Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Albertans would lose 25% of their economy if the federal government’s Just Transition proposal becomes law under a provincial NDP government.
The Just Transition bill hasn’t been tabled yet, but Blacklock’s Reporter uncovered a briefing memo from June that touched on its details.
The memo indicated that at least 2.7 million Canadian workers would experience disruptions in their industries. It also said that those impacted and without “green skills” could always get jobs as janitors and truck drivers.
Smith told Rick Bell of the Calgary Sun that Prime Minister Trudeau needs to “back off.”
“I’m terrified for Albertans,” she said.
“I knew what was intended when they used the language ‘just transition.’ I don’t think Albertans believed what they had in mind for us,” she said.
“It’s very clear what they have in mind for us is devastating. They want to shut down a quarter of our economy.”
National Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says that the bill will create more jobs than it will destroy.
But Smith said it will “destroy our economy.”
“Look, they’re going to come at us first, for our oil and natural gas industry. But they’re coming after farming, they’re coming after manufacturing,” she said.
Smith promised to fight the bill. She said Albertans should only feel despair if the NDP forms government.
The provincial election is in May, and recent polls indicate the two candidates are neck and neck.
Smith also called the Trudeau Liberals antagonistic and cruel.
“He’s playing a dangerous game here,” she said, referring to Trudeau.
“Albertans are not going to sit back and be devastated once again by yet another Trudeau. They won’t stand for it.”
