Saturday's letters: Superlab cancellation akin to quashing Keystone

What is the similarity between Jason Kenney and Joe Biden? Both politicians made promises based on ideology and applied some of them almost instantly the first day on assuming government leadership. Kenney immediately stopped further progress of the superlab in Edmonton while President Biden killed the Keystone XL pipeline. Both projects were in advanced early stages of construction.

© Provided by Edmonton Journal Design of the Edmonton superlab.

Obviously, the superlab and the Keystone pipeline have nothing in common — except that both projects have cost the taxpayers of Alberta dearly.

Thomas Mojelsky, Edmonton

Keystone’s demise presents opportunity

With the cancellation of Keystone XL, Premier Kenney has essentially gambled away $1.5 billion of Alberta taxpayers’ money, betting on Trump being re-elected (which would have been arguably overall far worse for Canada than losing a pipeline). Biden has long ago made it clear he would cancel Keystone XL. Blaming Biden or Trudeau for this is, therefore, disingenuous.

The UCP could waste more of our dollars suing the U.S., which is unlikely to succeed, or invest in the new, diversified economy. The good news, should Kenney and the UCP recognize it, is that Alberta has some of the world’s best conditions for accessing solar and wind energy. There are many more potential jobs for building green energy infrastructure than for pipelines. Our provincial and federal governments should help retrain displaced pipeline workers for the renewable energy industry, which represents where the puck is going, not where it has been.

Victor Dorian, Edmonton

Recall legislation needed now

In a previous letter to the Journal editor, I lamented the absence of recall legislation promised by the UCP during the last election campaign. It’s time to revisit that promise. Since then, what have the UCP done that is beneficial to Albertans? They have fought with doctors and nurses, they have disregarded the advice of various experts regarding pandemic responses, they have gone on warm tropical vacations after telling us to stay home, they are giving away coal leases to their buddies with very little public consultation.

How about blowing $1.5 billion on a pipeline that everyone knew was going to be cancelled as soon as the U.S. changed presidents, which really never was in doubt. These are just a few of the poor decisions made by the UCP. This has to stop, and without the recall legislation they promised us, just think of the damage they will inflict on us until the next election.

Ed Matthews, Edmonton

UCP made $1.5 billion vanish

The United Clown Party of Alberta, led by the head clown, Mr. Kenney, just made over $1.5 billion of taxpayers’ dollars disappear. The next act in the circus? Hard-working Albertans can look forward to a dance with the federal government and mountains disappearing through coal mining. Stay tuned!

Bill Smith, Strathcona County