Kathleen Wynne tells Calgary business leaders Alberta can prosper in low-carbon economy
Ontario premier's Calgary visit follows verbal attack at Alberta legislature
Kathleen Wynne says it's vital for Alberta and Ontario to be allies in the effort to create a new kind of prosperity based on the emerging low-carbon economy.
The Ontario premier paid a visit to Calgary Friday, meeting with the mayor and business leaders and enjoying a warmer reception than her stop at the Alberta Legislature a day earlier, where her presence provoked heckling from opposition MLAs.
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Wynne met with Mayor Naheed Nenshi and toured the General Electric Customer Innovation Centre in the morning before heading to a roundtable discussion at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, where she was invited to make a keynote address.
"We need to shape our future," she said. "If we don't combine efforts, then we're not going to play that leadership role globally."
Wynne praised Alberta's NDP government for taking action on climate change with the introduction of a controversial carbon tax, in addition to pledging to phase out coal-fired electricity plants and capping emissions from oilsands operations.
The Ontario premier said her government is proud of the progress it has already made to address climate change, including shutting down its own coal plants. She said Premier Rachel Notley needs to strike an especially delicate balance given the importance of oil and gas to the Alberta economy.
"Alberta is Canada's energy leader. The task here is more complex," she said.
But Wynne stressed that the leaders in both provinces must reject the "false notion" of having to choose between prosperity and protecting the environment.
Nenshi started the day by apologizing to Wynne following an awkward moment in Edmonton Thursday during question period at the Alberta legislature.
The official opposition launched a verbal attack on the Ontario government while Wynne looked on.
Wildrose finance critic Derek Fildebrandt criticized Ontario's spending and emissions plan, demanding to know why Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall hadn't been invited to Alberta.
Nenshi calls MLA 'childish and petulant'
"Invite Premier Wall here! Invite Premier Wall," Fildebrandt shouted at Alberta's premier as Rachel Notley tried to answer a question. At one point government house leader Brian Mason looked across the aisle at Fildebrandt and said, "You are so tacky."
Nenshi says Fildebrandt was being childish and petulant.
"I was quite shocked to see the so-called shadow finance minister, who has yet to reveal any shadow budget or really any ideas whatsoever about the province, treat a guest in that manner and I did apologize," said Nenshi.
Nenshi says when items of national importance like pipelines are under discussion, guests should be treated with courtesy.
Fildebrandt held up Ontario as an example of what not to do in government as Alberta moves to rack up high debt loads to pay for capital and operating spending.
"Currently Ontario has the largest subnational sovereign debt on the planet," Fildebrandt told the house.
"They're now even receiving equalization payments. It's an example of what happens when a government fails to get its spending under control."
Gas emissions plan a failure, MLA says
Fildebrandt labelled Ontario's greenhouse gas emissions plan a failure and demanded to know if Notley supported it. Notley eventually had enough.
"In the past, when Alberta has actually been able to play a leadership role in the country, they have done so by being grown-ups," she said.
"Just today we have demonstrated to all Albertans very clearly why these folks over there [the Wildrose] are simply not ready to govern."
Earlier Thursday, Notley and Wynne announced a plan to work together on climate change and renewable energy use.
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With files from The Canadian Press