EDITORIAL: Carney flips and flops on emissions cap

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Prime Minister Mark Carney held talks with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith last Thursday. He posted on X that they had a “detailed and frank discussion about the opportunities for Alberta and Canada during this time of crisis.” 

He waffled on with empty platitudes about how we all need to work together to fight the U.S. tariffs. 

“My government is focused on working with provinces and territories, Indigenous peoples, businesses and labour to build the future with millions of new homes, new energy corridors, new trade routes with reliable partners and one Canadian economy.” A kumbaya moment. 

Smith wasn’t as positive. She posted that Albertans are tired of being pushed around by the federal government. 

“I made it clear that Albertans will no longer tolerate the way we’ve been treated by the federal Liberals over the past 10 years.” 

She gave Carney a list of demands he must address “to avoid a national unity crisis.” 

Smith wants an end to the proposed greenhouse gas cap. In the 2021 election, Liberals pledged to cap emissions from oil and gas, a move industry insiders say will cost $20 billion and put at risk 40,000 jobs. 

A day later, Carney met with all premiers. Contrary to his promises to work with provinces to get the economy firing on all cylinders, he appears to be doing the opposite. 

In a news release after Friday’s meeting, Smith had this to say: “The Prime Minister’s words sounded kind of nice yesterday – until I found out that his new environment minister had just told media on the other side of the country that the federal Liberals would be keeping the emissions cap in place. 

“This has been the same story for the last 10 years. Liberals come to Alberta – smile for the cameras – tell everyone how much they are going to work with Alberta and support the energy sector. Then they leave, go home and proceed to do everything in their power to roadblock and scare away investment from the energy sector.” 

Now’s not the time for a net zero fairy tale. Canadians need a strong economy. We need jobs. We need energy security. 

We don’t need an emissions cap. Carney must give us answers before the election, not after.