccinated people

Braid: Dr. Deena Hinshaw is the first sacrifice to Smith's health care upheaval

Numbers of ICU patients have also been rising, but not as quickly, and this week sat at 33.

Copping said he’s not concerned with Smith’s determination to prevent vaccine mandates by outlawing what she calls discrimination against non-immunized Albertans in provincial human-rights legislation.

Some medical experts say that sends the wrong message on the importance of vaccines and could potentially undermine long-standing vaccine mandates meant to control a host of other illnesses in schools, health care and other settings.



Staff prepare supplies at the pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Village Square Leisure Centre on June 6, 2021.© Gavin Young/Postmedia

But Copping said such legislation would work apart from the clinical realm where the government will still encourage vaccinations, noting the Pfizer bivalent booster will become available in Alberta on Monday.

“We as a government have indicated and maintained a policy choice is important and have also urged people to get vaccines, and we’re going to continue to do both things,” he said.

“That’s a separate issue in terms of choice, we still need to focus on continuing to support Albertans through endemic plans and vaccines are an important part of it.”

During his time as health minister, Copping and other government officials emphasized the value of vaccines in reducing levels of severe illness and preventing the health-care system from collapsing.

But that promotion of vaccines has notably slackened, said Lorian Hardcastle, associate professor specializing in health law and policy at the University of Calgary.

“The messaging has really changed — (Copping) really isn’t pushing for vaccines and the premier is almost discouraging it,” said Hardcastle.

But she said having flexibility on future COVID-19 policy makes sense both practically and politically.

In a speech to the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Smith reiterated her vow to overhaul the AHS , accusing it of failing to provide sufficient beds during the pandemic and for critically undermining staffing levels by previously requiring employees be vaccinated for COVID-19.

That will include replacing the chief medical officer of health with an advisory panel and dismissing the AHS’s governing board, while admitting health-care delivery “will be bumpy for the next 90 days” of the rapid change of course.

She said the health-care reboot posed a “perilous” political risk, but one that had to be taken.

When asked if such a rapid reboot risks increasing chaos in a system now under siege with lengthening wait times — and with one Edmonton emergency physician telling CTV News that patients have died in waiting rooms — Copping said that what he’s heard from those working inside it during a four-month consultative process is that quick change is needed.

“The key messages we received in this tour is we need to do more to support (health-care workers),” he said.

“There’s a recognition that we need to do things differently, so I’m really looking forward to working with the premier and setting in place a thoughtful implementation plan, not only integrating what we’re already doing but what else can we can do to ensure our front-line workers have the tools as we move forward.”

He also said that, despite Smith not having been elected by Albertans provincewide, the government has a mandate and an obligation to move swiftly on health-care reform.

“We need to deliver health care, we’ve heard loud and clear from Albertans,” said Copping.

That will mean injecting additional funding, including $600 million in each of the coming few years and an altered governance structure reflecting a change in the culture of AHS, said Copping.

That’ll also likely include contracting out more services paid for out of the public purse outside of hospitals to the private sector.

That policy, he said, is showing promise in reducing wait times and saving money, particularly with cataract surgeries.

“We’re actually leveraging the private sector now . . . We are going to continue to focus on how do we support our public health-care system and leverage our private sector so, yes, we’ll continue to do that,” said Copping.

“We have two requests for proposals out in the South and Central Zones.”

A key to strengthening the health-care system, he said, is bolstering staffing levels, something that is already underway with fast-tracking educational output and the qualification for international doctors and nurses.

Health-care providers and the Opposition NDP have raised the alarm over what they call an exodus of physicians in rural areas and a resulting curtailment of services.

“We fully recognize there’s a need for staffing, particularly in rural areas,” said Copping.

“I can tell you AHS is hiring 1,800 more employees this year alone . . . there’s more plans coming.”

The U of C’s Hardcastle said there’s reason to be concerned that the planned breakneck pace of reform could compound problems facing AHS.

“Everybody recognizes there are issues with health care, but is rapid, destabilizing change a way to do that? You risk more turmoil,” she said.

Copping, UCP MLA for Calgary-Varsity, took over as health minister 13 months ago after a stint as labour and immigration minister.

The health-care portfolio, particularly now, is seen by many as the most challenging and potentially politically crippling one in the provincial government.

But Copping said he welcomes his extended responsibility.

“I am pleased the premier has asked me to stay in this role,” he said.

“I’m excited to work with the premier on her ideas . . . how do we deliver health-care services Albertans deserve and, frankly, need. ”

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn

COLD WATER OF REALITY

Friday's letters: Falling short on COVID measures cost lives

Edmonton Journal - 

Nurses prepare to treat a COVID-19 patient on the intensive care unit at Peter Lougheed Centre in Calgary on Nov. 14, 2020.© Provided by Edmonton Journal

Re. “Hinshaw deserves a medal for her handling of COVID,” David Staples, Oct. 19

Mr. Staples says of Dr. Hinshaw and Mr. Kenney, “… both times Hinshaw and Kenney resisted the outcry for yet another full lockdown … and both times the virus burned itself out … .” No, the virus didn’t burn itself out. Burn means it killed dozens of people a week, sometimes dozens each day.

My dad was one of those who died because government couldn’t inconvenience their base enough to wear a piece of filter paper in front of their mouth. Mr. Staples, a full lockdown wasn’t the only tool, and people dying, unable to breathe, are not just a number, or a euphemism. His name was Robert, and I miss him every day.

R.T. McKay, Edmonton

Smith shouldn’t act like a radio host

It’s one thing to be a radio commentator spouting a right point of view to a willing and like-minded audience. It’s another to be the premier of Canada’s fourth most-populated province. So far, we’ve seen Danielle Smith walk back some of her policy statements, “clarify” past comments, and eventually apologize for past comments.

What she should do is call a general election to legitimize her mandate. 

But she won’t. Instead she will seek a safe riding and pretend she has been duly elected and not show even a hint of embarrassment. I presume one of her first acts will be to take care of MLA Michaela Frey who surrendered her seat.  Loyalty has its rewards.

John Campbell, Edmonton

Opinion: Energy firms say they want to cut emissions; let's call their bluff

Opinion by Julia Levin - TODAY - Edmonton Journal

A flare from the Suncor Energy Edmonton Refinery illuminates the sky in Strathcona County, on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022.© Ian Kucerak

“Let’s Clear the Air” is the newest branding effort from Canada’s oil and gas industry. Having moved on from outright denial of the climate crisis , oilsands companies are now trying to position themselves as environmental leaders who are committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.

But should we buy it? The oil and gas sector continues to be Canada’s largest and fastest growing source of emissions . And it’s not just overall emissions — Canada’s oil and gas is the second-most polluting in the world.

If these companies want to be seen as good climate partners, they need to get those emissions under control. That means committing to science-based targets, spending what it takes, coming up with solutions that directly reduce emissions and supporting governments in their efforts to curb pollution.

Unfortunately for the climate, the oil and gas industry is doing none of those things.

In fact, oil and gas leaders are actively fighting a new federal rule that would limit pollution from the sector. There are currently no limits on the carbon pollution the industry can create — the proposed “emissions cap” would be a critical tool for fixing this gap. But far from welcoming this accountability, companies and industry associations have actually rejected the idea of a cap on their emissions . If industry is so certain of its success, why not make the commitment to Canadians real by agreeing to reduction targets?

Second, the sector doesn’t actually have plans to meaningfully decrease their emissions. Instead, they keep pointing to carbon capture and storage — despite the technology’s decades-long track record of underperformance and failure . And even if technology did work, carbon capture would do nothing about 80 per cent of emissions that come when the oil and gas they pump out of the ground gets burned. The industry isn’t interested in carbon capture to reduce emissions; it’s about greenwashing their way to continue producing fossil fuels for decades to come.

If they wanted an easy emissions win, industry could start getting their methane leaks down tomorrow for bargain-basement prices by fixing leaky equipment and agreeing to more frequent monitoring. But they fought those regulations too.

Lastly, companies aren’t putting their own money into emissions reductions. Last week, the Pathways Alliance claimed they are planning to spend $24 billion in emission reductions between now and 2030, which averages to a less-than-inspiring $3 billion a year. To put that in perspective, these same companies are set to make $152 billion in profits this year alone. But that spending includes $16.5 billion for a massive — and risky — carbon pipeline, that these same companies have already said they expect the government to shoulder anywhere from two-thirds to three-quarters of the cost .

In other words, what the companies aren’t saying is that they are paying as little as possible for reductions. They are actually expecting the government — and therefore families and business in Canada — to cover most of those costs.

As a recent report from the Pembina Institute makes clear, oil and gas companies haven’t put forward any real money to reduce their emissions. In fact, despite being flushed with cash, these companies are lobbying for $50 billion in taxpayer dollars for speculative and risky carbon capture technology that has no certainty of success.

All of this adds up to one thing: the oil and gas sector is really interested in climate action — as a great topic for an ad campaign. They are not interested in actually meaningful climate solutions. Instead, they’re seeking to extract as much short-term profit as possible, never mind the climate catastrophe their activities keep causing.

And they’re hoping that by spending money on a shiny new rebrand, that Canadians won’t notice. Let’s prove them wrong. Let’s call their bluff.

Julia Levin is national climate program manager for Environmental Defence.

ALBERTA
Opinion: UCP resolutions banning diversity, sexuality education are deeply troubling

Opinion by Irene Shankar , Leah Hamilton , Corinne L. Mason - 

At the United Conservative Party annual general meeting this weekend, members will vote on 20 policy resolutions, including one that proposes a ban on diversity and inclusion education (Resolution 5) and another that will bar education on identity and sexuality and names parents as being solely in charge of children’s gender (Resolution 17).


Hundreds of people attend a vigil at the Alberta legislature to honour the 215 children whose bodies were found buried at the site of a B.C. residential school. Taken on Monday, May 31, 2021 in Edmonton.© Provided by Edmonton Journal

This is the first UCP AGM held under the leadership of Danielle Smith whose first two weeks as premier have been plagued by scandals, including citing anti-Semitic blogs on Twitter, supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and claiming that unvaccinated persons are the most discriminated-against group she’s seen in her lifetime.

The potential passing of these resolutions at the UCP AGM does not necessarily mean that Alberta will see corresponding bills in the legislative assembly. However, it does tell us that Smith is willing to consider potentially harmful resolutions. As university educators with expertise in the areas of anti-racism and gender diversity, we are very concerned that Resolutions 5 and 17 will harm Indigenous, racialized, transgender, and non-binary children and youth.

Resolution 5 proposes to ban educators from teaching students about diversity and inclusion. If this resolution looks familiar, it is because the U.S. Republican Party has introduced laws that restrict teaching about race and racism in 36 states. In practice, these laws have banned teaching about slavery and civil rights, and have led to over 1,500 books being banned from schools.

The UCP’s Resolution 5 is similarly intended to completely curb K-12 teachers from teaching about the impacts of colonialism and racism. If this resolution is passed, teachers won’t be able to teach historical facts such as the residential school system, the internment of Japanese Canadians, the denial of asylum to Jewish refugees during the Holocaust, the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Komagata Maru incident.

To date, more than 2,000 unmarked graves have been confirmed at former residential schools. Without learning the truth, it is difficult to imagine how young people will engage in reconciliation. And, how can we as a society aspire towards equity without education about systematic barriers that currently exist for Indigenous and racialized young people? Without anti-racist education, we may see a more intolerant society, with increased hate crimes and further marginalization of anti-racism initiatives across the province.

Resolution 17 is designed to bar education on identity and sexuality, and to put parents in control of their children’s gender, which will greatly endanger transgender and non-binary youth. Research shows that transgender youth experience much higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation than their cisgender counterparts, with up to 30 per cent of transgender youth attempting suicide at some point in their lives.

The science is clear that it is critically important for trans youth to have their gender identity affirmed (including name and pronouns). Parents, legal guardians, caregivers and teachers play a huge role in supporting these social transitions, including facilitating access to essential supports such as Skipping Stone in Calgary. Furthermore, in Alberta, parents already have to give consent for their teenagers to access hormonal therapies and the age of consent for gender-affirming surgeries is 18. Again, these changes are eerily reminiscent of the growing anti-transgender legislation in the United States.

As educators and parents, we are deeply troubled by the UCP’s proposed policy resolutions. These resolutions do not represent the diversity of Albertans, nor do they speak to the most pressing issues in the province. If implemented, these resolutions will undermine our teachers and our education system, and harm Indigenous, racialized, transgender and non-binary youth throughout Alberta.

We urge Albertans to demand that the UCP heed the advice of anti-racism and gender-diversity experts and we ask UCP members to vote down these proposed resolutions at this weekend’s AGM. Our children’s fundamental right to health care, and an education based on essential knowledge and skills, depends on it.

Dr. Irene Shankar is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Mount Royal University.

Dr. Leah Hamilton is a professor in the Department of Psychology and the Department of General Management and Human Resources at Mount Royal University.

Dr. Corinne L. Mason is an associate professor in the Women and Gender Studies Program at Mount Royal University.

ALBERTA HAS ITS OWN BANK; ATB
NDP enlists former ATB economist to advise on how best to use surplus

SMART MOVE-HIGHLY REPUTABLE ON BAY ST.
Former ATB chief economist Todd Hirsch has been recruited by the Alberta NDP to advise on economic policy ahead of the 2023 provincial election.


Todd Hirsch, former vice-president and chief economist for ATB Financial, 

The official Opposition party introduced him Friday morning at a news conference in Edmonton before the party convention in Calgary this weekend, and an hour before Premier Danielle Smith announced her new cabinet .

Specifically, Hirsch will look into the best ways to save and invest the surplus dollars from current high oil prices.

“In the scope of how best to use the surplus to position Alberta for both a sustainable fiscal structure, as well as addressing the concerns around affordability and the crisis in so many of our public services and the need to move toward diversification,” said NDP Leader Rachel Notley. “We’re giving Todd a pretty wide ranging room to give us those recommendations.”

Hirsch spent 15 years in his role with ATB and another nine years teaching public finance at the University of Calgary. He said he has expertise on the subject that goes beyond party politics.

“I don’t see it so much as a partisan job, rather I see this as a responsibility as an Albertan,” he said.

Related
Alberta's fiscal update confirms $13.2-billion surplus

Smith's premiership brightens NDP electoral fortunes: poll

Flush with cash, Alberta NDP running early election-style ads

Notley said Albertans are not seeing the benefits of the spike in oil prices, pointing to a lack of reinvestment by the sector, wait times at hospitals, shortfalls in ambulance service and rising cost of living against a lack of growth in salaries that lags much of the rest of the country.

These issues will be front and centre at the NDP convention, which runs through Sunday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Building a Better Economic Future will take centre stage on Saturday morning, and in the afternoon the party will address health care. Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew will be the keynote speaker Saturday night.


MLA Joe Ceci and Julia Hayter, candidate for Calgary Edgemont prepare for the main event scheduled for Friday night at the NDP convention in downtown Calgary.

Notley said this should be the biggest convention in the history of the NDP in Alberta. It will be the first chance for many candidates in the next election to meet in person to discuss issues.

“We look forward to engaging in a good conversation about the vision we want to present to Albertans as we head toward the next election,” said Notley. “I know that a lot of the conversation will be focused on matters of addressing the affordability crisis that so many Albertans are facing, addressing the crisis in our health-care system that keeps so many families up at night, and ensuring that we build a resilient jobs economy.”

The party will also spend time Saturday evening discussing inclusivity.

The NDP came under fire in June from their own members, with calls for an independent investigation into how internal harassment complaints are dealt with following allegations of mistreatment and verbal abuse by staff. There were also concerns with how candidates were being picked in nomination races, while constituency presidents said they were being left out of the loop on issues.

On Friday, Notley said there was a high level of unity in the party and that a report by the investigating team has been prepared and discussed by the executive council.

jaldrich@postmedia.com
Twitter: @JoshAldrich03

Alberta Treasury Branches

---

Alberta Treasury Branches—now known legally as ATB Financial (ATB)—is a $50 billion deposit-taking financial institution which, for all intents and purposes, operates like a chartered bank. This Alberta-based entity administers and manages over $18 billion in investments and has nearly 750,000 customers.

Alberta's Public Bank: How ATB Can Help Shape the New Economy

www.parklandinstitute.ca/albertas_public_bank

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith admits 'bumpy' first days in office while addressing Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

Lisa Johnson - Yesterday 

Addressing Edmonton’s Chamber of Commerce for the first time as Alberta premier Thursday, Danielle Smith admitted her first days in office have been “bumpy.”


Premier Danielle Smith speaks at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, at the Edmonton Convention Centre.© Provided by Edmonton Journal

The quip came during a question and answer session and got a laugh from the crowd of business leaders at the Edmonton Convention Centre.

“It’s going to be a bit bumpy for the next 90 days. Any time you’re changing a major area of government, there’s going to be some bumpiness,” Smith warned, referring to her plans to rapidly restructure management of the provincial health authority even as multiple groups representing Alberta health workers call for stability in the system.

“I would hope that there’s a bit of goodwill, that some of the successes get reported as well as when we’re making some mistakes along the way. Just be patient and gentle with us because we know that we have to do this for Albertans,” said Smith.

Smith’s appearance comes after a tumultuous start to her tenure. Following her first news conference as premier last Monday, she offered a clarification on her statement that unvaccinated people are the most discriminated-against group she’s seen, and earlier this week apologized for controversial past social media posts about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

‘Fair warning’: Smith reiterates plan to legally protect unvaccinated

During her keynote address to chamber members Thursday, Smith talked about her dislike of vaccine passports and her plans to amend the Alberta Human Rights Act to add protections for people who have chosen to not get vaccinated against COVID-19 — a move that she recognized will change the landscape for some businesses and organizations across the province this fall.

“I just wanted to give you a fair warning that we are going to be making a serious pivot in that regard,” said Smith, who asked that businesses get in line with the government’s new direction.

“We want to send the message to the community and to the world investment markets that this is a place that is open for business. This is a place that believes in freedom. This is a place that believes in free enterprise, and this is a place where we’re not going to be making arbitrary decisions that are going to disproportionately impact small and medium businesses,” said Smith to a smattering of applause.

“I’m very aware that our hardest hit sector of our economy was the tourism sector, the hospitality sector, restaurants, hotels, and I’d love to get some feedback from you today,” said Smith.

While Smith did not take questions from reporters at the event, 

UCP POLICY UNCHALLENGED BY THE FACILE GROVELING MEDIA

she did touch on a wide variety of issues, including encouraging electric vehicle infrastructure, and working with municipalities to change their fleets to hydrogen.

“The government can take the lead on creating the supply and building the infrastructure, and once we do that, then others will be able to follow suit — but there has to be some catalyst that’s going to push that forward,” said Smith, who also emphasized her plans to better talk about Alberta’s oil and gas sector on the international stage.

Smith has said she will send a provincial delegation to COP27, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, in November.

On Thursday, she promised further announcements soon on the mental health and addiction file after having touted the UCP government’s recent $187-million commitment towards fighting homelessness with emergency shelters and fighting addiction with recovery facilities.

Smith is expected to announce her new cabinet Friday following a team-building caucus retreat in Sylvan Lake this week. She has said her cabinet will include some ministers who served under previous premier Jason Kenney, but will bring more rural voices to the table.

UPDATES

Bell: Danielle Smith rolls out inner circle, it's Kumbaya — for now

Opinion by Rick Bell - TODAY

Right off the hop, Premier Danielle Smith rolls out her inner circle.


Danielle Smith wins the UCP leadership race at an event at the BMO Centre in Calgary on Thursday, October 6, 2022. Smith unveiled her new cabinet Friday; the new ministers will be sworn in Monday.© Provided by Calgary Sun

What’s this? Kaycee Madu is a deputy premier, Smith’s number two.

This is an impressive handle for Madu if he ever decides to phone the Edmonton top cop about traffic tickets .

There’s a guy named Nathan Neudorf and he’s a deputy premier, too.

He’s the number two number two.

What’s this? Tyler Shandro is the justice minister, the province’s top lawman.

As you know, Shandro was very tight with Jason Kenney, one of three people in the former premier’s inner inner circle, so close to the big man they were known as The Boy Band.

Interesting to see how this works with Smith’s thin-skinned supporters.

The pro-vaccine passport, pro-COVID restrictions and not-so-nice-to-jailed-pastors Shandro will now quarterback a law prohibiting any discrimination against the unvaccinated .

Someone must have seen the light.

Then again, you have to applaud what had to be Smith’s easiest decision.

That is, dumping The Other Jason, Jason Nixon, lead singer in Kenney’s Boy Band, a masterful screwup.

Don’t worry. His bro Jeremy Nixon is the minister of seniors and social supports.

And speaking of The Boy Band trio, mild-mannered Travis Toews, who almost became premier, remains budget boss.

He’ll be sticking around just in case things get really hairy and the UCP has to pull the fire alarm before the provincial election this coming May.

Kudos to Todd Loewen, now the forestry, parks and tourism boss, a guy who stood up in his belief Kenney was the wrong man for the job when so many others complained but did the square root of squat.

Obviously, Loewen will remove the fee to go to Kananaskis Country and make Pay Country into K-Country once again.

Kudos to Pete Guthrie, who carved out a reputation as a straight shooter. He will head up the energy file.

Brian Jean is the jobs and economy point man, the former Wildrose leader and now a Fort McMurray member of the legislature will also tackle development in northern Alberta.

Jean was tough on Smith in the UCP leadership race.

Jean says it was never personal but, as Wildrose leader, he did have to clean up the mess after Smith joined the PCs.

During the leadership race, he said Smith was a great storyteller.

Jean and three other leadership candidates attacked Smith’s No. 1 brainwave.

Jean pointed to the “fairy tale” and “snake oil” of the Sovereignty Act, where the province could refuse to enforce Ottawa’s laws if the feds muscle in on the rights of Alberta or individual Albertans and could defy the courts if the judges ruled against them.

“After the fantasy is over and we’ve had our bedtime story, our fairy tale, then what?”

The fantasy is over. Jean is now backing the Sovereignty Act.

It’s a new and presumably improved Sovereignty Act.

Jean says the new and presumably improved Sovereignty Act will respect the rule of law.

If Canada’s top court says Alberta is on the short end of the stick when challenging a particular federal law, this province WILL NOT tell the court to take a hike.

But he adds it will still be very effective.

“Just the fact we force an issue all the way to the Supreme Court will achieve a lot. It sends a political message that can’t be ignored.

“Even if we lose at the court there’s a lot of ways to show our displeasure while being respectful of the law. Sometimes the fighting itself leads to rewards.”



Brian Jean speaks to the media after being sworn in as an MLA on April 7, 2022, at the Alberta legislature in Edmonton.© Ed Kaiser

Then, there’s Smith’s no-COVID-restrictions-ever pledge.

During the campaign, Jean wouldn’t commit to no restrictions ever.

He can now.

“There’s nothing more important than individual freedom,” he says.

What’s this? Jason Copping, Alberta’s health head honcho, won’t rule out future COVID restrictions.

Can’t you people get on the same page here?

Speaking of Smith’s less-than-impressive early days as premier, Jean compares it to a hockey season.

“We got out on the ice and we started slapping the puck around and we tried a couple exhibition games and they were a bit shaky,” says Jean.

“We went into the locker-room and we talked. And now Game 1 is on Monday.”

A year ago, at the last UCP hoedown, Jean showed up and wanted Kenney gone.

He thought, with Kenney at the helm, the UCP would certainly lose the next election.

Jean got a lot of the evil eye from UCP members, to say nothing of nasty comments whispered and shouted to him and at him.

The man shrugs it off.

“Truth to power, my friend. Truth to power.”

Now, Kenney is gone and Jean is upbeat.

“I feel good. We have a new hope we might actually win against the NDP.”

The jury in the court of public opinion will deliberate for seven months.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announces new cabinet, keeping several key Kenney ministers

The only leadership rival who didn't make it back into cabinet was Chestermere-Strathmore MLA Leela Aheer

Author of the article: Lisa Johnson
Publishing date: Oct 21, 2022 •

Premier Danielle Smith speaks at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

 luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, at the Edmonton Convention Centre. 

PHOTO BY GREG SOUTHAM /Postmedia
Article content

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is keeping several familiar faces who served under former premier Jason Kenney in her new cabinet announced Friday, while shuffling out a key member of Kenney’s inner circle.

Those keeping their seat at the table include Travis Toews in finance, Adriana LaGrange in education, Jason Copping in health, and Tyler Shandro in justice.

Jason Nixon, former environment and parks minister and then finance minister during Toew’s run for the leadership, will be relegated to the backbench.

With 27 ministers or ministers without portfolios including Smith, only five in cabinet are women. It was announced via news release, and Smith is not expected to take questions from reporters until Monday after members are formally sworn in at 11 a.m.

Speaking to alternative right-wing media organization the Western Standard Friday, Smith said she wanted to express confidence in Toews.

“It was a really close leadership race, and I think that the fact that people were struggling to make a choice between he and I … shows that they want him in a senior role,” said Smith, referring to the final ballot in which she won 54 per cent and Toews took 46 per cent.

Smith also said, as she prepares for a major revamp of the health-care system, that “Jason Copping’s up for the job.”

Most leadership rivals, campaign supporters get posts

Among those who also ran against Smith for leadership, former children’s services minister Rebecca Schulz will be in charge of municipal affairs, Rajan Sawhney will take over trade, immigration and multiculturalism, and Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche MLA Brian Jean will be the minister in charge of jobs, economy, and northern development. Recently welcomed back into UCP caucus, Central Peace-Notley MLA Todd Loewen will head forestry, parks, and tourism.

The only leadership rival who didn’t make it back into cabinet was Chestermere-Strathmore MLA Leela Aheer.

Smith told the Western Standard she wanted to demonstrate that she respected the role leadership candidates played in “raising bold issues.”

Meanwhile, Kenney’s long-time energy minister Sonya Savage has been shuffled to head an environment and protected areas ministry.

Demetrios Nicolaides will stay in advanced education and Kaycee Madu, who supported Smith in her leadership bid, will head a new skilled trades and professions ministry.

Madu will serve as one of two deputy premiers, along with Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf, who is also being promoted to infrastructure minister.

Along with Madu, several MLAs who publicly supported Smith’s campaign are also getting seats at the table, including former mental health and addiction associate minister Mike Ellis, who will take over a new portfolio of public safety.

Nate Glubish, formerly in charge of Service Alberta, will take over a new technology and innovation portfolio.

Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie will become Alberta’s new energy minister, and Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Devin Dreeshen will become the transportation and economic corridors minister. Dreeshen had previously resigned his cabinet position in agriculture and forestry after allegations of alcohol use in his office.

Out of the fold are former municipal affairs minister Ric McIver, former seniors and housing minister Josephine Pon, former transportation minister Prasad Panda, former culture minister Ron Orr, and former environment and parks minister Whitney Issik.

When asked by Western Standard why they and Nixon were shuffled out, Smith said some still need to resolve issues in their own ridings.

“There are a number of cabinet ministers who are seen to really be the hand of the former premier on a lot of files that caused our party a lot of problems,” said Smith.

Still ‘Kenney’s central cabinet’: political scientist

University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young told Postmedia the limited number of women in cabinet is “striking,” and she was surprised key roles like education and health were given to ministers appointed by Kenney.

“There’s certainly changes around the outside, and in some of the more junior roles, but for those critical central roles, she has not changed anything from Kenney’s cabinet,” said Young, adding that the restructuring of ministries, including adding irrigation to the agriculture ministry’s title, is mostly about sending a signal about Smith’s priorities.

Young said while Smith will need to rely on the experience that several ministers have had in government, the premier’s choice of who to give an interview to on Friday was notable.

“Elevating the Western Standard — which is not an established journalistic undertaking — to this role, is sending a signal to her supporters that she hasn’t changed even though she has appointed Jason Kenney’s central cabinet,” said Young.

With the associate ministry of natural gas and electricity nixed, former associate minister Dale Nally will serve as the Service Alberta and red tape reduction minister.

Madu’s former labour and immigration ministry has also been abolished, as has the seniors and housing ministry.

Calgary-Klein MLA Jeremy Nixon will take over a new seniors, community and social services ministry.

No longer an associate ministry, status of women will fall to Tanya Fir as a parliamentary secretary.

Mental health and addictions will be its own ministry headed by Nicholas Milliken.

lijohnson@postmedia.com
twitter.com/reportrix

Calgary MLAs to maintain representation in Danielle Smith's cabinet

Dylan Short - 

Minister of Justice and Solicitor General and Calgary MLA Tyler Shandro is to keep his job in cabinet, Premier Danielle Smith announced Friday.© Provided by Calgary Herald

Calgary will continue to be well represented — albeit with a mix of familiar and new faces — at the provincial cabinet table after Premier Danielle Smith announced her slate of ministers Friday.

Tyler Shandro, Jason Copping and Demetrios Nicolaides will keep their respective portfolios in Justice, Health and Advanced Education respectively, three of a dozen ministers from Calgary ridings. Joining them will be Mike Ellis in the newly created Department of Public Safety, while Sonya Savage will shift from Energy to Environment and Protected Areas. Nicholas Milliken, who received a cabinet position for the first time earlier this year, will become minister of Mental Health and Addictions, which appears to be upgraded from an associate minister position.

Jason Luan is to become minister of Culture while Jeremy Nixon will be appointed minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services. Rajan Sawhney (Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism) and Rebecca Schulz (Municipal Affairs) will return to cabinet after vacating their positions to run against Smith in the UCP leadership race, and Matt Jones will head the newly created Department of Affordability and Utilities. Mickey Amery will be the minister of Children’s Services.

Amery will be a deputy house leader, while Devinder Toor, Muhammed Yassen and Tanya Fir will take on parliamentary secretary roles.

“ I am thrilled to be working with this strong, determined, united group of MLAs. Alberta’s future is bright — but there’s a lot of work to be done,” said Smith. “Our team will work every day to gain your trust, make bold changes and continue to build the most innovative, entrepreneurial and welcoming province in the world.”

Some familiar faces from the Calgary area will be shuffled out of cabinet when it is formally sworn in Monday, including Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver and Status of Women associate minister Whitney Issik. Josephine Pon, minister of Seniors and Housing, and Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda are also to exit cabinet.

Former premier Jason Kenney will not serve in cabinet.

Smith’s cabinet features nearly every contestant she faced in the UCP leadership race, with Travis Toews (Finance) and Brian Jean (Jobs) also receiving roles. Leela Aheer, who dropped off the first ballot, was not given a seat at the table

Related
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith apologizes for past comments on Russian invasion of Ukraine

No apology from Danielle Smith over comments on discrimination of unvaccinated people

Danielle Smith sworn in as Alberta's 19th premier

The newest group of ministers is a mix of urban and rural, with MLAs from each geographical region of the province. Smith had previously signalled that she would have a team comprising more of a rural element than in the past.

Kaycee Madu, who represents a riding in Edmonton, will be one of two deputy premiers.

Lori Williams, a political scientist at Mount Royal University, said it was surprising to see so many ministers from Calgary ridings considering past comments Smith has made about on not needing widespread support from the province’s largest municipalities and that she would focus more on rural areas. Williams said many of the Calgary appointments could be seen as Smith looking to shore up support in several ridings.

She pointed to Milliken, Toor and Copping all winning their seats by slim margins in the previous provincial election.

“The fact that those folks are in cabinet sort of indicates that (Smith’s) trying to win those seats,” said Williams. “It just looks to me like she’s trying to put people in cabinet in places where she thinks she might be vulnerable, might give her a better chance of winning in the next election.”

Speaking during a livestream Friday, Smith said several members will be shuffled out of cabinet as they have contested nominations in their local ridings they need to focus on. She said others are losing their seats next week as they were too closely tied to Kenney on unpopular decisions.

“There are a number of cabinet ministers who are seen to really be the hand of the former premier on a lot of files that cause our party a lot of problems,” said Smith. “If people are out, it’s not out forever, I’ve told them that, but it is take a back seat for a bit. They’ll rebuild some relationships, work on some files.”

Williams also noted that Smith has kept five members of Kenney’s cabinet in higher roles — Shandro, Copping, Nicolaides, Toews and Adriana LaGrange in education. She also noted that the cabinet is larger with 39 members, when including parliamentary secretaries that will assist with various portfolios.

She also noted there are four women holding ministerial positions.



Calgary MLAs to maintain representation in Danielle Smith's cabinet

© Provided by Calgary Herald

dshort@postmedia.com