Danielle Smith Reaffirms Alberta’s Net-Zero by 2050 Goal During Heated Parliamentary Hearing
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith reiterated her province’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 during a tense appearance before a federal parliamentary committee on Thursday — a session marked by sharp exchanges and political sparring.
Appearing virtually, Smith was pressed repeatedly by Bloc Québécois MP Patrick Bonin, who demanded to know whether she believes human activity is the main driver of climate change.
After initially sidestepping the question, Smith ultimately acknowledged the climate is warming and said humans contribute to it — but stopped short of calling it the primary cause.
“I don’t know the answer to that. I’m not a scientist,” Smith said. “But we do know we need to get to carbon neutral by 2050, and we have a plan to do that.”
Smith’s comments came as MPs examined Canada’s emissions reduction plan for 2030 and beyond. The exchange grew heated when Smith accused Bonin of not understanding Alberta’s energy sector.
“In Quebec, you don’t understand the oil industry,” she said. “There are 6,000 products that come from a barrel of oil.”
Bonin interjected as the committee chair intervened to restore order.
Energy Investment Concerns and Policy Clash
Smith used the hearing to warn that Canada’s energy sector is losing billions in investment to the United States, citing Ottawa’s regulatory and environmental policies.
“In the last 120 days, Canadian-based companies have announced more than $20 billion in capital investment in the U.S.,” Smith said, pointing to the federal emissions cap, tanker ban, and clean electricity regulations as barriers to growth.
Her remarks echoed statements made the same day at the Canada 2020 conference, where Trevor Ebl, president of TC Energy’s Canadian natural gas division, said regulatory delays are hurting competitiveness.
Ebl contrasted TC’s Coastal GasLink pipeline in B.C. — which took nearly a decade to complete — with its Southeast Gateway project in Mexico, built in under three years.
“There’s a gap in returns and in regulatory certainty. Canada is falling behind on both,” he warned.
Ottawa’s ‘Building Canada Act’ Response
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has sought to address these concerns through the Building Canada Act, passed in June, which allows the federal government to fast-track projects deemed in the “national interest.”
While Conservatives supported the bill, they argue it fails to fix deeper regulatory issues.
“This gives no permanent certainty for investors,” said Alberta MP Shannon Stubbs.
Ebl said the legislation is a “positive step,” but urged Ottawa to extend its fast-track approach to more projects to boost energy development and restore investor confidence.
