'I'm very concerned': Kris Sims issues warning over Alberta's new energy deal with feds
Kris Sims of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation tells Sheila Gunn Reid why "the devil is in the details" with Alberta's new memorandum of understanding with the Carney Liberals.
On last night's episode of The Gunn Show, Alberta Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation Kris Sims shared her thoughts on Alberta's new agreement with the federal government to 'support' the construction of an oil pipeline to the B.C. coast.
The new memorandum of understanding provides Alberta with exemptions from certain federal environmental regulations and assures the province it will have the 'support' of the federal government if a private company launches a new pipeline project.
Critics of the new agreement — including Rebel News publisher Ezra Levant — point out that while a new pipeline from Alberta to the B.C. coast may not materialize until 2040, the deal requires Alberta to increase its industrial carbon taxes by April of 2026.
Sims described some of her concerns with the new deal. "I'm concerned that the devil's in the details here," she said.
"And one of the big details is what Prime Minister Mark Carney stomped out and said to all the media cameras that were waiting for him right after he signed, and that's where he said basically that 'oh yeah, that carbon tax that's here in Alberta, that's going to be six times higher.' Thanks very much," Sims continued.
Citing economist Jack Mintz, Sims went on to condemn the deal for its potential to drastically increase the cost of producing a barrel of oil.
"He was really raising the alarm bell, Dr. Mintz was, saying if they layer on all of these carbon taxes, and all of these complicated carbon credit systems with the sequestration and all this stuff, that it would make the production of a barrel of oil much more expensive," she said.
"He said all combined, it could be as high as US $10 extra per barrel. And for folks who are listening from outside of Alberta, that's a huge hit. If you suddenly make the production by ten bucks a barrel US higher, here in Alberta, that kind of prices us out of the market," Sims continued.
Despite Danielle Smith still appearing to maintain strong support among United Conservative Party members, it was clear at the party's annual convention over the weekend that some members are questioning the recent agreement with the Carney Liberals.
RebelNews+ Clips
RebelNews+ is our premium subscription service, which gives you access to our exclusive long form, TV-style shows, documentaries, members-only comments section, and the ability to read RebelNews.com without ads.
Subscribe now to get the full experience!
https://rebelnewsplus.com/Featured Stories
5:11
COMMENTS
-
Bernhard Jatzeck commented 2025-12-04 21:09:25 -0500I’ve referred to the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline project a few times in the past. What’s happening today occurred back then. PET didn’t want it built (lest Alberta prosper from it), so he commissioned the Berger Inquiry.
The natives worried about the pipeline affecting the permafrost. The companies designed it to keep it well above ground. There were concerns that caribou migrations might be disrupted, so places where they might move was raised even further so that they could pass safely underneath. People were worried about the noise coming from the compressor stations, but there have been pipelines in northern B. C. and Alberta for decades and, once the animals understand that whatever’s so noisy wasn’t going to harm them, they go back to whatever they were doing. (Critters are actually quite smart.)
In the end, it didn’t matter. Berger, who was pro-native, decided that the project be “postponed” for a generation so that there would eventually be enough workers. (I guess there weren’t any trade schools or apprenticeship programs in before the mid-1970s. Uh-huh…..)
The fix was in from the beginning, but holding the dog-and-pony show was to give the eventual cancellation the image of credibility by letting various parties have their say.
Moving ahead to 2025, we’re going to have the same thing. It’ll be another MVP, but with smartphones. -
Bruce Atchison commented 2025-12-04 19:21:54 -0500How could somebody as smart as Danielle Smith be so stupid? Carney won’t grant us a pipeline. We, according to him, must reach net zero quickly.
