Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says it’s time for the Alberta government to get back into the business of being in business..His announcement came a day after Teck canceled their $20 billion oilsands mine in northern Alberta..Evoking the memory of former premier Peter Lougheed, Kenney said his government will do whatever needs to be done to ensure investor confidence stays..“Alberta is prepared to invest directly to companies or Indigenous groups in resource development …we rule nothing out in that regard,” Kenney said at a speech Monday in Edmonton..“Whatever it takes to ensure our economic future… we will will not back down.”.After he speech he told reporters the government already has “several projects we are looking at.”.Asked if that could involve buying the Teck lease Kenney said:” We’re ruling nothing out.”.Government getting more into business drew scorn from Franco Terrazzano, Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation..“”The issue here isn’t a lack of money. Businesses have been willing to put up their money for a number of big projects. The issue is a political system in Canada that increasingly seems unworkable. Throwing taxpayer cash doesn’t solve the issue and really only makes problems in Alberta worse,” he said..Kenney noted one of the reason Teck canceled it’s mine was the current “lawlessness” of rail blockades that is criss-crossing Canada..He said when the Alberta legislature returns to work tomorrow, Bill 1, will be the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act that will been stiff penalties for anyone impeding rail traffic or other critical infrastructure..Kenney said the bill has been developed “quickly, over the last week or ten days.”.The cancellation of the mine was greeted with joy by the David Suzuki Foundation..The $20.6-billion Teck mega project in northern Alberta had already been approved by the non-political regulators, but the Liberal natural resources minister has said the federal government may delay approval of the project unless Alberta drops its opposition to Ottawa’s carbon tax. Adding fuel to the fire were several Eastern Liberal MPs lobbying to kill the project outright..Reports of an aid package for the beleaguered province appear to confirm that the federal government is seriously considering nixing the mega project, which Teck says will create 7,000 jobs and significantly add to the provinces GDP..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter: Nobby7694
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says it’s time for the Alberta government to get back into the business of being in business..His announcement came a day after Teck canceled their $20 billion oilsands mine in northern Alberta..Evoking the memory of former premier Peter Lougheed, Kenney said his government will do whatever needs to be done to ensure investor confidence stays..“Alberta is prepared to invest directly to companies or Indigenous groups in resource development …we rule nothing out in that regard,” Kenney said at a speech Monday in Edmonton..“Whatever it takes to ensure our economic future… we will will not back down.”.After he speech he told reporters the government already has “several projects we are looking at.”.Asked if that could involve buying the Teck lease Kenney said:” We’re ruling nothing out.”.Government getting more into business drew scorn from Franco Terrazzano, Alberta director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation..“”The issue here isn’t a lack of money. Businesses have been willing to put up their money for a number of big projects. The issue is a political system in Canada that increasingly seems unworkable. Throwing taxpayer cash doesn’t solve the issue and really only makes problems in Alberta worse,” he said..Kenney noted one of the reason Teck canceled it’s mine was the current “lawlessness” of rail blockades that is criss-crossing Canada..He said when the Alberta legislature returns to work tomorrow, Bill 1, will be the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act that will been stiff penalties for anyone impeding rail traffic or other critical infrastructure..Kenney said the bill has been developed “quickly, over the last week or ten days.”.The cancellation of the mine was greeted with joy by the David Suzuki Foundation..The $20.6-billion Teck mega project in northern Alberta had already been approved by the non-political regulators, but the Liberal natural resources minister has said the federal government may delay approval of the project unless Alberta drops its opposition to Ottawa’s carbon tax. Adding fuel to the fire were several Eastern Liberal MPs lobbying to kill the project outright..Reports of an aid package for the beleaguered province appear to confirm that the federal government is seriously considering nixing the mega project, which Teck says will create 7,000 jobs and significantly add to the provinces GDP..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter: Nobby7694
