Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she gave Prime Minister Mark Carney a list of demands for the next prime minister, adding they need to be addressed or the country would face an “unprecedented national unity crisis.”
Smith released a statement on March 20, saying she met with Carney that day, at his request. Carney was in Edmonton to make a house funding announcement.
“We had a very frank discussion in which 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,” Smith said.
She said she gave him a “specific list of demands” that the next prime minister needs to address within six months in office or face a “unprecedented national unity crisis.”
Smith said the list included guaranteeing Alberta has “full access” to oil and gas corridors to the north, east, and west, as well as repealing the Impact Assessment Act (IAA).
The IAA defines federal environmental requirements for major projects like pipelines.
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Alberta, which says the legislation effectively kills pipeline projects, has challenged the IAA in the courts. The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed with the province, saying the act infringes on provincial jurisdiction. In response, the federal government revised the act, but Alberta says the revised form is still problematic.
Smith said she also demanded the “tanker ban” be lifted from the B.C. coast, the clean electricity regulations be scrapped, and the prohibition on single use plastics to end.
Alberta’s government also wants to see the net-zero emissions car mandate removed, oversight of the industrial carbon tax given to the provinces, and an end to the “federal censorship” of energy companies, according to the statement.
The premier said she also told Carney that Alberta would “not accept” an export tax or restriction on its oil and gas to the United States in response to U.S. tariffs.
Canada Equalization Plan
Smith also commented on Canada’s equalization plan, saying Alberta was “no longer agreeable to subsidizing other large provinces who are fully capable of funding themselves.”
Alberta has been a net contributor to the equalization plan each year.
Smith also repeated her government’s accusation that Ottawa mismanaged fire prevention at the Jasper and Banff national parks, resulting in the 2024 wildfire in Jasper. The federal government has denied Alberta’s accusation, saying it has deployed proper resources in previous years to protection the area.
During his stop in Edmonton, Carney announced $187 million to repair and rebuild critical infrastructure in Jasper National Park. This funding will be provided to Parks Canada over two years, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
During a news conference about the funding, Carney responded to some of Smith’s concerns.
He said Ottawa would “broaden programs that work for Albertans” and that investment in large energy projects in Alberta and around Canada was needed.
When asked if he would remove the cap on emissions on the oil and gas sector, which Alberta says effectively limits production, Carney said that “mechanisms” are needed to be in place to reduce emissions.
“It’s a question of the result, the end result. So we need to invest to get there, not just to have a law. I am trying to work together here in Alberta and with the Government of Alberta in order to reach this objective.”
He noted that he grew up in Alberta and said residents of the province are “practical people.”
“They judge people on results and what they expect for those results. And you know, the Liberal Party has a ways to go here, but we have very strong candidates. We will have even more strong candidates. And you know, we’re offering a way of positive change for the country.”
Federal Election
Smith has encouraged Albertans to get involved in the next election, which is expected to be called soon.
“I encourage all Albertans to get involved in what is likely one of the most pivotal and important elections in our nation’s history,” she said.
She asked that Albertans support the party and candidates who have “consistently advocated for freeing Alberta from federal overreach and the repeated economic attacks our province has faced from Ottawa over the past 10 years.”
Carney won the Liberal leadership race to replace Justin Trudeau on March 9. He was sworn in as prime minister, along with his cabinet, on March 14.
The Canadian Press contributed to this article.
