Another National Crisis Over Energy?

Elder statesmen like Peter Lougheed have long been arguing that we are headed for a national/constitutional crisis as (eventual) federal efforts against carbon emissions crunch against provincial oil and gas production, particularly from the oil sands. The feds will eventually have to step in, but without some fancy footwork provinces like Alberta won’t go for it. Cue the jurisdictional/constitutional showdown.

Environmental groups are arguing that “special treatment” for the oil sands would create politics the reverse of the 1980s National Energy Plan. This time Alberta and other oil and gas provinces would be penalizing the rest of Canada.

As the Premiers get together this week campaigners are trying to force the issue and ensure no “special treatment” for the tar sands. Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach’s shot across the bow is to warn Ottawa not to be “Boy Scouts” in the fight against global warming (boy scouts, really?).

Environmental Defence, Equiterre and ForestEthics are arguing that GHG growth from The Sands would unfairly penalize the rest of the country. The concern is that as Canada moves to a national emissions cap like the one emerging in the U.S., big oil will dominate the allocations and squeeze out the rest of the country.

In “Divided We Fall” the groups argue:

“A real cap sets up a zero sum situation for industrial emissions . . . special treatment for one under a hard cap means penalizing another in order to maintain the cap…”

Environmental Defence has a contact-your-Premier site up to try and influence the Showdown in Regina and conducted a poll showing that 60% of Canadians do not want special rules for the oil sands,  52% of Canadians want a slowdown in the oil sands with investment reoriented to clean energy job creation as compared to 62% of Albertans that want oil sands production increased.

Stickhandling these kinds of crises ought to be a prime objective in Ottawa.  Bumperstickers along the lines of “Let the Eastern bastards pay for our emissions” perhaps?

More:

Report: Divided We Fall

Environmental Defence Poll

Canwest’s Barbara Yaffe: Alberta set to benefit from finite cap on greenhouse gases: Limited cap on oilsands emissions would place unfair burden on industries in B.C. and other provinces, environmentalists warn

Canwest: Alta. premier tells Ottawa not to be ‘boy scouts’ on climate change

Globe: Canadians want oil sands production cut: Survey respondents also want to see provinces – not just Ottawa – at coming climate-change talks in Copenhagen

National Union: NUPGE asks premiers to set emissions target