'He has no business dictating to us': Alberta premier rails against Just Transition

A contentious piece of proposed federal legislation is setting off fireworks between Alberta's government and Ottawa.

A contentious piece of proposed federal legislation is setting off fireworks between Alberta’s government and Ottawa.

Touted as Just Transition, the bill would disproportionately impact several sectors in Alberta that are more carbon-intensive.

In oil and gas, Alberta has 187,000 workers in the sector, more than 36 per cent of Alberta’s GDP contribution.

To meet Ottawa’s emissions targets, the legislation would eliminate jobs in the following sectors, with the promise to transition the workers to cleaner energy industries:

Ottawa says the job numbers in each sector referred to the numbers that currently exist that could be affected by decarbonization and not loss of jobs.

Premier Danielle Smith says the prime minister has been non-existent in discussions with the province about the proposed legislation.

“He has no business dictating to us,” said Smith in an interview with CTV News on Tuesday.