Danielle Smith is protesting against the federal government’s last-minute changes to Bill C-59

Premier Danielle Smith is questioning last-minute amendments to the Liberal government’s Bill C-59 that she says muzzle the energy industry, which she says is the main driver of environmental innovation in Canada.

“There seems to be some reticence when it comes to the role that our energy sector can play in achieving these goals,” Smith told guests at Inventures 2024, an innovation conference held Friday in Calgary.

“A perfect example of this is the last minute amendments to the Federal Budget Implementation Act to prohibit utilities from talking about their environmental performance in bananas, because our utilities are leading the way with these amazing environmental innovations. “

On Wednesday, Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz issued a statement on the federal government’s transition, which threatened acts and prison time for Canada’s oil and gas industry as it tries to defend its environmental record.

She said the bill was first introduced by federal NDP MP Charlie Angus and she “ridiculed it as just crazy.”

“A few months later, thanks to last-minute amendments to Bill C-59, MP Charlie Angus managed to sneak his bill through the back door,” Schulz said.

“The bill, supported by the federal Bloc Québécois, NDP and Liberals, would make it easier for environmental activists to sue oil and gas companies over ‘misleading environmental benefits.’

Schulz further added that if the amendment to Bill C-59 is passed, it could provide environmentalists with the ability to pursue claims against oil and gas companies.

“Any company that does not want to risk multi-million-dollar fines and legal fees will be forced to remain silent. And that is exactly the outcome that Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault and the federal Liberal-NDP-Bloc Québécois alliance want.”

Solar panels pictured at the Michichi Solar project near Drumheller, Alta., Tuesday, July 11, 2023THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Smith called the Liberal government’s attempt the latest move that could expose “conflict” within the Liberal government centered around Guilbeault.

“I have a really good relationship with (Innovation Minister) Francois-Philippe Champagne and I think he’s a real champion of business wherever that may be and a real innovator when it comes to business,” Smith said.

“There are a lot of federal ministers who I think understand that you have to leverage existing dollars and existing industry to be able to plant the seeds for a future industry.”

Smith said some of the biggest innovations in Alberta come from energy companies, and part of her job is to help spread that message.

“The innovations we have today in this transition period will reduce global emissions,” she said. “If we can export ammonia or hydrogen to Japan, South Korea and India, and they can use dual fuel to help reduce emissions in their coal-fired power plants, that will be a positive for the planet.”

Smith said she loves working with the federal government on common issues, but when Ottawa is behaving “unreasonably” and ignoring the energy industry’s achievements, Alberta needs to step up.

“We are miles ahead of everyone else,” she said. “We should make the most of this first-mover position we find ourselves in.

“That’s why it would be nice if, in the innovation space, all the voices we can talk about how extremely important it is for us to master this technology.”