Lorne Gunter: Carney Liberals build groundwork to blame pipeline failure on private sector
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Early on in his tenure as PM, Carney had given the clear impression he was in favour of expansion of oil and gas, maybe even the oilsands. Then the Liberal platform came out mid-campaign and gone was any reference to oil, gas or pipelines. It was only 'clean energy,' such as wind and solar, bug burps and Tibetans prayer wheels, or whatever other trendy 'green' energy sources have mesmerized 'progressives.'
Even when Carney met with the 13 premiers last week, the oil-province premiers Danielle Smith of Alberta and Scott Moe of Saskatchewan left the summit believing there was a real chance a pipeline might make it onto the Liberal government's approved list of national-interest projects.
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Are there 'snooping provisions' in Carney's massive border bill?
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Strong Borders Act raises concern about police access to personal data 2 days agoDuration2:28Civil liberties groups are concerned that the federal government's proposed Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act, will give law enforcement agencies sweeping new powers, like making it easier for police to search your internet activity and data without your knowledge or a warrant. I think the title of the act is for show for the Trump administration, said New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan. A lot of the components in the bill target Canada's own processes that have nothing to do with the U.S. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner said C-2 includes snooping provisions that are a massive poison pill. A long fight over 'lawful access' Perhaps the most controversial parts of the bill relate to police powers and lawful access, the ability for police to demand subscriber information from internet providers and other online companies. 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Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Public safety minister says border bill is in line with Charter 9 days agoDuration0:54Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said Bill C-2, known as the Strong Borders Act, strikes the right balance between expanding the powers of border agents and police officers, while also protecting the individual rights of Canadians. Shakir Rahim, a lawyer with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, said such information provides a trove of background about our lives and that his group has serious concerns that this bill is not compliant with the Charter. Rahim says the requirement to get a warrant offers some level of protection that such access is being sought in a targeted way. But this legislation changes that. It takes away that protection, he said. 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Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
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3 hours ago
- CBC
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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and three of her ministers got an earful on Wednesday night from southern Alberta locals at a rowdy, hours-long town hall to discuss the province's coal policy. About 500 people, many dressed in cowboy hats, belt buckles, and jeans, packed a community hall in Fort Macleod, Alta., for an event marked by heckling, competing applause and placards. "If we are not prepared to look and find middle-ground solutions to allow for industries to proceed while reducing our environmental footprint, you're going to find that different industries become the next on the hit list," Smith said through a chorus of protesting voices and verbal jabs. "Banning industries is just not something we are going to do." The premier and her ministers of energy, environment and agriculture took questions and were shouted down on several occasions by attendees as they defended changes to the province's coal policy. Many in the crowd held small placards reading "lie" and "false," raising them each time they disagreed with a statement. There was a notable group that came in support of the province's coal policy, frequently applauding the ministers and shooting back at other crowd members. Many attendees carried notebooks and pens, keenly taking notes throughout. The town hall came weeks after the Alberta Energy Regulator granted an Australia-based coal company permission to start a controversial coal exploration on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Northback Holdings Corp.'s project at Grassy Mountain was initially rejected in 2021 when a panel ruled that the likely environmental effects on fish and water quality outweighed the potential economic benefits. Late last year, the project was exempted from the Alberta government's decision to ban open-pit coal mines because Northback's application was considered an "advanced" proposal. The issue has been polarizing in southern Alberta, where the debate has primarily revolved around the economic implications of development against environmental effects. A non-binding referendum in Crowsnest Pass saw 70 per cent of voters saying they'd support the nearby coal project. Despite frequent pushback over the two-and-a-half-hour event, Smith rarely chose to get into back-and-forth discussions with attendees. She defended the province's approach to coal developments, pitching responsible development that prioritizes environmental standards. Smith also frequently cited a lawsuit by five coal companies that say they're owed $15 billion by the province in lost revenues and sunk costs. She argued again on Wednesday that she had taxpayers in mind when the province lifted its moratorium on coal mining and development on the eastern slopes. "If we do nothing, then we are told we'll likely lose those cases and have to pay ($15 billion)." Brian Jean, the province's energy minister, frequently challenged the boisterous crowd and at times trotted offstage to hand his business card to those asking questions. "I live in the oilsands. You can't tell me what I'm concerned about and what I'm not concerned about. I'm very concerned about our earth and our planet," he said. Several questions returned to a new study by Alberta government scientists, yet to be peer reviewed, which recently said old coal mines on the eastern slopes are poisoning fish and any further coal mining there would result in "population collapse" of fish species in a nearby lake. Asked about the report, Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz said the province is looking into the issue and is waiting for it to be confirmed by the peer-review process. She said further studies to be released later this year are being conducted. "We want to understand what is happening there so that we can prevent that from happening in the future." The premier also jousted with protesters while speaking to reporters before the town hall. When a group gathered behind her and started yelling, she turned around and asked them to let her finish the interview. "I'm looking for a little bit of courtesy," she said. The event was scheduled to last two hours, but Smith asked to take questions for an extra 30 minutes after the clock had run out. Carmen Linderman, president of the group Citizens Supportive of Crowsnest Coal, made the drive east to show support for the coal exploration project. "We believe that this can be done responsibly," she told CBC News. "Our community needs high-paying jobs, mortgage-paying jobs." Laura Myers, who lives about an hour north of Fort Macleod, attended the town hall and described it as "emotionally charged." "Those of us who are aware of this issue and have been fighting this issue for the past bunch of years don't trust [Smith]. We don't trust her. We don't trust the AER. We don't trust the people making the decisions," she said after the meeting. "It seems like they're listening to Northback Holdings ... but they're not listening to Albertans." Lethbridge Polytechnic student Alexx Olsen travelled to the town hall from Coaldale, Alta., to hear Smith respond to the concerns. "There's been a lot of lost faith and she's going to have to work really, really hard to get that back," said Olsen. "I do not think she achieved that today."
