Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Oct. 30, 2023. (Screenshot from ParlVu)
Alberta’s environment minister said she was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement before Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault would discuss emission cap plans the federal government had for the oil and gas industry.
Rebecca Schulz posted the news on X, formerly Twitter.
“A few days ago in Dubai at #COP28, I asked Minister [Guilbeault] to hold bilateral talks on any emission cap plans the federal government had forthcoming,” she said in a Dec. 8 post. “He wouldn’t talk about his plans or entertain any discussions unless Alberta signed an NDA,” she said.
Her comments come just days after the federal government released its emissions cap plans.
In a Dec. 7 press conference from the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, Mr. Guilbeault announced plans that would cut oil and gas emissions by one-third by 2030.
“A promise we took to the Canadian people in the 2021 election was to put a cap on the amount of pollution from Canada’s oil and gas sector, and reduce it at a pace and scale needed to reach carbon neutrality in Canada by 2050,” he said.
“Unlike almost every other sector of our economy, pollution from the oil and gas sector is still going up.”
Ottawa is aiming to set an oil and gas emissions cap at 35 to 38 percent below 2019 levels over the next seven years.
“This is an important part of Canada achieving its goal of a 40 to 45 percent reduction across the economy by 2030. We certainly intend to consult on this approach in the coming months,” Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said.
In a video that accompanied her post, Ms. Schulz included a clip explaining the interaction in Dubai.
“He refused to tell me when they would be announcing this emissions cap, what would be included. His words were that we needed to sign an NDA.”
She noted that officials from other provinces called the requirement “odd” and “unprecedented.”
“As the premier has said, if this was a constructive federalism, we wouldn’t have to sign an NDA to have a conversation with the federal government about policies that impact areas of provincial jurisdiction.”
Ms. Schulz added that the request was “wildly disrespectful.”
“They knew exactly what they were up to. They just didn’t want to have the conversation.”
Posting the government’s oil and gas sector emissions caps announcement on social media on Dec. 7, Mr. Guilbeault commented, “No one should be allowed unlimited pollution. It harms our health and environment.”
The Epoch Times attempted to reach Mr. Guilbeault but did not immediately hear back.
Federal Government Damaging Canada, Minister Says
Ms. Schulz also stated in a subsequent post that the damage the federal government was doing to the country was “unbelievable.”
“The damage that the Liberal-NDP government is doing to Canada, especially Canadian families, is truly unbelievable,” she posted. “Their carbon tax has been an utter failure! They’ve lost twice in court on other related challenges!”
“But that won’t stop environmental radicals like [Guilbeault] from doing as much damage as he possibly can to this country, on his way out the door. The constitution and Canadians will have the final word,” she added in a related post.
The federal government says they were clear during the 2021 election that they intended to cap emissions, and that they’re fulfilling their election promise.
“No one should be allowed unlimited pollution. It harms our health and environment. We put a cap on it,” Mr. Guilbeault said after announcing the new cap on emissions.
Alberta Premier Says Country Facing ‘Crisis’
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has called the cap announcement an “intentional attack” on the economy of Alberta.
“With his pronouncement today singling out the oil and gas sector alone for punitive federal treatment, Justin Trudeau and his eco-extremist Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, are risking hundreds of billions of investments in Alberta’s and Canada’s economy and core social programs, are devaluing the retirement investments of millions of Canadians, and are threatening the jobs of hundreds of thousands of Albertans,” Ms. Smith said in a Dec. 7 post on X.
In the video posted by Ms. Schulz, Ms. Smith said the country is facing a crisis, caused by the Trudeau government.
“I think we are facing a crisis. So the federal government’s making which is why they have to back down,” she said.
She questioned what the response would be if the federal government started developing policies against methane and targeted Quebec Hydro.
“They wouldn’t be outraged,” she said. “Why is it acceptable for the federal government to attack a single industry, most of which is centered in a single province,” she questioned.
“They’re picking and choosing for the sole reason that they want to attack Alberta attack our industry and attack our provincial jurisdiction. And that is why it is so unacceptable and why we’re just not putting up with it.”
Ms. Smith said that her cabinet would be developing a “constitutional shield” to what she says are attacks on her province by “what is fast becoming one of the most damaging federal administrations in Canadian history.”
Matthew Horwood contributed to this report.