Calgary Liberal MP calls premier's claims on clear electrical energy plan 'false' and 'baseless'

Article content material

Calgary’s lone Liberal MP is accusing Alberta Premier Danielle Smith of constructing “false” and “baseless” claims through a nationwide assault on the federal authorities’s plans for a clear electrical energy grid, calling for the province to finish a marketing campaign in opposition to the laws and elevate a moratorium on renewable vitality tasks.

Talking on the federal Harry Hays Constructing in downtown Calgary on Wednesday morning, Calgary Skyview MP George Chahal known as on the province to discontinue its nationwide “Inform the Feds” advert marketing campaign, which he claimed has amounted to “politically motivated misinformation” in opposition to Ottawa’s draft clear electrical energy laws unveiled earlier this 12 months. The proposed laws set a tentative purpose for a net-zero electrical grid nationwide by 2035 — 15 years forward of the province’s goal.

Article content material

Article content material

“Eight million {dollars} of Alberta taxpayers’ {dollars} are funding a marketing campaign of misinformation. That’s an issue for me as a Calgarian and as an Albertan,” mentioned Chahal, the chair of the Home of Commons standing committee on pure sources.

The province’s advert marketing campaign, launched on the finish of September, has known as the proposed laws “reckless and expensive” whereas stating a untimely transfer towards clear vitality will trigger blackouts — a declare doubled by the province’s grid operator AESO — and make vitality unreliable and unaffordable.

“The federal electrical energy laws will create a system that’s massively unaffordable, dangerously unreliable and completely unconstitutional,” mentioned the premier on the Sept. 28 unveiling of the marketing campaign.

Chahal mentioned the proposed laws have been misrepresented by the premier and the advert marketing campaign. He mentioned the plan comprises “flexibilities” that may permit pure gasoline energy technology to proceed previous 2035 and accused Smith of intentionally stoking concern for political acquire.

“(Smith) is enjoying on individuals’s fears by speaking about blackouts,” he mentioned.

Article content material

Article content material

“It’s underneath this UCP authorities that electrical energy charges now in Alberta have risen fivefold. The premier’s utilizing the draft clear electrical energy laws as a scapegoat,” he added.

He additionally known as Smith’s assertion that vitality firm executives may face jail time for non-compliance “ludicrous.”

Chahal claimed the province’s August transfer to order a pause on all new renewable electrical energy technology tasks within the province has affected 118 tasks price $33 billion and created a “chill” round future investments within the province.

“For ideological causes, Premier Smith is standing in the way in which of billions of {dollars} of funding in our province,” mentioned Chahal. “She must get out of the way in which and elevate the moratorium instantly.”

Article content material

Chahal additionally known as on the province to launch a research it commissioned in January on the implications of transferring to a clear grid by 2035.

Smith to look earlier than Home committee

The dispute between Ottawa and Alberta has centred across the timing of the proposed laws. Smith — alongside officers in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan — has known as the 2035 deadline unrealistic, suggesting the imposition of fresh electrical energy laws be delayed to 2050.

Smith has vowed the laws gained’t be carried out in Alberta, and has mentioned that the federal government is getting ready to make use of its controversial sovereignty act laws in opposition to the federal mandates.

After requests from Ottawa for Alberta cupboard members to attend a gathering on emissions discount targets, Smith volunteered to look subsequent Tuesday earlier than the Home of Commons standing committee on setting and sustainable improvement.

“Ottawa appears intent on transferring ahead with their damaging and unconstitutional plans to cut back emissions on an unachievable timeline,” she mentioned Wednesday on social media.

“Canada and Alberta are united in our pursuit of carbon neutrality by 2050; nevertheless, we disagree with Ottawa’s 2035 timeline that may enhance the worth of electrical energy and cut back reliability to Canadian properties and companies.”

Smith’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to Postmedia’s request for remark relating to Chahal’s claims.

Article content material

[email protected]

X: @MichaelRdrguez

Article content material