In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith requested the federal government focus on collaboration between the U.S. and Canada, highlighting the critical need for North American energy security, as American President Joe Biden visits the country.
Smith asked that the premiers have a seat at the table with Biden and his delegation.
“As the owners and stewards of our world-class natural resources, any discussions involving energy security, natural resources, and trade must fully involve the provinces," Smith said, adding she wants the premiers to be involved in the meetings with the Americans.
The premier wants to help assist the feds in working to ensure North American energy security and getting ready to export Alberta energy, critical minerals and technologies to the U.S.
She noted that in 2022, Alberta surpassed Ontario and Quebec as the largest provincial exporter of goods to the U.S. at $182.5 billion, with energy making up 85 per cent of exports to the United States.
“Alberta, by far, remains the single largest source of U.S. energy imports,” she wrote.
Along with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, North American energy security must be a top priority for the Government of Canada, she said.
That would call for fast-tracking energy projects in the name of economic security for our democratic partners, and similar efforts in critical minerals as the world shifts to lower emitting sources of energy, she said.
The province is leading the way on reducing emissions and driving the transition to new sources of energy, with investments in clean energy and emissions reductions technology, Smith wrote.
“For example, Pennsylvania’s Air Products will create a world-scale net-zero hydrogen energy complex in Alberta, and Dow is advancing the world’s first net-zero carbon emission integrated polyethylene complex at its existing site near Edmonton,” she said.
Smith touted Canada’s oil sands operators’ plans to spend $24 billion on emission-reduction projects by 2030 as part of their commitment to reach net zero by 2050.
“All of this amounts to a herculean effort undertaken by industry partners, and Alberta’s government, to position ourselves as the foremost leader in emissions reduction and responsible energy production,” she said.
“Collaboration with the U.S. on methane emissions would both advance climate action, and address regulatory inconsistencies between the two countries. As of 2020, methane emissions from the upstream oil and gas sector in Western Canada have decreased by around 44 per cent from the 2014 baseline – ahead of our schedule of 45 percent by 2025. More evidence of Canada, and Alberta, leading the way,” Smith said.
“We would encourage your government to work with the provinces, especially Alberta, on critical minerals and seize the opportunity to collaborate with the U.S. on enhancing North American supply chains,” she said.
“We both agree that the world needs more Canada. It’s imperative that in a time of such uncertainty, and unaffordability, that Alberta, and Canada profile ourselves as the preferred supplier of responsibly produced, ethical energy to the U.S., North America, and the world.”
