Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he backs Alberta Premier Danielle Smith over her concerns about what she’s called Ottawa’s anti-oil and gas agenda.
Poilievre told reporters in Calgary today that he discussed health care, public safety and defending Canada’s oil sector when he met his Alberta counterpart in Ottawa recently.
![Click to play video: '‘Just Transition’ has wrong name, right idea on jobs: Cenovus head'](https://i0.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/u5ndqdxl09-jp59trdmjh/FRI_WB_SEG_ONE_SITE_THUMB_200123.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
Smith has accused the federal Liberal government of imposing discriminatory policies and legislation on non-renewable resource development that she says is frustrating Alberta’s energy sector.
In December, her United Conservative Party government passed a sovereignty act that grants Alberta the power to direct its agencies to flout federal laws and initiatives deemed harmful to provincial interests. However, Smith has not committed to using the province’s act to rebut the federal “just transition” legislation.
![For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.](https://globalnews.ca/wp-content/themes/shaw-globalnews/images/skyline/national.jpg)
Get breaking National news
Poilievre said Wednesday that the federal government’s agenda would make Canada dependent on foreign, polluting dictatorships and allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue to dominate the European energy market to fund his war against Ukraine.
“I do share Alberta’s concern about (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau’s anti-energy and anti-resource agenda,” Poilievre said. “He has said he wants to phase out our oilsands. He says southern Ontario should move away from manufacturing. He has attacked our mining sector.
“Every time Justin Trudeau attacks our energy sector, a big smile appears on the face of Vladimir Putin.”
- ‘People are tired’: Calgary officials say new round of water cutbacks won’t be as bad
- Alberta RCMP look for SUV after hit and run in Chestermere
- As rail shutdown looms, Freeland vows no tolerance for ‘self-inflicted wound’
- Boissonnault’s former company awarded federal contract in potential conflict of interest
Comments