Smith says oil and gas jobs aren't going anywhere as she slams federal 'just transition'

Alberta's premier insists she is willing to work with Ottawa on trying to reduce carbon emissions but vows to "fight" the prime minister on controversial legislation dubbed "just transition."

Alberta's premier insists she is willing to work with Ottawa on trying to reduce carbon emissions but vows to "fight" the prime minister on controversial legislation dubbed "just transition."

Danielle Smith said all options are on the table to combat the bill, including using the province's new sovereignty act.

Justin Trudeau's Liberal government insists the legislation, which has yet to be tabled, is about creating future jobs in "clean sources of energy" but Smith doesn't think workers will need that help.

"The reality is these industries will not disappear. We are not phasing out oil. We are not phasing out natural gas. Oil and natural gas are going to be an essential part of the economy for decades to come," Smith said Tuesday in an interview with CTV News Edmonton.

"[The federal Liberals] think that this industry is going to be wound down and that these high paying, good jobs are going to be eliminated. And that's what I object to. We have to reject that paradigm. That's just not going to happen."

Smith wrote on Twitter that Trudeau's plan "will eliminate 2.7 million jobs - according to a Liberal memo."

The figure Smith quoted is from a ministerial briefing note. It is the sum total of all jobs, in all sectors, expected to be affected as a low-carbon economy takes shape.