And, as promised yesterday, more on those Clean Electricity Regulations that mean even MORE wind and solar, and no more coal or natural gas without carbon capture.
And maybe Wilkinson thinks aforementioned wind turbines will power all those electric heat pumps, when it’s cold, and when it’s hot. What am I saying? Of course he does.
The proposed Clean Electricity Regulations are among the most significant policy moves in recent Canadian history. The fundamental thrust is to all but eliminate fossil fuel combustion from the Canadian electrical grid. On any given day, up to 88 per cent of Saskatchewan’s power comes from natural gas and coal.
If implemented in their current form, they will utterly remake Canada, its economy and society. The Government of Saskatchewan, on June 25, rejected these regulations, based on a report by the Economic Impact Assessment Tribunal, convened under the Saskatchewan First Act. That act, in turn, was brought into law to counter numerous onerous federal climate change initiatives.
Within the tribunals report are all the submissions made by numerous companies and agencies, several of which Pipeline Online is publishing verbatim in the coming days and weeks. But perhaps the most significant was the Feb. 15 submission by Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault, who, with Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson, is one of the leading figures from the federal government on this front. As such, his submission is the stance of the federal government. Notably, he does not explain how Saskatchewan is to replace all of its fossil fuel-based power in the 10 years, five months and 30 days remaining from today. Here it is, verbatim
Jim Reiter, Bronwyn Eyre, Michael Milani. Photo by Brian Zinchuk
For a long time, Premier Scott Moe has been saying it’s impossible to comply with federal regulations regarding getting rid of our fossil-fueled power generation, in the timeline the federal Liberal government wants.
It’s coming to a head.
This is the first action of this type thus far under the Saskatchewan First Act. This is what it was meant for.
If implemented in their current form, the Clean Electricity Regulations mean to all but eliminate the burning of fossil fuels for power generation in 10 years, six months and three days from now. Saskatchewan relies on natural gas and coal to produce the vast majority of its power, up to 88 per cent on some days. And if implemented, these regulations will fundamentally alter Canada and its economy, and affect all of its people in one form or another. It’s one of the most important policy pieces in generations, seeking to remake Canada.
The government released all the submissions to the tribunal. I will be reprinting many of them over the coming days, maybe weeks. There’s a lot. And there’s a lot to be said.
I’ve been saying for a while now, this whole “energy transition” is the biggest story of our times. And the biggest part of that is implementation of the Clean Electricity Regulations, which will affect every person, business and industry in this country. On Tuesday, Saskatchewan said it’s not going to follow them, because they’re impossible to follow.
I will have numerous stories on this over the coming days and weeks, deep dives into what this is all about. I just got off the phone with one cabinet minister and will be talking to another in a few minutes. Watch for that in a bit. In the meantime, this is the executive summary of the report prepared for the Saskatchewan government, a report whose purpose is to give backing to our saying “F off” to the feds. That’s basically what Saskatchewan is doing.
As for Manitoba – does its Premier Wab Kinew even know they have an oilpatch? Because the previous NDP government sure didn’t. Back in 2009, I attended a ministerial tour of a new oil pipeline in southwest Manitoba. It had taken the Manitoba energy minister a full year in that position before he bothered to drive outside of Winnipeg to see a pumpjack.
But the Manitoba Conservatives weren’t much better, either. Former premier Brian Pallister once spoke of “oil producing provinces” by conveniently forgetting Manitoba is one of them.
Remember when Charlie Angus was unsuccessful in his private members bill to muzzle promoting oil and gas? Turns out the NDP-Liberal coalition means he wasn’t so unsuccessful after all, and the Saskatchewan government is crying foul. Is anyone else?
Aleana Young
But if I go to jail for this, the Sask NDP energy critic said she’ll join me and the attorney general in the same cell.
I was just at the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show this week. And former Prime Minister gave an awesome fireside chat as the keynote. Unfortunately, his people didn’t want any reporting on it. So I can’t. But man, I sure wish I could.
If you own or run a business, you need to read this. Greenhouse gas emissions reporting WILL affect you. Tammy Nemeth: Beware – The Warrior Accountants are at the Gate.
“The profound implications of these standards on our economy and society underscore the need for an open and honest public conversation, rather than relying on unelected appointed standard-setting bodies to make those decisions. Now is the time to engage in that conversation and shape those standards before they are set.”
Crescent Point Energy, which was briefly Saskatchewan’s largest oil producer and a corporate darling, is continuing its shift to Alberta focus. Last week saw the sale of one of its last major remaining properties in Saskatchewan, and on Friday, it changed its name.
And hockey had Gretzky, while columnists like myself had Rex Murphy. He wasn’t afraid to be an ardent supporter of oil and gas, in large part because it proved to be the salvation of Newfoundland when the cod fishery collapse.
If carbon capture is supposed to be the future, why does it keep striking out? Last week, Capital Power in Alberta cancelled the $2.4 billion carbon capture project for the Genesee Power Station, which is currently being converted from coal to natural gas. It’s the last thermal coal power plant in Canada west of Coronach, Sask.
The proposed federal Clean Electricity Regulations say in 10 years, seven months and 15 days we won’t be able to use natural gas-fired power generation without carbon capture except for very short periods of time over a whole year.
This is a REALLY good discussion about CO2, its role in the world, and anthropogenic climate change. The call it “fake catastrophes.” Lots of talk about glaciation, which I love, because no one ever talks about that. I do.
It is worth your time to listen to this some time this weekend. I feel a lot smarter now, and I’m only 2/3 through it.
Province invokes Saskatchewan First Act, again, building its case against the federal government’s never-ending smothering greenhouse gas emissions rules, regulations and legislation.
I was up in Saskatoon Monday to cover this important announcement. Saskatchewan’s not going to take it, anymore. Kinda like Twisted Sister. For some reason, I keep referencing that song.
As a note, The Alliance Pipeline runs right through Saskatchewan. I started work on it three weeks after my May, 1999 wedding. I was the only guy on my road bore crew of 12 married once! Most were on their second marriage, a few on their third, one I think on his fourth. At that point you walk into a bar, find a woman you don’t like, and give her your house.
In six weeks, it’ll be 25 years for us. So that pipeline project has some meaning for me.
And, in an unrelated column, Brian Crossman talks about the significance of washing your work truck. It’s actually pretty important for a number of reasons. Call it “Work Truck Therapy.”
Sorry I didn’t have time to dig into this one myself. Not enough hours in the day. After all, I had to spend half an hour at Sobey’s on Wednesday pointing out to my 17-year-old son how prices of soup, meat, green onions and the like have gone up 40% in the last four years. In the end, a cart which wasn’t even full cost $300, whereas in 2020 it would have cost closer to $210 or so. I kept asking, “And who do we blame for this?”
What do you think the right answer was?
Also, for your reading pleasure:
The Canada Carbon Rebate puts hundreds of dollars back in Canadians’ pockets every quarter. Oddly, some Premiers are against that – and they want to scrap your rebates.
