BARRHEAD - "What if they try to steal the election?"
That is what one person yelled out to a group of United Conservative Party (UCP) MLAs during an April 4 party fundraiser question and answer session at the Barrhead Seniors' Drop-in Centre.
The session was moderated by former County of Barrhead Reeve Bill Lee.
"I don't think that happens in Alberta and Canada like it does in other jurisdictions, like the United States with the Democrats. Unfortunately, the people just vote a different way in Ontario and Quebec for different reasons," Minister of Energy and Minerals Brian Jean said.
Jean, also the MLA for Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche, was invited to the fundraiser by Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken and was joined by Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland MLA Shane Getson and Minister of Infrastructure and MLA for West Yellowhead Martin Long.
Preston Manning, the former leader of the now-defunct Reform Party of Canada, has suggested that if the Liberal Party of Canada win a fourth consecutive term, it would threaten national unity and could result in western provinces such as Alberta and Saskatchewan voting to leave the confederation.
Although Jean did not say a Pierre Poilievre and a Conservative Party Canada (CPC) loss would lead to a western vote on separation, he called the April 28 election one of the most crucial in the nation's history.
"That is why we can't let it happen. We've got to be proactive," he said, suggesting to the audience that UPC members needed to advocate actively for the CPC in Ontario and Quebec. "Call people. Donate, get involved. Don't let it happen. There is too much riding on this election."
Long and van Dijken agreed.
However, Long said the most important thing Albertans and their elected officials can do is not to panic.
“Panic doesn’t do anything to help anyone. We need to remain calm, and as elected officials, we are committed to leading our province and making sure it is, regardless [of which party wins the federal election], the best place to live, work and raise our families,” he said.
Coal extraction
Another audience member requested an update on the province's Coal Industry Modernization Initiative.
Jean said coal is a great resource, and Alberta is fortunate to have an abundance of high-quality coal that could bring the province billions annually from royalties.
"But the resource is no good to us if it takes up more of what we want in our quality of life and the environment than what it gives back to us," he said.
One of the issues Jean said the province needs to be cautious about when approving coal operations is selenium, which is a naturally occurring element and, in small amounts, is necessary for plant and animal life. Too high concentrations are detrimental and toxic to aquatic life, inhibiting the ability of fish to reproduce.
"So we are focusing our policy on people, water, and animals, and starting from there, we say we are not going to allow any type of selenium to come from the overburden and down into our water systems,” he said. “We will protect our water systems because water is life, and we must guard it.”
Jean noted that the province would prohibit coal mining when the deposits are above creek or river systems and ensure companies improve their air and water monitoring systems.
He added that he also expects the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) to come up with a list of what will and won’t be allowed for coal extraction.
“We are not going to allow pit mines in certain areas, especially in southern Alberta, in particular, because they are unsafe in some cases and don’t bring the value to Alberta that they cost, and we’ve heard that loud and clear,” Jean said.
Transgender athletes in women's sports
Another attendee asked if Bill 29 would apply to junior and high school sports and college and university issues.
The UCP government introduced Bill 29 as part of a trio of bills in late October focusing on transgender people and students using preferred pronouns.
Bill 29 specifically would ban transgender athletes from competing in leagues not designated co-ed and require school and sports organizations to report eligibility complaints.
The other two proposed bills were the Education Amendment Act, 2024. The legislation would require children under 16 to have parental consent to change their names or pronouns at school. The bill would also require parents to opt-in for their children to be taught about sexual orientation and sexual and gender identity at school. The legislation also restricts any curriculum that teaches about gender diversity.
“It applies to everybody, all sporting organizations. What we want to do, thanks to the internal fortitude of the premier, is to protect women and young girls because a lot of these things get hijacked because of ideology,” Getson said.
Natural resources economic corridors
Lee said he received many questions about the progress the province was making in securing corridors to expand its ability to expand its trade routes for natural resources.
“Not only going down south but east-west and going up north, towards Hudson Bay,” he said.
Jean said his ministry is working with northern Indigenous communities to connect Fort McMurray and the Grande Prairie region.
“A corridor is not just a line through the forest; it is legislation and a concept that will allow the rest of the provinces and the federal government to come to the table and do things.”
He added he has had talks with Manitoba’s Minister of Economic Development, Investment, Trade, and Natural Resources, Jamie Moses, about taking natural gas from TC Energy’s natural gas pipeline and taking it and Hydrogen 400 kilometres north to the Hudson Bay and shipping hydrogen to the Netherlands and Germany.
Jean added is in discussion with B.C. Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions Adrian Dix about pipelines.
“Lately, I’ve had eight or nine conversations with him about pipelines,” he said. “He wants pipelines all over B.C., just not ones filled with oil.”
He added the government is contemplating suing B.C. over the issue.
“They are violating our constitutional rights, and we are not going to take it anymore,” he said.
Jean added that he and the premier are also discussing potential energy corridors with the federal government.
“It’s been fun because they don’t want corridors. They don’t want oil going to the coast.”
Getson and Jean also noted that Alberta has had discussions with a refinery in India, which wants 300,000 barrels of oil daily.
“As much as we can get offshore, they will take,” Jean said.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
