Category Archives: Energy & Natural Resources

Budget 2024: Gotcha!

Posted on March 3, 2024 by susanonthesoapbox

In case you didn’t catch Danielle Smith’s bizzarro Address to the Province last week, the one where she signalled what we could expect in the 2024 Budget, here’s a brief synopsis. (Smith’s comments are edited for tone and appear in … Continue reading →

Posted in Danielle Smith, Economy, Energy & Natural Resources, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 99 Comments

The AESO Emergency Alert

Posted on January 14, 2024 by susanonthesoapbox

Last night Alberta’s electric system operator (AESO) issued a province-wide emergency alert asking Albertans to immediately reduce their electricity use to minimize the potential for rotating outages across the province. First the good news, Albertans responded to the call. Within … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Danielle Smith, Energy, Energy & Natural Resources | Tagged , , , , | 66 Comments

Squid Game

Posted on January 7, 2024 by susanonthesoapbox

The UCP’s “bread and circuses”* approach to government is no longer working. The “bread” (low taxes and high employment) is no compensation for our crumbling healthcare, education, and social services. The “circus” of blaming the federal government for everything is … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Climate Change, Culture, Danielle Smith, Economy, Education, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 51 Comments

Protecting the Environment: There has to be a better way

Posted on October 16, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

In 2019 the federal government enacted the Impact Assessment Act which regulated “designated projects” (think: oil sands, mining and other major projects within provincial boundaries). The Kenney government tagged it the “No More Pipelines Act” and brought a reference case … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Danielle Smith, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 33 Comments

Danielle Smith’s Alternative Reality

Posted on October 1, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

Albertans live in an alternate universe. How else can we explain last week’s press conference where Danielle Smith pilloried the draft electricity regulations which are designed to ensure Canada’s electrical grid is running on 100% clean energy by 2035* and … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Danielle Smith, Disasters, Economy, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , | 72 Comments

The $334 Billion Assumption or Why Smith’s APP is a Non-Starter

Posted on September 25, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

Well that inspires confidence.   When LifeWorks respectfully submitted its report to the Smith government outlining how Alberta could move from CPP to an Alberta Pension Plan, the executive summary was signed by someone who preferred to remain anonymous, hence … Continue reading →

Posted in Alberta Health Care, Danielle Smith, Energy & Natural Resources, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 70 Comments

Aug 3: The day Danielle Smith kneecapped wind and solar energy  

Posted on September 10, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

The low point of my summer (and there were many with this UCP government) came on Aug 3 when Danielle Smith announced a 7 month moratorium on wind and solar renewable energy projects—a decision that paralyses more than 100 projects … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Danielle Smith, Economy, Energy, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 59 Comments

A Letter to Protest Moratorium on Renewable Energy Projects

Posted on August 9, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

Dear Readers: It’s August.We should be enjoying what’s left of summer but with the Smith government it’s one stupid thing after another. Smith’s decision to impose a 6 month moratorium on new renewable energy projects was the last straw. Yesterday … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Danielle Smith, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , | 105 Comments

A “Reset” to Alberta-Ottawa Relations (Chortle)   

Posted on June 25, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

When Danielle Smith and her team met with federal ministers Jonathan Wilkinson and Dominic LeBlanc to discuss energy and climate change measures, there was some talk that Smith may be open to a “reset” of the Alberta-Ottawa relationship. Unfortunately, some … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Danielle Smith, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Law, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , , , , | 67 Comments

Danielle Smith Stands her Ground (or something)

Posted on June 18, 2023 by susanonthesoapbox

Last week the Feds unveiled the Sustainable Jobs Act, Danielle Smith responded in her typical word-salad fashion and the press lauded her for standing her ground. Against what? The Feds said… Natural Resources Minister, Johnathan Wilkinson, says the Act is … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Danielle Smith, Disasters, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Politics and Government | Tagged , , , , | 47 Comments