Trudeau touts green energy agenda after conservative leader wins election

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has congratulated United Conservative Party leader Danielle Smith on her reelection bid and said he looking forward to working with her on clean energy goals, despite her fierce opposition. 

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I congratulate Danielle Smith and the United Conservative Party of Alberta on their reelection," he said in a statement. "I look forward to continuing to work with Premier Smith and the provincial government to deliver results for Albertans – including growing the economy, [and] continuing to position Alberta as a leader in clean energy.”

Smith’s win looks to be significant for conservatives in the state capital.

In her victory speech, she took aim at what she called Trudeau’s “harmful policies,” like the proposed emissions limit on oil and gas, as well as the push to transition to renewable energy, agenda items that she claimed will kill jobs in her province. 

“I invite [Trudeau] to instead halt the introduction of these harmful policies and come to the table in good faith to work collaboratively with Alberta on an energy and emission strategy that will both grow the Alberta and Canadian economies," Smith said, according to Reuters.

Tensions are expected to increase between Smith and Canada’s liberal-wing of government, which is pushing to cut carbon emissions almost in half by 2030.

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