Scrap the cap
By Chantelle de Jonge Chestermere-Strathmore MLA
The federal government has imposed an oil and gas emissions cap that will only result in replacing sustainable Canadian energy production with high-polluting, less responsible foreign energy. In response, Alberta’s government has launched a national “Scrap the Cap” campaign to spread the word: Trudeau’s emissions cap is really a cap on Canadian prosperity. Under the current federal government, Canadians have felt the sting of inflation and an increased cost of living. Now, the feds want to pile even more onto the financial burdens of Canadian families. An energy production cap will make basic life’s necessities we rely on every day even more expensive.
Alberta will not stand by while the Trudeau government imposes their radical ideology on our province and nation. We know that oil and gas remain the economic engine of Canada. The emissions cap proposed by Ottawa is not about reducing global emissions – it’s about shutting down Alberta’s energy industry. In fact, federal policies like this one will scare off investments in key technologies, like Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) that allow the sector to thrive.
In 2023 alone, Canada exported more than $152 billion in oil and natural gas – 25 per cent of our total exports. The Trudeau government’s emissions cap puts this vital sector at risk, undermining Canada’s energy security at a time when the world needs reliable, responsible energy sources.
Alberta’s government is raising awareness that this emissions cap will not only increase the cost of living for all Canadians but fails to reduce global emissions. Notices will run in Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia informing Canadians that Ottawa’s energy production cap will make groceries more expensive, and lead to up to 150,000 fewer jobs by 2030.
Canadians need to know the truth. The feds themselves claim that their emissions cap aims to reduce emissions, not production. However, the Deloitte Report estimates that this emissions cap could lead to a 10 per cent reduction in Canadian oil production and a 12 per cent drop in natural gas output by 2030. It also projects that the Alberta GDP will shrink by 4.5 per cent by 2040. While the federal government may not care if the economy shrinks – especially if the jobs threatened are in Alberta – we will fight for our energy sector and families in every province. We simply cannot afford further interference from Ottawa; it’s time to scrap the cap.
In addition to these pressing economic concerns, Alberta is making strides in health care with the launch of Primary Care Alberta, the new provincial health agency overseeing and coordinating the delivery of primary health care services. Primary Care Alberta will create a modern, more responsive, and unified health care system that prioritizes patients, empowers front-line health care professionals and helps reduce pressures on the entire health system. The immediate priority of Primary Care Alberta is to ensure every Albertan has access to high-quality primary care services in all areas of the province, so all Albertans and their families are supported in their day-to-day health needs through every stage of life. The new primary care agency will focus on supporting integrated teams of family physicians, nurse practitioners and pharmacists to provide patients with the best care possible.
Furthermore, on Oct. 28, one of the largest government infrastructure projects in the province’s history, the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre (Arthur Child), will officially open services to patients. The Arthur Child has an extensive scope and integration of cancer care services, making it one of the most advanced cancer centres in the world. The centre will open in phases to ensure that the final stages of quality assurance around every aspect of the building are carried out. With 127,000 square metres of space, including 160 inpatient beds and more than 9,200 square metres dedicated to research, the Arthur Child will provide world-leading care and treatment to patients while driving innovation and working towards a future without cancer.
As always, please feel free to email (Chestermere.Strathmore@assembly.ab.ca) with your feedback and questions.
(Chantelle de Jonge is the MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore and the Parliamentary Secretary for Affordability and Utilities)