Premier Danielle Smith and Minister for Immigration and Multiculturalism Muhammad Yaseen recently held a press conference to provide an update on supports for Ukrainian evacuees and express concerns about the federal government’s immigration cap on temporary residents. The conference highlighted Alberta’s long-standing friendship with Ukraine, rooted in over a century of shared history. Premier Smith emphasized Alberta’s role as a beacon of hope and safety for Ukrainian evacuees, with over 57,000 individuals finding refuge in the province under the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel visa program.
Smith underscored the importance of welcoming newcomers to meet the demands of Alberta’s growing economy, which faces shortages across various industries. However, concerns were raised about Ottawa’s decision not to increase provincial nomination spaces through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. Smith argued that this decision hampers the province’s ability to provide Ukrainian evacuees with the certainty needed to build a future in Alberta as permanent residents. She cited constitutional provisions granting concurrent power over immigration to both provincial legislatures and the federal government, affirming Alberta’s right to manage immigration.
In response to these challenges, Premier Smith announced initiatives to address the needs of Ukrainian evacuees, including a request to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for an increase in nomination spaces and the establishment of a special program for Ukrainian refugees. Additionally, she called for a meeting with Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Mark Miller, to discuss concerns around immigration strategy.
Minister Yaseen highlighted the ongoing efforts to support Ukrainian evacuees, including the provision of services such as language and employment support, apprenticeship training, and driver’s license exchange programs. The government also extended access to key services such as healthcare and emergency financial supports.
During the Q&A session, Premier Smith responded to questions regarding the province’s approach to carbon taxation and its plans for a proposed Crown Corporation aimed at rejecting federal clean energy regulations.
When asked about Prime Minister Trudeau’s comments on provincial solutions to carbon tax and meeting federal emission standards, Premier Smith highlighted Alberta’s achievements in methane emissions reduction, surpassing targets set for 2025 by 45 percent below 2005 levels. She emphasized Alberta’s investment in innovative projects like the Quest Carbon Capture project, attracting significant investments from companies like Dow Chemical, Air Products, and Heidelberg. Premier Smith also mentioned ongoing initiatives such as hydrogen fueling stations, dual-fuel semis, hydrogen-based buses, and efforts to export LNG and ammonia to reduce emissions internationally. She underscored Alberta’s commitment to carbon capture utilization and storage, outlining plans to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050 through partnerships with other provinces, exploration of small modular reactors, and funding of emissions reduction pilot projects.
In response to a follow-up question about the progress on the proposed Crown Corporation, Premier Smith expressed reluctance in setting up such an entity but indicated a willingness to do so if necessary. She emphasized the importance of balancing renewable energy sources like solar and wind with natural gas backup to maintain grid stability. Premier Smith highlighted the need for partnerships with the private sector to shield against federal overreach and ensure a smooth transition to cleaner energy sources by 2035. She outlined Alberta’s energy development plan, including the use of best available technology to capture CO2 emissions, investment in natural gas as a base load, development of hydro and hydro storage, and exploration of small modular nuclear reactors. Premier Smith emphasized the importance of a gradual transition to cleaner energy sources, acknowledging the time required for technological advancements.