Question Period: MLA Shane Getson asks the Premier of Alberta his stand on Alberta’s oilsands
MLA Shane Getson – a first-time Legislator from the constituency of Lac Ste. Anne Parkland asked a three-part question as a private member on May 7, 2020, to The Premier of Alberta Jason Kenney.
Mr. Getson has asked what is the stance of Premier Kenney on Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet’s attack on Alberta’s oilsands.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney fires back at federal leaders opposed to oil bailout
Alberta’s premier pushed back on May 7th against federal party leaders who said the oil industry is dying and unworthy of a federal government bailout.
Premier Jason Kenney said Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet is “obsessed” with attacking Albertans, who have paid billions of dollars in federal taxes that helped fund Quebec social programs and services.
“Please stop kicking us while we’re down!”, Premier Kenney
On May 7, 2020 news conference, Premier Kenney made the following statement: “We Albertans have been generous, and we will continue to be generous, but this, these attacks on our natural resource industries are unwarranted, they are divisive, they’re — I believe, in a way — unCanadian at a time like this.”
Both Blanchet and Green Party parliamentary Leader Elizabeth May said on May 6th the federal the government should abandon any plan to offer financial aid to the languishing oil and gas industry.
Blanchet said the oil industry is “condemned,” and the federal government should avoid propping it up.
“It is clear that there is no long-term future for that kind of industry, so let’s help them go somewhere else, something which is greener,” he said.
“Blanchet should be more appreciative”, Kenney says
Kenney said, Blanchet should show gratitude for the billions of dollars the oil industry has generated and shared with Quebec in recent decades.
Quebec received $13 billion through equalization this year, some of which came from federal taxes paid by oil and gas workers, he said.
Oil companies are now bleeding money as coronavirus lockdowns drastically reduce demand, a global price war sends prices plunging and firms struggle to borrow.
These have prompted companies to scale down spending and production, which could, in turn, decrease employment in the sector.
Alberta expected almost a tenth of its provincial budget this year to come from non-renewable resource revenues, based on an oil price of $58 US a barrel.
On Thursday, a barrel of benchmark West Texas Intermediate was worth about $24 US.
More press coverage here:
MLA Shane Getson (UCP)
Shane Getson was elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly for Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland on April 16, 2019.
Engagement
I currently serve as Deputy Chair on the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund and as a Member of the Standing Committees on Resource Stewardship.
Check often my Engagement page to discover my Focus Projects for 2021, among which I want to introduce you to the importance of Utility Corridors. I have the firm belief that the usage of these corridors will contribute immensely to Alberta's future so, for more details please contact me at your convenience.