Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds brief meeting with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, meets with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Calgary, Alta., Friday, July 7, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, meets with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Calgary, Alta., Friday, July 7, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Share
CALGARY -

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed carbon emissions and the strike by B.C. port workers during a brief meeting Friday with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.

Both leaders were in town for the first day of the Calgary Stampede, a 10-day celebration of western culture that features a parade, rodeo events, pancake breakfasts and concerts. The meeting with Smith was his first stop on a two-day visit.

The two shook hands and then sat down, briefly outlining their concerns to the media before meeting privately.

"We do have some serious things that we need to discuss," Smith said.

"We'd like to bring our emissions reduction and energy development plan with a targeted carbon neutrality by 2050 and line up with some of the objectives of the federal government. That will require us to have some conversations."

Smith also flagged the federal government's goal of having a net-zero electricity grid by 2035, saying it isn't realistic for Alberta without a massive cost to the economy.

"We would like to establish a working group so that we can talk about how we might be able to achieve a net-zero power grid, but that is not possible by 2035," she added.

Both Canada and Alberta are aiming to be net-zero by 2050, but the federal government has set multiple earlier targets along the way.

The prime minister said the working group between the two governments is a great achievement.

"We will be able to sit down and really look at what our experts are saying, figure out the common ground and figure out the path forward," Trudeau said.

"That's going to make sure we're responding to the energy needs of a growing economy around the world while at the same time making sure that we get that net zero by 2050 that we all agree on."

Smith is also asking for Parliament to be recalled to put an end to the port strike, which began about a week ago, saying it is "causing extreme hardship to our producers and our exporters."

Trudeau did not commit to doing so, but said he realizes how much of an effect it has had on producers across the Prairies.

He said he still believes that the best deals are found at the bargaining table.

"We will keep putting a lot of pressure on all parties to find that solution that I know is out there, but I also know that pressure is mounting, day by day, and people are really, really worried about how things could look next week and we are as well."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2023.

IN DEPTH

Opinion

opinion

opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster

A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?

opinion

opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike

When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Infectious disease physician Dr. Isaac Bogoch says whooping cough is most risky for unvaccinated infants, children and older people.

Childhood sleep issues may raise suicide risk, study finds

If your child sometimes has trouble sleeping, it may be easy to chalk it up to a phase they will grow out of one day. But a new study suggests possible serious consequences for this line of thought — such as a higher risk for suicidal ideation or attempts when they are older.

Local Spotlight

Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.

Stay Connected