UCP tables ‘strengthened’ legislation giving energy minister authority to turn off the taps

EDMONTON – Alberta has tabled legislation that would give the energy minister authority to restrict oil and natural gas exports from Alberta.

The UCP has reinvented the Preserving Canada’s Economic Prosperity Act and plans to replace the old act of the same name with the new legislation.

The province says if the act passes, it will give the government the ability to fight back against jurisdictions that seek to block Alberta’s exports.

“This new legislation demonstrates how serious we are about defending these rights, as well as our economy, our resources, and our people. It’s a matter of having every option available to us,” said Minister of Energy Sonya Savage in a release.

“We will not back down from defending our economic interests and will use this legislation when needed.”

The newer version of the act has been “strengthened” as a result of legal challenges against the former act.

The province says references to “refined fuels” have been deleted from the legislation in an effort to align with provinces’ constitutional authority over inter-provincial export of “primary production” natural resources.

If passed, the act will be retroactive to the beginning of this month.