Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has delivered another political right hook to the jaw of climate-obsessed politicians in Ottawa — namely Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is likely to advance the net-zero policies of Justin Trudeau.
On Wednesday, Alberta tabled the Critical Infrastructure Defence Amendment Act, 2025, aiming to bolster protection for the oil and gas sector against what it calls unconstitutional federal overreach, particularly Ottawa’s proposed emissions cap on oil and gas production.
The amendments to the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act (CIDA), first introduced in 2020 to safeguard essential infrastructure from trespassing and interference, would expand the definition of “essential infrastructure” to include facilities holding oil and gas production and emissions data, as well as a two-kilometre zone along the province’s southern border with the U.S.
Smith framed the move as a defence of Alberta’s economic backbone.
"I think there's a real danger that the new prime minister is worse than the old prime minister," said Smith in a media Q&A — responding to a question from the Western Standard about Carney's net zero ideology and his capacity to harm Alberta industry.
"But if one of his values is keeping oil and gas in the ground, and he thinks Alberta can run on wind and solar and battery power, he's got another thing coming. I haven't had that conversation with the new prime minister yet."
Smith said in a statement, “Our government will continue using every tool we can to defend the best interests of Albertans, our economy, and our industry. These amendments would further assert Alberta’s exclusive provincial jurisdiction to develop its natural resources and ensure our southern border remains secure. We will not tolerate the continuous and unconstitutional overreaches made by the federal government."
Calgary energy expert and author Dennis McConaghy told the Western Standard Carney is on a mission to destroy Alberta for the sake of net-zero fanaticism — he is committed regardless of the economic cost.
“If you’re going to do net zero, you can’t ever get there unless you basically contract the hydrocarbon production of Canada,” said McConaghy.
“And so, of course, he is going to be committed to those emissions caps, regardless of what it costs the country. And it is going to be a huge collision, and it is going to be one of the issues that will be seminal in this election, assuming, of course, that Poilievre has the intellectual honesty to come out and say, ‘I’m not for net zero. I’m not for these emission caps.’”
“Albertans, ultimately, are going to have to ask themselves: do they want the industry that has created the wealth and prosperity that is almost synonymous with Alberta? Do they want it destroyed? Because that is the mission Carney is on.”
Alberta’s proposed changes align with the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act motion passed in 2024, which declared emissions data as exclusively provincial property. If the federal emissions cap is deemed unconstitutional, Alberta argues, federal officers would have no legal basis to inspect or collect data from these sites.
The amendments explicitly extend CIDA’s protections to apply to federal entities, escalating the province’s standoff with Ottawa.
Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz called the emissions cap a “production cap” that would “kill tens of thousands of jobs and devastate Alberta’s economy, all while global emissions rise.”
She added, “Protecting Alberta’s emissions data is part of our plan to defend our province if the proposed cap ever becomes law. We will never let the federal Liberal government sacrifice Alberta’s prosperity for their extreme ideological agenda.”
The amendments also enshrine a two-kilometre border zone north of the Alberta-U.S. border — designated as essential infrastructure in a January 2025 regulation — into the act itself.
Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis emphasized its role in curbing illegal activity.
“Let this be a message to all potential traffickers, especially those who traffic deadly fentanyl, that Alberta’s southern border is secure,” he said. “Anyone caught trespassing in the red zone or interfering with essential infrastructure will be arrested.”
Justice Minister Mickey Amery underscored the dual focus on economic and border security.
“Whether securing our border or calling on the federal government to scrap its harmful, job-killing emissions cap, our government will always prioritize public safety and defend Alberta’s interests,” he said.
The CIDA already imposes penalties for trespassing, interfering with operations, or damaging essential infrastructure. The proposed updates aim to consolidate and clarify these protections, equipping peace officers with stronger tools to enforce them.
Critics, however, warn the move could deepen tensions with the federal government and raise questions about jurisdictional overreach, while supporters see it as a necessary stand for Alberta’s autonomy and economic future.
The province plans to double its oil and gas production to meet global energy demand, a goal Smith insists Ottawa will not derail.
As the amendments move through the legislative process, they signal Alberta’s readiness to escalate its fight against federal climate policies it deems a threat to prosperity.