Alberta proposes bill restricting federal access to oil sites

Alberta's government is proposing a new law aimed at banning federal employees from accessing oil and gas sites. This includes places like wellheads and corporate offices. Premier Danielle Smith stated that the intention is to protect Alberta’s data on oil and gas production and emissions. Smith expressed distrust in the federal government's methods of calculating greenhouse gas emissions for a proposed emissions cap. She believes the province needs to gather its own data since it is directly involved in the industry. The Premier said that emissions data should belong to Alberta and that companies not following the new rules could face license issues. The proposed legislation, introduced by Justice Minister Mickey Amery, would apply to federal employees but contains exceptions for lawful inspections by enforcement officers. Critics argue that Alberta lacks the legal authority to enforce such a law against the federal government. Constitutional law expert Eric Adams explained that Alberta cannot undermine federal legislation. Opposition NDP critic Irfan Sabir accused the provincial government of putting businesses in a position to violate federal law for political reasons. He emphasized that one level of government cannot impose regulations on another. Smith's administration aims to protect Alberta's rights over its natural resources, claiming that the federal emissions cap could force production cuts. The proposed federal regulations would require oil producers to reduce emissions significantly by 2032. Alberta's oil and gas sector currently represents the largest share of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.