Tag: energy policy

Guilbeault’s letter to Saskatchewan on Clean Electricity Regulations

Steven Guilbeault

Read the Government of Canada’s submission, written by Guilbeault

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

 

Clean Electricity Regulations, part of the biggest story of our times

Boundary Dam Power Station

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.

 

 

Saskatchewan, Alberta, to fight back. Manitoba? Crickets

Saskatchewan, Alberta governments respond to federal gag law: ‘considering all options to fight back’

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.

Anyhow – it’s been crickets from the Manitoba premier thus far.

1984, here, and soon to be now

Bronwyn Eyre

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.

When did we become 1984? Saskatchewan fighting oil and gas gag law inserted in federal budget

What on earth are they thinking?

Oil CEOs tell House of Commons committee they support carbon pricing. That’s CARBON TAX, FOLKS!

Here’s some real oilmen for you:

2024 Saskatchewan Oil Person of the Year Del Mondor

2024 Southeast Saskatchewan Oil Person of Year Ryan Birnie

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.

Trump’s opponents are making effective use of lawfare

Trump on a viewscreeen in North Dakota. No shades of Big Brother here, nope. Photo by Brian Zinchuk

If this hush money thing was such a big deal, why did it take 8 years to get to trial? Why not when he was in office, or right afterwards? Why now? Ask yourself that.

Some might accuse Trump’s opponents of specifically holding legal action against him for various alleged misdeeds until such time that he would otherwise be on the campaign trail. Guess what? It’s working.

Eight years ago, Trump made a big deal out of his North Dakota campaign stop. It’s when and where I got to ask him if he would approve the Keystone XL pipeline. This year, Trump’s legal battles kept him from the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference, which I attended two weeks ago. Unfortunately, I’ve been pretty busy, so I haven’t had the time to write this until now. But the timing is fitting, with the trial wrapping up.

 

 

 

Watch Rex Murphy’s speeches at the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show

In 2022 I have the opportunity to meet Rex Murphy for the second time. He was the keynote speaker at the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show in 2019 and 2022.

I was halfway through editing the video for the 2022 speech two years ago when somehow the file I was working on got lost, and I never did finish the edit. Thursday night I dug up the video files and put this together, in tribute.

This video and speech have not been published before Thursday. Even at 75, and pretty exhausted once he left the stage, he still put on a stellar oratory.

Later in the story is the video for his 2019 speech, which knocked it out of the park.

Oh, how I wish I could have had Rex as a columnist. It would have been stellar. RIP Rex.

 

Carbon capture strikes out in Alberta

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.

Also last week, TransAlta canceled a wind project not far from Waterton Lakes National Park.

And Saskatchewan and Alberta are deepening nuclear ties.

TC Energy’s making bank on natural gas deliveries.

To hell with it is “definitely on the table”

Jim Reiter, Bronwyn Eyre, Michael Milani. Photo by Brian Zinchuk

Saskatchewan fights back on federal oil and gas emissions cap, Methane 75. Saying “to hell with it” is “definitely on the table,” says minister when asked.

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.

For the first time in about two decades, Saskatchewan changes its oil royalties scheme

Are multi-laterals the next big thing in oil? Saskatchewan bets heavy on it with new incentive program. This is the largest change in oil royalties in decades, as the government hopes to incentivize activity and production. It’s a big shift for a government that for its entire 16 years in office said it wasn’t touching a thing when it comes to royalties.

Let me put this into perspective – for the several years Bill Boyd was energy minister, he always gave the same speech, which basically went like this: “The premier has told me to say thank you. Thank you for the jobs, thank you for the taxes, thank you for the royalties and investment. And we’re not touching a thing when it comes to royalties.”

Usually whenever someone mentions royalty changes, it’s with the intention of raising them. This is the opposite, providing a royalty incentive – NOT a holiday – to get more activity and production going.

 

Carbon tax, carbon tax, carbon tax

Leader of the Opposition Carla Beck during Question Period on March 4. Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan

Guilbeault calls Saskatchewan premier ‘immoral’ for breaking carbon-price law.

Estevan MLA Lori Carr tries to show a difference between Sask Party and NDP on carbon tax in statement.

Premier Scott Moe during Question Period on March 4. Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan

That statement was referenced in the exchange between Scott Moe and Carla Beck in Question Period on the federal carbon tax. The NDP thinks Saskatchewan should have negotiated a carve-out deal.

Should Saskatchewan again have a sovereign wealth fund?

With Alberta going all-in on its sovereign wealth fund (posted yesterday), should Saskatchewan take another look at one of its own? We had one, but it didn’t last long, and turned into something of a slush fund for Crown corporations, apparently. I dug up this discussion paper that was written by U of R professor Stuart Wilson which is actually pretty good. I republished the entire paper, with his permission, on Pipeline Online.

Perhaps ironically, Norway’s massive sovereign wealth fund was originally modelled on Alberta’s. And that fund is now worth US$1.42 trillion dollars (with a “t”). (Norway has less oil than Alberta).

Alberta’s going all-in on its sovereign wealth fund

Danielle Smith

Danielle Smith goes all-in on revitalized sovereign wealth fund for Alberta. Saskatchewan had one, once, but that was 32 years ago. Details in story.

Quick Dick McDick: Climate Cult Megaspecial You gotta be $#!++!\ me

He even references “climate cult,” my favourite SDA category!

CJME/CKOM radio host Evan Bray visits the Estevan coal mine, and much learning ensues

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