Danielle Smith

249 Articles

Oilpatch funds poured into pro-Smith political group after she floated royalty break

Oilpatch support for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's agenda ballooned after she won her party's leadership and put the so-called RStar program — a plan to give tax breaks to energy companies for fulfilling cleanup work they are already obliged to do — high on the government agenda.

By Bob Weber | News, Politics | February 28th 2023

Alberta Finance Minister Travis Toews speaks with the media during the finance ministers' meeting in Toronto on Feb. 3, 2023. File photo by The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette

Alberta expecting another big spender budget ahead of provincial election

Alberta is scheduled to introduce its budget on Tuesday, February 26, 2023 — the last before a spring provincial election — with political observers wondering what the province will do with all its billions of extra petrodollars.

By Dean Bennett | News, Politics | February 27th 2023

Illustration by Ata Ojani for Canada's National Observer

The thin green line — where disinformation meets greenwashing

For nearly 50 years, the push to discredit climate science and transform responses to the crisis into a political hot potato has successfully delayed policies to reduce oil and gas production and greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate of denial

By Marc Fawcett-Atkinson | News, Climate Solutions Reporting | February 21st 2023

Premier Danielle Smith gives an Alberta government update in Calgary on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. File photo by The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta turns to oilpatch veterans for advice on province's energy future

Premier Danielle Smith will turn to a panel of five oilpatch veterans to advise her government on the future of Alberta's energy industry.

By The Canadian Press | News, Politics | February 17th 2023

Cenovus CEO Alex Pourbaix makes an announcement at a news conference in Calgary, Alta., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. File photo by The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

Cenovus CEO Pourbaix steps down to become executive chair; Jon McKenzie named new CEO

Cenovus Energy Inc. chief executive Alex Pourbaix will step down from his CEO role later this year to devote more time to his evolving role as an outspoken champion of Canada's oilsands industry and its decarbonization ambitions.

By Amanda Stephenson | News | February 17th 2023

Danielle Smith's no good, very bad, $20-billion idea

When she was a lobbyist, Danielle Smith tried — and failed — to get the UCP to give oil companies $20 billion to clean up their own messes. Now that she's premier, it's a whole new ballgame, writes columnist Max Fawcett.

Opinion

By Max Fawcett | Opinion, Politics | February 17th 2023

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks at a news conference in Calgary, Alta., on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. File photo by The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

Poilievre stands with Alberta to oppose federal 'just transition' legislation

Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he backs Alberta Premier Danielle Smith over her concerns about what she's called Ottawa's anti-oil-and-gas agenda.

By Bill Graveland | News, Politics | February 16th 2023

Max speaks to Derek Fildebrandt, a former politician and head of a major right-leaning provincial publication, about whether there's a solution to Alberta's disconnection from Canada on the 7th episode of Maxed Out.

The disconnect between Alberta and Canada

Some Albertans say Canada is broken and the province should leave the federation and go it alone. But is there another solution to the discontent?

By Zahra Khozema | News, Energy | February 14th 2023

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks to members of the media during a news conference in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. File photo by The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby

Alberta Premier defends giving money for oilwell cleanup

Alberta's premier is rejecting Opposition claims her planned $100-million pilot project for cleaning up old oil wells was influenced by her United Conservative party leadership campaign, arguing that federal money to get the job done missed many of the province's worst sites.

By The Canadian Press | News, Politics | February 13th 2023

Anger over Alberta royalty plan to reward companies for cleaning up oil wells

Alberta's United Conservative Party government is facing growing criticism for a plan to give oil companies a royalty credit for cleaning up their old wells.

By Bob Weber | News, Politics | February 10th 2023

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