Smith, Moe renew calls for Ottawa to allow more resource development
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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe renewed their calls on Wednesday for the federal government to better encourage the development of provincial resources.
Speaking from the Saskatchewan side of Lloydminster, Smith again reiterated her prior nine demands she put to Prime Minister Mark Carney, including overhauling the Impact Assessment Act, eliminating the oil and gas emissions cap, lifting the tanker ban off the northern coast of B.C., and scrapping the clean electricity regulations, among others.
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'The national self-sabotage that has happened over the last 10 years has to end,' Smith said at a news conference.
The two premiers issued a joint statement during that media event, saying their governments came together 'to make a unified call for national change.'
'Alberta and Saskatchewan agree that the federal government must change its policies if it is to reach its stated goal of becoming a global energy superpower and having the strongest economy in the G7,' it reads.
Carney has pledged to strengthen Canada's economy and is seeking to pass legislation this week to lay the groundwork for expedited approval of major projects.
Bill C-5 proposes granting the federal government sweeping powers over a five-year period to expedite approvals of infrastructure megaprojects deemed to be in the national interest by cabinet.
'The very fact that Bill C-5 has been introduced … I think, is an admission that this hard work does have to happen,' Moe said.
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Smith said the bill was a necessary, but not sufficient, condition to reach Carney's goal.
'If (Carney) very soon is able to announce a project list that has 20 or more substantial projects on it that include mining projects, and transmission projects, and power projects, and pipeline projects, I think that would send a pretty big message to the world about the direction that we're going,' she said.
The premiers met with Carney in Saskatchewan earlier this month to pitch him on megaprojects they would like to see developed.
Carney's government has not yet announced which projects, or how many, it intends to pursue.
Smith has sought a bitumen pipeline to the Port of Prince Rupert in northern B.C. with the goal of increasing exports to Asia, though B.C.'s government has been cool the idea, noting a private-sector proponent for such a project has yet to materialize.
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