EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says picking Julie Dabrusin as Canada’s environment minister is a bad idea that forecasts renewed federal opposition to her province's wellspring oil and gas industry.
“I am very concerned the Prime Minister (Mark Carney) has appointed what appears to be yet another anti-oil and gas environment minister,” Smith said in a statement shortly after Dabrusin was appointed Tuesday.
“Not only is she a self-proclaimed architect of the designation of plastics as toxic, but she is a staunch advocate against oilsands expansion, proponent of phasing out oil and gas, and for the last four years, she has served as the right hand to former environment minister and militant environmentalist, Steven Guilbeault.
“This is a step in the wrong direction.”
Smith's chief of staff, Rob Anderson, echoed her comments, saying on social media that appointing Dabrusin was like saying, "fire...meet gas."
The premier has demanded changes on the environment file from Carney’s government, including unfettered pipeline access to Canada’s coasts.
She says Alberta, particularly its oil and gas industry, has been undermined for a decade by anti-business policies and laws from the federal Liberals.
Since Carney’s Liberals won the recent federal election, Smith has announced a two-track strategy: negotiating better pro-Alberta policies with Ottawa while touring the province to hear grievances and concerns, including the idea of Alberta separating from Confederation.
While Smith says she wants Alberta to stay in Canada, her government is passing a bill that would drop the bar considerably to allow for citizen-initiated referendums, such as whether her province should quit Confederation.
Smith has said she supports Alberta remaining in Canada, but that there is growing alienation in her province and frustration with Ottawa, saying those wanting to separate "are not fringe voices."
Federal Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, asked by reporters in Ottawa whether he would denounce separatist sentiment in Alberta, replied, “I’m against separation. I’m a born and raised Albertan. I love Canada. I think we need to unite this country."
However, he added, “Albertans have a lot of legitimate grievances (over federal oil and gas policies), let’s be blunt."
“Canada’s biggest industry, which happens to largely be situated in Alberta, has been under attack for the last decade," Poilievre said.
“The message to the Liberal government in Ottawa is you can’t tell Alberta to just pay up and shut up.”
As for Alberta representation in cabinet, Carney appointed Edmonton Centre member of Parliament Eleanor Olszewski in charge of emergency management and community resilience. She will also be the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2025.
Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
