(EDMONTON, AB) December 3, 2024: Naheed Nenshi’s NDP has once again sided with their bosses in Ottawa, voting against the United Conservative motion to protect Albertans from the federal Liberal-NDP oil and gas emissions cap. This cap would slash Alberta’s production by over one million barrels per day, destroy more than 150,000 jobs, and devastate our province’s economy.
By opposing this critical motion under the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act, the NDP has demonstrated once again that Nenshi is Trudeau’s choice for Alberta. They’ve demonstrated their loyalty to Justin Trudeau and the agenda of his radical environment Minister, Steven Guilbeault, over the livelihoods of Albertans.
“This motion is about defending Alberta from Ottawa’s overreach and standing up for all Albertans,” said Chief Government Whip Shane Getson. “The energy sector represents a significant portion of Alberta’s economy, and when it’s under attack, it affects everyone—from workers and families directly involved to businesses and communities that depend on our shared prosperity. By supporting Trudeau’s emissions cap, Nenshi’s NDP has made it clear they’d rather see Ottawa jeopardize Alberta jobs and opportunities than support exporting energy to fuel the world.”
The Sovereignty Motion empowers Alberta to push back against unconstitutional federal policies like the emissions cap by:
- Ensure that no provincial entity participates in the enforcement or implementation of the federal cap.
- Ensure that all interest holder oil and gas production facilities and related infrastructure in Alberta (Interest Holder Facilities) are ‘essential infrastructure’ subject to the protections granted under Alberta’s Critical Infrastructure Defence Act.
- Prohibit entry by any individual, including any federal official or contractor, onto any Interest Holder Facilities, excepting any interest holders, employees and contractors, and those specifically licensed to enter by the Government of Alberta.
- Declare all information that is directly or indirectly related to greenhouse gas, collected at Interest Holder Facilities, as proprietary information exclusively owned by the Government of Alberta, and mandate that all emissions data be reported and disclosed at the province’s discretion.
- Effectively sell conventional oil through the Conventional Oil Royalty-in-Kind program, and work collaboratively with industry to implement a Bitumen Royalty-in-Kind program for bitumen, and develop a similar program for natural gas, if necessary.
- Work collaboratively and proactively with other provinces and territories, the United States and First Nations to double oil and gas pipeline capacity to tidewater and the United States of America.
While United Conservatives are taking strong action to safeguard Alberta’s economy, Naheed Nenshi and the NDP continue to defend Ottawa’s production cap—a policy that experts agree will drive investment out of Alberta and hurt Canadian energy security.
“By voting against this motion, the Alberta NDP has turned its back on Alberta’s energy workers, families, and every Albertan who benefits from a strong economy,” Getson added. “Premier Danielle Smith and United Conservatives will never stop fighting for Alberta’s constitutional right to develop our resources and build a prosperous future for our province.”
Albertans deserve a government that will stand up for them—not one that bows to Ottawa’s activist agenda. Naheed Nenshi and the NDP has shown they are not up to the task.
