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☆ A Canada climate conspiracy theorist pleads guilty to starting 14 wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Laura Paddison | Paula Newton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A Canadian man who posted conspiracy theories on social media claiming the government was deliberately starting wildfires has pleaded guilty to starting 14 blazes that forced hundreds of people from their homes. Prosecutor Marie-Philippe Charron said one of the fires Paré set forced the evacuation of around 400 people in the town of Chapais, Quebec. Pare does not remember all of the fires he could have started, so we have currently 14 fires, we have 14 counts,” Charron told CNN. They also found multiple social media posts by Paré accusing the Canadian government of purposefully igniting fires to persuade people to believe in climate change. Human activity does play a role in starting wildfires, either deliberately or through accidental actions such as discarding a lit cigarette, but natural factors are also involved.

Persons: Brian Paré, Marie, Philippe Charron, Paré, Mr, Pare, ” Charron, “, Charron, Maxime Bernier, Danielle Smith, Ryan Jespersen, ”, Kira Hoffman, Hoffman, ” Paré Organizations: CNN, Police, ”, Protection Agency, University of British, Research Locations: Quebec, Chapais, North Dakota, United States, Europe, ” Alberta, University of British Columbia, Canada

☆ Explainer: What is Alberta's Sovereignty Act?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Below are some key aspects of the act:WHAT IS THE ALBERTA SOVEREIGNTY ACT? Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act was approved by the legislature in December 2022 after the initial bill was diluted to its current form. The act affirmed that the Alberta legislature, not Smith's cabinet, would have the last word on lawmaking. The Sovereignty Act was one of the most eye-catching policies Smith promised to introduce after becoming premier last year. Former conservative premier Jason Kenney has blasted the Alberta Sovereignty Act as a "full-frontal attack on the rule of law" that risked turning Alberta into a "banana republic".

Persons: Danielle Smith, Todd Korol, Justin Trudeau's, Smith, " Smith, Trudeau, Jason Kenney, Denny Thomas, Rod, Deepa Babington, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Calgary Stampede, REUTERS, Smith's United Conservative Party, Liberal, ACT, Alberta, United, First Nations, Ottawa, federal National Energy Program, Wildrose Party, Reuters, Former, Thomson Locations: Alberta, Calgary , Alberta, Canada, ALBERTA, United Canada, Saskatchewan, Alberta . Alberta, Ottawa

☆ Alberta to invoke controversial law to resist Canada's energy policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Alberta has long been at odds with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government over energy policy. "We have been trying to work collaboratively with them on aligning their targets with our targets," Smith said on Saturday said on the radio program "Your Province. We have to have an affordable grid, and we're going to make sure that we defend our constitutional jurisdiction to do that." The Trudeau government's clean electricity regulations are designed to create a net-zero emissions power grid by 2035 by putting limits on when and how emitting power sources, such as Alberta's natural gas-burning plants, can be used starting in 2035. Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Toronto; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Danielle Smith, Justin Trudeau's, Smith, Steven Guilbeault, Trudeau, Nivedita Balu, Leslie Adler Organizations: TORONTO, Justin Trudeau's Liberal, Alberta, Canada's, United, Thomson Locations: Alberta, Province, United Canada, Toronto

☆ Canada warns of economic uncertainty if Alberta quits national pension plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Susana Vera/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Canada will face rising economic uncertainty if the province of Alberta carries out a threat to withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Friday. Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner later on Friday said the province would not leave fellow Canadians without a stable pension and its associated benefits. "For the past several weeks, Alberta has been having an open discussion about the possibility of establishing an Alberta Pension Plan that will benefit our seniors and workers," he said. The so-called Alberta Pension Protection Act would require Albertans to vote in favor of a pension plan for the province during a public referendum before the provincial government would seek to withdraw assets, the statement said. "Alberta would need to negotiate complex time-consuming portability agreements with the CPP and with the Quebec Pension Plan," she said.

Persons: Finance Chrystia Freeland, Susana Vera, Chrystia Freeland, Freeland, Nate Horner, Justin Trudeau's, Danielle Smith's, Smith, Trudeau, Pierre Poilievre, Maiya Keidan, David Ljunggren, Kirsten Donovan, Paul Simao Organizations: Finance, IMF, World Bank, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Canada, federal, Alberta, Liberal, Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party, Conservative Party, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Morocco, Canada, Alberta, Quebec, Toronto, Ottawa

☆ Canada says Alberta leaving CPP would add to economic uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Susana Vera/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Nov 3 (Reuters) - If the Canadian province of Alberta carries out a threat to withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) it would add to economic uncertainty and hurt everyone in the country, federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Friday. The so-called Alberta Pension Protection Act would require Albertans to vote in favor of a pension plan for the province during a public referendum before the provincial government would seek to withdraw assets, said the statement. But when asked whether she found it realistic that Alberta was entitled to 53% of CPP assets in 2027, according to a study commissioned by the Alberta government, Freeland said she did not. Freeland also cautioned that the Alberta government would need to negotiate how Canadians could live and work anywhere in Canada without jeopardizing their retirement. "Alberta would need to negotiate complex time-consuming portability agreements with the CPP and with the Quebec pension plan," she said.

Persons: Finance Chrystia Freeland, Susana Vera, Chrystia Freeland, Freeland, Danielle Smith's, Smith, Justin Trudeau, Pierre Poilievre, Maiya Keidan, David Ljunggren, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Finance, IMF, World Bank, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Canada, federal, Conservative Party, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Morocco, Canadian, Alberta, Canada, Quebec, Toronto, Ottawa

☆ Explainer: What's at stake as Alberta seeks to split from Canada Pension Plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Maiya Keidan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

TORONTO, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will seek to challenge Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's plan to pull her province out of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), in a meeting with provincial and territorial counterparts on Friday. A nationwide pension scheme called CPP that took contributions from paychecks began in the late 1960s. CPP Investments - an entity to manage its assets - was created in 1997 by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act. AIMCo has not been considered a vehicle for a new Alberta pension plan. If Alberta walks away with more than 22.5% of assets, CPP contributions from everywhere else in the country would have to increase, Tombe estimates.

Persons: Chrystia Freeland, Danielle Smith's, Justin Trudeau, Pierre Poilievre, paychecks, AIMCo, SMITH, Smith, Patrik Marier, Trevor Tombe, Tombe, Maiya Keidan, Deepa Babington Organizations: TORONTO, Canadian Finance, Canada, Conservative Party, CPP Investments, Plan Investment, Investments, Alberta Investment Management Corp, Concordia University, University of Calgary, British Columbia, Thomson Locations: Quebec, Alberta, Ottawa, ALBERTA, Western, Ontario

☆ Saskatchewan vows to stop collecting Canada's carbon tax on heating
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is seen as Canada's provincial premiers meet in Toronto, Ontario, Canada December 2, 2019. If the federal government does not extend the exemption, Saskatchewan "will stop collecting and submitting the carbon tax on natural gas" starting on Jan. 1. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has also complained that her province was not included in the carbon tax pause on heating. Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre is holding rallies to "axe" the carbon tax, a message that has resonated amid high inflation. Saskatchewan and other provinces had previously challenged the legality of the carbon tax and lost in a ruling by the Supreme Court.

Persons: Scott Moe, Carlos Osorio, Justin Trudeau, Moe, Danielle Smith, Doug Ford, Pierre Poilievre, Poilievre, Trudeau, Steve Scherer, Tomasz Janowski, Sandra Maler Organizations: Saskatchewan, REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, Alberta, Ontario, Conservative, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Canadian, Saskatchewan, Ottawa, Atlantic, Atlantic Canada, Maritime

OTTAWA, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Canada's Supreme Court on Friday ruled a federal law assessing how major infrastructure projects like coal mines and oil sands plants impact the environment is largely unconstitutional, in a blow to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government. "This is a significant setback for the federal government," said David Wright, a law professor at the University of Calgary. "The court has said the federal government can enact environmental assessment legislation but the way they went about it, for most of this law, goes too far." The IAA was drafted by Trudeau's Liberal government in 2019 in a bid to streamline and restore trust in the environmental approval process for major projects. Last year the federal government warned Suncor the environmental impact from expanding Base Mine would be "unacceptable" under the IAA because expected carbon emissions were too high.

Persons: Justin Trudeau's, Bill C, Richard Wagner, David Wright, Wright, Danielle Smith, Trudeau, Mike Martens, Major, Ismail Shakil, Nia Williams, David Ljunggren, Deborah Kyvrikosaios, Richard Chang Organizations: OTTAWA, Alberta, University of Calgary, IAA, Trudeau's Liberal, Liberals, Industry, Independent Contractors, Association Alberta, Thomson Locations: Canada, Ottawa, Alberta

☆ Leaving Canada Pension Plan could save Albertans billions, says study
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Maiya Keidan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"I believe that an Alberta pension plan would be fairer," Premier Danielle Smith told a news conference on Thursday. However, he noted the pension respects the right of Albertans to consider withdrawing from the Canada Pension Plan. Albertans will have until spring 2024 to submit views on a provincial pension plan to a panel, which will submit a report to the Albertan government. Former Premier Jason Kenney announced in June 2020 that his government would study a recommendation from a panel to replace the CPP with a provincial plan. Any province has the right to withdraw under the Canada Pension Plan Act but written notice is required, enabling legislation has to be passed and the value of assets to be transferred must be negotiated.

Persons: Danielle Smith, Todd Korol, LifeWorks, Smith, Michel Leduc, Albertans, Chrystia Freeland, Premier Jason Kenney, Maiya Keidan, Steve Scherer, Barbara Lewis, Josie Kao Organizations: United Conservative Party, REUTERS, Rights, Canada, Global, Public Affairs, Communications, Investments, Plan . Finance, Premier, CPP, Investment Board, Thomson Locations: Calgary , Alberta, Canada, Canadian, Alberta, Ottawa, Province of Alberta, Quebec

☆ Alberta premier wants to unveil carbon capture storage tax credits at COP 28
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Nia Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CALGARY, Alberta, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said on Monday she wanted to announce the details of investment tax credits to support carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects at the COP 28 climate summit in Dubai at the end of this year. Smith made the announcement during a news conference on the sidelines of the World Petroleum Congress in Calgary. Alberta is Canada's main producer of crude oil and natural gas, and its highest carbon-emitting province. COP 28 runs from Nov. 30 until Dec. 12. Reporting by Nia Williams; writing by David Ljunggren; Editing by Leslie Adler and Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Danielle Smith, Smith, Nia Williams, David Ljunggren, Leslie Adler, Richard Chang Organizations: World Petroleum Congress, Pathways Alliance, Suncor Energy, Cenovus Energy, Thomson Locations: CALGARY, Alberta, Dubai, Calgary . Alberta, Ottawa

Alberta, the country's main oil and gas producing province, paused approvals on Aug. 3 of new renewable electricity generation projects over one megawatt until Feb. 29, chilling investment in the fast-growing industry. The pause is necessary to address concerns about renewables' reliability and land use, said a spokesperson for Alberta's utilities minister. A second company has paused design work on its first Alberta project, Dye added. Along with domestic firms, foreign companies like Berkshire Hathaway's (BRKa.N) BHE Canada, EDF Renewables and Enel Green Power generate renewable power in Alberta. The pause directly affects 15 projects in the approvals queue, the government spokesperson said.

Persons: Todd Korol, Danielle Smith, Smith, Justin Trudeau's, Jorden Dye, Dye, Pembina, Grant Arnold, Arnold, BluEarth, Dan Balaban, Rod Nickel, Steve Scherer, Denny Thomas, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Justin Trudeau's Liberal, Business Renewables, THE, THE ALBERTA WAY, EDF Renewables, Companies, Pembina Institute, Renewables, U.S . Alberta Utilities Commission, Greengate, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Thomson Locations: Rocky, Pincher Creek, Alberta, Rights WINNIPEG , Manitoba, Canadian, U.S, Calgary, THE ALBERTA, THE ALBERTA WAY Alberta, Berkshire, Canada, Winnipeg , Manitoba, Ottawa

☆ Canadian port strike talks resume, supported by federal mediators
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The BCMEA and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU Canada) met on Saturday, supported by federal mediators, the statement said. Some 7,500 port workers went on strike on July 1 for higher wages, upending operations at the Port of Vancouver and Port of Prince Rupert - key gateways for exporting the country's natural resources and commodities as well as for bringing in raw materials. ILWU Canada did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CM&E) industry body said the strike is disrupting C$500 million ($377 million) in trade every day. ($1 = 1.3271 Canadian dollars)Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Port of Prince Rupert, Saturday Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, BCMEA, Fergal Smith, Mark Porter Organizations: TORONTO, British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, Warehouse Union, Port, Saturday Alberta Premier, ILWU Canada, Canadian Manufacturers, Thomson Locations: Pacific Canada, British, Canada, Port of Vancouver, Port of, Vancouver

☆ Canada's Trudeau and Alberta Premier Smith look for agreement on climate policies
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Nia Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meet as the annual Calgary Stampede rodeo, exhibition and festival kicks off in Calgary, Alberta, Canada July 7, 2023. REUTERS/Todd KorolJuly 7 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Friday said they hoped to find agreement on climate and energy policies that have been a sore point between the federal government and the largest oil-producing province. Trudeau was visiting Canada's oil capital Calgary at the start of the city's annual Stampede event, a 10-day celebration of rodeo and western cowboy culture. The Liberal Prime Minister and United Conservative Party leader Smith have clashed over federal climate policies including a proposed oil and gas emissions cap and clean electricity regulations. But I can say there's been a really positive and constructive working relationship between our ministers and our folks from the very beginning," Trudeau said.

Persons: Danielle Smith, Justin Trudeau, Todd Korol, Trudeau, Smith, " Trudeau, Nia Williams, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Alberta, Canadian, Calgary Stampede, REUTERS, Liberal, United Conservative Party, Ottawa, Paris Climate, Thomson Locations: Calgary , Alberta, Canada, Calgary, Alberta, Paris

☆ After a Hard-Right Turn, Alberta’s Conservatives Retain Power
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Ian Austen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The result, while a win for conservatives, is likely to be seen as a rebuff of the politics of Danielle Smith, the hard-right leader of the United Conservative Party who has been Alberta’s premier for seven months. Ms. Smith came to power after the party effectively rejected a more moderate conservative, Jason Kenney, as premier over his refusal to end pandemic restrictions and vaccine mandates. The views of Ms. Smith, a former radio talk show host and newspaper columnist who previously led another conservative party, are firmly aligned with that faction. She has declared that the unvaccinated were the “most discriminated-against group” she’d seen in her lifetime and suggested that police officers who enforced pandemic measures had committed crimes. In May, a video surfaced of her likening people who chose to be vaccinated to Germans who came to support Hitler.

May 29 (Reuters) - United Conservative Party (UCP) leader Danielle Smith's election victory in Canada's main oil-producing province Alberta on Monday is likely to herald further friction with Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, particularly over climate change. The populist premier's win signals a further rightward shift in the traditionally conservative province, and comes despite a series of controversies and gaffes from Smith, 52, since she first became premier in October. In her victory speech, Smith was quick to take aim at Trudeau and what she described as the federal government's "harmful policies". "As premier I cannot under any circumstances allow these contemplated federal policies to be inflicted upon Albertans. In early 2022 she announced plans to run for leadership of the United Conservative Party, which was born in 2017 from a merger of the Progressives Conservatives and Wildrose Party.

[1/2] Danielle Smith of the United Conservative Party (UCP) gestures during her party's provincial election night party after a projected win in Calgary, Alberta, Canada May 29, 2023. Smith, leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP), defeated left-leaning New Democratic Party leader Rachel Notley on Monday, and immediately targeted Trudeau, threatening the country's ambitious climate goals. Some analysts have said deep emissions cuts are not possible without reducing oil production, which Smith fiercely opposes. "As premier I cannot under any circumstances allow these contemplated federal policies to be inflicted upon Albertans." "One of the challenges is there is a political class in Alberta that has decided that anything to do with climate change is going to be bad for them or for Alberta," Trudeau told Reuters in a January interview.

☆ Alberta heads to the polls with Canada's green agenda in balance
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Nia Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks during the Canada Strong and Free Networking Conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada March 23, 2023. The battle between populist Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party (UCP), which is seeking a second consecutive term, and Rachel Notley's left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) is expected to be extremely close, pollsters say, even though Alberta is traditionally a conservative bastion. Alberta is Canada's highest-emitting province, largely due to vast oil sands operations in the northern boreal forest and produces 80% of the country's 4.9 million barrels per day of crude oil. She held another major rally in NDP stronghold and Alberta capital Edmonton on Sunday. Polls are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time and the result is expected to be called late Monday night.

☆ Factbox: Biggest issues in Canadian province of Alberta's May 29 election
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Below are the main issues in the election:HEALTHCAREIn the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare has become a big issue in Alberta. The UCP last month committed to keeping Alberta's publicly-funded healthcare system, contrasting with comments previously made by Smith about dismantling universal healthcare paid for by taxpayers. The UCP has pledged to lower taxes by creating a new 8% tax bracket on income under C$60,000 ($44,033.47). ENERGY AND CLIMATEBoth the UCP and NDP are supportive of the energy sector, recognising it as Alberta's main economic engine. ($1 = 1.3626 Canadian dollars)Reporting by Nia Williams; Editing by Paul SimaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Alberta wildfire fighters hope rain, cooling bring relief
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Smoke rises from the Stoddart Creek wildfire near Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada May 13, 2023. Amid hot, dry conditions, forecasters were tracking a front likely to move into the province on Sunday that should bring much-needed relief, including humidity and even rain, Christie Tucker, information unit manager at Alberta Wildfire, said at a Saturday briefing. "That will help us more than a short burst that would bring lightning and could spark a new wildfire." Alberta is enduring energy production cuts, home evacuations and poor air quality after an intense start to the wildfire season. This year, Alberta Wildfire responded to 496 wildfires burning more than 842,000 hectares, compared with just 459 hectares in 2022.

☆ Alberta on high alert for wildfire upsurge over scorching holiday weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Ismail Shakil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A Sky crane helicopter dumps water on the Eagle Wildfire Complex near Fox Creek, Alberta, Canada May 19, 2023. Record-high temperatures and lack of rain this year have led to widespread fires burning nearly 830,000 hectares (2 million acres) of land in Alberta, about 10 times the size of the province's largest city, Calgary, according to Alberta Wildfire. "We will all be on high alert this weekend," Christie Tucker, information unit manager at Alberta Wildfire, said on Friday. The wildfires have tested Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's disaster management skills ahead of a provincial election on May 29. Some 275 houses, businesses and other properties had been damaged, while more than 10,000 people remained evacuated by Friday, according to Alberta government officials.

☆ Wildfire risk spurs Alberta to close parks, urge caution ahead of holiday weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Ismail Shakil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Leslie Kramer walk her dogs as some 90 wildfires are active in Alberta, with 23 out of control, according to the provincial government, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada May 16, 2023. Traditionally, residents spend the Victoria Day weekend outside as families take advantage of the warmer weather to go camping or enjoy other outdoor activities. The long weekend in May has usually seen an uptick in seasonal wildfires, some of which are accidentally caused by people, according to Alberta Wildfire. With abnormally hot and dry weather forecast until at least early next week, Alberta has preventively closed some provincial parks and campgrounds for the weekend and imposed a fire ban. Consultancy firm Rystad Energy has estimated nearly 2.7 million barrels per day of Alberta oil sands production in May is at risk in "very high" or "extreme" wildfire danger rating zones.

☆ Alberta wildfires hit gas flow out of Canada to US, spiking prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Smoke rises above the southeast perimeter of the Paskwa fire (HWF030) as it burns near Fox Lake, Alberta, Canada May 16, 2023. Alberta Wildfire/Handout via REUTERSOTTAWA, May 18 (Reuters) - Alberta officials on Thursday warned more wildfires could spread in next few hot and dry days, even as firefighters make progress in tackling widespread blazes that have slowed the outflow of natural gas from Canada into the United States, spiking prices. There were about 92 active wildfires and over 10,000 people out of their homes as of Thursday, Alberta officials told a daily briefing. "Firefighters can experience challenging conditions in hot, dry and windy weather, but progress has been made on many active wildfires," said Christie Tucker, information unit manager at Alberta Wildfire. "We are expecting and preparing for more active wildfire behavior today and over the next few days," she said.

☆ No respite for wildfire-hit Alberta as conditions set to worsen
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Leslie Kramer walk her dogs as some 90 wildfires are active in Alberta, with 23 out of control, according to the provincial government, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Record-high temperatures and tinder-dry vegetation have led to an intense, early start to wildfire season in western Canada this year. Alberta has been the worst-hit, with about 91 wildfires burning, including 27 out of control, as of Wednesday. On Wednesday, consultancy firm Rystad Energy said nearly 2.7 million barrels per day (bpd) of Alberta oil sands production in May is at risk in "very high" or "extreme" wildfire danger rating zones. Of estimated May production volumes, about 60% are subject to extreme wildfire danger levels, with the remaining 40% subject to very high danger, Oslo-based Rystad said.

☆ Ethics official cites Alberta premier for violation, ahead of election
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

OTTAWA, May 18 (Reuters) - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith interfered with the judicial process, the Canadian province's ethics commissioner said in a ruling released on Thursday, two weeks before a provincial election that is expected to be hard fought. Ethics Commissioner Marguerite Trussler said Smith had breached conflict of interest laws by contacting the province's justice minister about the case of a Calgary pastor facing criminal charges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In statement on Thursday, Smith said she would seek legal advice on how a premier could talk to a justice minister about sensitive matters in the future. Last week Smith apologized for having compared Albertans vaccinated against COVID-19 with followers of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. In March, another UCP candidate resigned after claiming children are exposed to pornography in schools and teachers help them change their gender identities.

TORONTO, May 8 (Reuters) - Canada's oil and gas producers shut down some production after Alberta was hit by an unprecedented wildfire season, although rain and cooler weather are expected to bring some relief on Monday. Canada is home to the world's third-largest reserves, and most of these are in northern Alberta's vast oil sands. NuVista Energy (NVA.TO) said on Monday it had temporarily shut in about 40,000 boepd as a precaution. In neighboring British Columbia, several communities remained under evacuation orders after heavy rain last week and flood warnings stayed in place. ($1 = 1.3319 Canadian dollars)Reporting by Denny Thomas; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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