Thoughts on BC Politics and More

If now-backbench Liberal MP Steven Guilbeault was looking for sympathy, he won’t find it from four of the five candidates vying to be the next NDP leader. Edmonton MP Heather McPherson had a blunt assessment when asked in a post-debate scrum about the anti-oil Guilbeault’s decision to quit Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet in protest over an agreement with Alberta towards building a new oil pipeline ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault is calling the Saskatchewan government’s decision not to pay the federal carbon price “immoral.” The minister says it’s one thing to disagree on policy, but another to “start breaking federal laws.” “If Premier Scott Moe decides he wants to start breaking federal laws then measures will be taken. We can’t let that happen. What if tomorrow someone decides they want to break other laws, criminal laws? What would happen then?” . . . . CLICK HERE for the full story

If you squint, it's possible to read federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault's controversial comments about federal funding for road construction and see the faint outline of something the federal government and (most of) the provinces committed to more than seven years ago. As part of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change — which all of the provinces except Saskatchewan and Manitoba approved in December 2016 — the assembled governments agreed to a broad range of principles and goals, including a commitment to support "the shift from higher to lower-emitting types of transportation, including through investing in infrastructure." "Shifting from higher- to lower-emitting modes of transportation includes things like riding public transit or cycling instead of driving a car," the framework said . . . . . CLICK HERE for the full story

Ottawa has unveiled new regulations for all electric vehicles (EVs) in Canada. At a press conference on Tuesday, Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault announced new standards that he says will provide more affordable EVs and more charging stations. The federal government had previously announced that all vehicles sold in the country must emit zero emissions by 2035. Tuesday’s announcement clarified the schedule for the regulations, who is affected by them, and how the carmakers can comply ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Canada has released a new draft plan that the government says will help cut methane emissions from the country’s oil and gas sector by at least 75 per cent. Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault made the announcement Monday at the ongoing UN climate conference, also known as COP28, being held in Dubai. Two years ago at COP26, as part of the Global Methane Pledge, Canada committed to developing a plan to reduce oil and gas methane emissions by at least 75 per cent below 2012 levels by 2030 ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Despite the federal environment minister insisting the Alberta government will not be granted an extension in its transition to a net-zero grid by 2035, Employment Minister and Alberta MP Randy Boissonnault says “officials are having those conversations” at a working table dealing with “a whole series of issues.” The federal government has set a deadline to achieve a net-zero power grid at 2035, which Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has repeatedly said her province will not be able to meet. Despite significant pushback from Smith on the deadline — and repeated requests that it be moved — Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has insisted his government won’t make exceptions for individual provinces or budge on its target ... CLICK HERE for the full story  

The federal government says it's signed its first major nature agreement with a province and First Nations to mutually support protecting 30 per cent of lands and waters by 2030. In Vancouver on Friday morning, federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault joined B.C. Premier David Eby, several cabinet ministers from both governments and First Nations leaders to announce a $500-million commitment from both governments for an agreement that would help conserve and protect land, species and biodiversity in the province ... CLICK HERE for the full story  

In a somewhat unexpected decision last week, the Supreme Court of Canada deemed that the federal impact assessment scheme under the Trudeau government’s Impact Assessment Act was largely unconstitutional. It’s a major decision that could have far-reaching consequences for Canadian energy policy and federal-provincial relations more generally. At question was whether the federal government had the ability to regulate projects carried out or financed by federal authorities on federal lands or outside Canada. The federal government argued that although the regulation of natural resource projects is generally a provincial responsibility, the emissions and environmental effects of such projects means that federal jurisdiction is impacted. The Supreme Court disagreed ... CLICK HERE for the full story

There will be no special treatment for Alberta when it comes to Canada’s incoming regulations to make electricity cleaner, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said Friday. The comments are the latest salvo in the seemingly never-ending battle between Alberta and Ottawa over climate policy. This one relates to new clean electricity regulations that Guilbeault published in draft form in August. The regulations will require all electricity to be from either renewable sources, like wind or hydro, or equipped with carbon-capture technology by 2035. Both Alberta and Saskatchewan have said that that is simply not doable, and they are instead targeting 2050 as the date for full emissions-free electricity. The two provinces still rely heavily on fossil fuels — natural gas for Alberta and coal and gas for Saskatchewan — to make power, and they say they can’t eliminate those or build enough carbon capture without hurting reliability or costing their residents a fortune ... CLICK HERE for the ...

Guilbeault said his surprise appearance was a reaction to the Conservatives’ decision not to invite Liberal political observers to their convention     Fresh from a visit to Beijing, Liberal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault appeared at the doorstep of Quebec City’s convention centre on Friday to crash the Conservative party’s national convention and call leader Pierre Poilievre a climate denier ... ... In an interview, Guilbeault justified his surprise appearance as a reaction to the Conservatives’ decision not to invite Liberal political observers to their convention, something Guilbeault said is a “long-standing tradition” among different parties. “It’s somewhat ironic that someone who would drape themselves into freedom and give doughnuts to the people who are occupying the streets of Ottawa would deny us the freedom… (to attend) their convention. What is it they have to hide?” ... CLICK HERE to read the full story

  Saskatchewan’s electricity regulator says achieving the Liberal government’s 2035 target year to decarbonize the province’s electricity grid is impossible .    According to an interview with the outlet Pipeline Online, SaskPower spokesperson Scott McGregor said that the Clean Electricity Regulations unveiled by Liberal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault last week were unfeasible in every aspect.    “SaskPower is working as fast as it can to decarbonize the power grid while also providing reliable, sustainable, and cost-effective power,” McGregor told the outlet.     “We’re committed to achieving a net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions power system and we’re on track to do so by 2050 or earlier. We’re also on track to reduce GHG emissions by 50 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. However, reaching net zero by 2035 isn’t feasible technically, logistically, or financially" ... CLICK HERE for the full story

  Just when you think you’ve heard of every possible red tape delay to building housing and critical infrastructure in British Columbia, a new, ever-more-absurd government regulation comes along.   This time, it’s an empty hole.   Construction on a badly-needed, long-promised, $135 million middle and high school on Coquitlam’s Burke Mountain has been held up by an empty hole in a single tree ... CLICK HERE for the full story

  New Democrats in two Western provinces are split over the Liberal government's goal of a net-zero electricity grid by 2035, with the leader of the federal party keeping quiet on his own preferred timeline.   Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault released draft regulations last week aimed at making good on the Liberals' pledge to rid the grid of emissions, sparking sharp reactions from provincial governments in Alberta and Saskatchewan about the 12-year deadline ... CLICK HERE to read the full story

  Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has released draft regulations designed to clean Canada’s electricity grid.   The regulations would drive up the cost of energy slightly, but federal officials say that would be offset by the savings expected to come from moving away from fossil fuels.   The government has set a target of making the electricity grid net-zero by 2035, and the regulations are meant to help guide the way ... CLICK HERE to read the full story