As Canada's economy struggles under the carbon tax and threats of a production cap in Alberta, federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has announced Canada will slash C02 emissions 45 to 50% below 2005 levels by 2035."Guilbeault is suggesting even more draconian emission reductions for Canada by 2035 and we all know that implies production cuts in Alberta," said Calgary-based energy expert and commentator Dennis McConaghy."Who is going to take on investing billions of dollars in new infrastructure on transportation, unless there's the consistency of policy in Canada, where Canadian oil producers can continue to produce oil in a world that still demands it, as opposed to having to basically (cut) even existing production to comply with emissions targets that may have no effect on global emissions?"Guilbeault, who could be voted out of office in months, said the emissions target is realistic. While he ramps-up more climate policies that threaten economic competitiveness, Canada produces just 1.6% of global GHG emissions.Hundreds of coal-fired, C02-emitting, power stations are being constructed around the world, rendering Canadian climate initiatives potentially ineffective."I want to be as ambitious as Canada can possibly be, but the federal government can't do it alone," said Guilbeault.McConaghy said Canada's net zero plans will be revisited and potentially scuttled under a Conservative federal government."They're (Liberals) trying to set these bars as aggressively as possible while they're still there," he said. "And the entire business of reconsidering what Canadian climate and energy policy are going to look like under a Poilievre government is going to be one of the major topics of this next election."
