Ontario premier faces Alberta critics
Alberta’s NDP government rolled out the welcome mat Thursday for a potential political ally in its effort to promote new pipeline projects crucial to the provincial economy.
The Wildrose party instead slammed Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and her government’s record while she looked on as the legislature’s guest of honour.
As Wynne sat in the gallery during question period, Wildrose finance critic Derek Fildebrandt derided her as the leader of a highspending, debt-ridden province Alberta must avoid following.
“They’re now even receiving equalization payments. It’s an example of what happens when a government fails to get its spending under control,” he told the house, drawing comparisons to Alberta’s ballooning debt and deficit numbers.
He blasted Ontario’s greenhouse gas emissions plan as a costly and wasteful experiment, and demanded to know why Wynne, a Liberal, was invited to the legislature while more conservative Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall was not.
“Invite Premier Wall here! Invite Premier Wall!” Fildebrandt shouted at Premier Rachel Notley as she tried to answer a question.
The Wildrose attack left NDP members seething.
In the gallery above them, Wynne looked on with a wry smile.
“Talk about embarrassing cousins,” NDP house leader Brian Mason shouted across the aisle, while also telling Fildebrandt “You are so tacky.”
Notley accused the Wildrose of hurting Alberta’s reputation by showing a lack of civility.
Wynne also sat through a tribute to former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper, delivered by Wildrose member Jason Nixon.
When Wynne was introduced to the house, the NDP, Progressive Conservatives and Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark stood to applaud her. About half the 22-member Wildrose caucus stood to applaud while the rest, including Leader Brian Jean, sat and pounded their desks to express their welcome.
The Wildrose did not make Jean or Fildebrandt available for interviews to explain their actions in the chamber, though Fildebrandt issued a written statement saying he stood by his comments.
A spokeswoman for the party said Jean was unavailable for comment as he was on his way to a convention for the federal Conservative party. She said the Wildrose was unaware Wynne was going to be present for question period.
Earlier in the day, Wynne told reporters that the Notley government’s recent efforts to combat climate change will ultimately help Alberta push for more pipelines.
However, while Wynne said she is supportive of finding ways for Alberta to get its oil to tidewater, she stopped short of saying she will back specific pipeline projects, including the Energy East initiative that would go through Ontario.
“Our position hasn’t changed on it. There are some principles we believe need to be in place,” she said.
The seven principles to which she referred include demands that proponent TransCanada Corp. consider whether the pipeline will cause higher greenhouse-gas emissions, consult First Nations communities, and take on all environmental and economic risks.
Wynne said she and Notley spoke briefly about Energy East, but indicated further discussions will likely take place within the context of a larger Canadian energy strategy.
She praised Notley’s leadership in advancing the strategy, saying the Alberta premier’s efforts have made “a real difference” in moving the discussions forward.
Both premiers have faced considerable controversy for their respective approaches to tackling climate change.
Alberta tabled legislation this week to carry out its Climate Leadership Plan, built around an economy-wide carbon levy that will increase the price of transportation and heating fuels in the province. Much of the money is to be reinvested in green energy projects.
Ontario has instead gone with a cap-and-trade system that puts limits on emissions.
Wynne expressed support for Alberta’s approach, saying there didn’t need to be a “one size fits all” path for dealing with the issue.
The two premiers also announced they had signed a memorandum of understanding to work together to develop technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift to a lower-carbon economy.
Wynne said she recognized Alberta was going through a “difficult time,” mentioning the Fort McMurray wildfire. She said about 150 Ontario firefighters had been helping, while her government had donated $500,000 to the Red Cross.
Progressive Conservative interim leader Ric McIver was not in the house for Thursday’s question period. The lone Liberal, David Swann, arrived late and missed Wynne’s introduction.