Environment Minister Stephen Guilbeault is threatening to impose binding emissions caps on oil and gas producers — Alberta — “whether they like it or not.”.In a final interview before returning home from climate talks in China, Guilbeault told Bloomberg in a telephone interview that draft regulations to cap oil and gas regulations will “definitely” be released before he jets off to the UN’s COP-28 conference in Dubai on Nov. 30..The regulations were initially expected to be released this spring, but were delayed after loud and vocal opposition from Alberta. .“It’s no secret, generally speaking, that industry isn’t particularly fond of government coming up with new regulations,” he said. “But I think, by and large, industry understands that we need to tackle emissions, that the world is de-carbonizing whether they like it or not and they can either be part of the solution or the solution will be imposed upon them.”.It comes after controversial comments the minister made abut Suncor last week, when he said the company’s renewed focus on oil and gas production “convinced” him even more of the need for tougher emissions regulations..With his latest remarks, Guilbeault is making it clear he has no intention of backing down, setting up a potentially divisive constitutional crisis at home, even as he was conspicuously silent on China’s own environmental record — China burns more coal producing electricity than all other nations combined..That’s notwithstanding its human rights record, or interference in Canadian affairs, which the minister also failed to call out..Instead, it was emissions in Alberta and gas tax hikes in the Maritimes that seemed to dominate his personal agenda..Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has made it clear any emissions caps on oil — the federal government is proposing a 42% reduction by 2030 — amounts to a de facto production cut on the order of one million barrels per day, or a quarter of Alberta’s output..“We would strongly suggest the federal government refrain from testing our government’s or Albertans’ resolve in this regard,” Smith following Guilbeault’s initial comments..It comes after the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers reported last week emissions from conventional oil and gas — excluding oil sands — have fallen more than 24% over the past decade despite higher volumes..Guilbeault said he acknowledges strong opposition from “a few provinces” but declined to name them..In a separate interview with iPolitics, he reportedly blasted the governments of Atlantic Canada for “premature” and “unfair” gas price hikes at the pumps after they imposed his own carbon tax effective July 1..Guilbeault told Bloomberg he has had “productive” conversations with energy companies and he believes they will ultimately reach a “mutually acceptable” agreement.
Environment Minister Stephen Guilbeault is threatening to impose binding emissions caps on oil and gas producers — Alberta — “whether they like it or not.”.In a final interview before returning home from climate talks in China, Guilbeault told Bloomberg in a telephone interview that draft regulations to cap oil and gas regulations will “definitely” be released before he jets off to the UN’s COP-28 conference in Dubai on Nov. 30..The regulations were initially expected to be released this spring, but were delayed after loud and vocal opposition from Alberta. .“It’s no secret, generally speaking, that industry isn’t particularly fond of government coming up with new regulations,” he said. “But I think, by and large, industry understands that we need to tackle emissions, that the world is de-carbonizing whether they like it or not and they can either be part of the solution or the solution will be imposed upon them.”.It comes after controversial comments the minister made abut Suncor last week, when he said the company’s renewed focus on oil and gas production “convinced” him even more of the need for tougher emissions regulations..With his latest remarks, Guilbeault is making it clear he has no intention of backing down, setting up a potentially divisive constitutional crisis at home, even as he was conspicuously silent on China’s own environmental record — China burns more coal producing electricity than all other nations combined..That’s notwithstanding its human rights record, or interference in Canadian affairs, which the minister also failed to call out..Instead, it was emissions in Alberta and gas tax hikes in the Maritimes that seemed to dominate his personal agenda..Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has made it clear any emissions caps on oil — the federal government is proposing a 42% reduction by 2030 — amounts to a de facto production cut on the order of one million barrels per day, or a quarter of Alberta’s output..“We would strongly suggest the federal government refrain from testing our government’s or Albertans’ resolve in this regard,” Smith following Guilbeault’s initial comments..It comes after the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers reported last week emissions from conventional oil and gas — excluding oil sands — have fallen more than 24% over the past decade despite higher volumes..Guilbeault said he acknowledges strong opposition from “a few provinces” but declined to name them..In a separate interview with iPolitics, he reportedly blasted the governments of Atlantic Canada for “premature” and “unfair” gas price hikes at the pumps after they imposed his own carbon tax effective July 1..Guilbeault told Bloomberg he has had “productive” conversations with energy companies and he believes they will ultimately reach a “mutually acceptable” agreement.
