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98-791: One of AESO's responsibilities is to manage system load in the case where shortfalls in supply or excessive demand for electricity threaten the integrity of the power grid. In this case AESO can direct power companies to shed load temporarily through measures such as rolling blackouts . In July 2012, six power generators were shut down during a major heat wave that resulted in high demand on the power grid, Edmonton , Calgary , Red Deer and Lethbridge were hit by rolling blackouts. AESO directed utilities to reduce their customer load. AESO's Doug Simpson explained that this had not happened since 2006. According to their homepage, AESO operates "independently of any industry affiliations and owns no transmission or market assets." The key duties and responsibilities of

196-604: A systemic and regular email deletion protocol called "records management". As promised in his election platform, Premier Kenney's first piece of legislation was Bill 1: An Act to Repeal the Carbon Tax , which had been put into place in November 2015 during the premiership of Rachel Notley. Premier Kenney was one of four provincial premiers that challenged the constitutionality of Canada's carbon tax . Kenney has loudly "denounced" carbon taxes and threatened "more legal action" after

294-407: A 2013 Edmonton Journal article, Keith Provost, former senior vice-president of Alberta Power Ltd. (now ATCO Electric), with decades of experience in the electrical utilities business, said that instead of marketing electricity contracts for future deliveries in a regulated market, AESO has their own system that is open to manipulation and is not a free-market system. According to AESO, "The pool price

392-810: A Calgary-based $ 30 million 'war room' to "fight misinformation related to oil and gas". Bill 32, Restoring Balance in Alberta's Workplaces Act, 2020 , was introduced by Labour Minister Copping, on July 7, 2020. Minister Copping said Bill 32 will counterbalance "significant changes" made during the NDP tenure, that favoured unions at the expense of the "rights of job creators". There are numerous changes to "workplace rules and union activities" which include where and how unions can picket and an opt out option which allows union members to choose to have their "union dues go to political parties or causes." The November 16, 2020 Leger poll, showed that support for Premier Kenney's response to

490-464: A December 19 statement, the energy centre's CEO and managing director, Tom Olsen , said that the logo was pulled and was to be replaced. Olsen said that the "design debacle" "mistake" was an "unfortunate situation". He said that the CEC was in "discussions" with the marketing agency—Lead & Anchor "to determine how it happened". The CEC had selected Lead & Anchor over eight other contractors proposed to

588-469: A Saskatchewan superior court dismissed the legal "challenge of the constitutionality of the federal carbon tax." Both Ford and Kenney were strongly critical of carbon taxes saying they will "either trigger a recession or sink the oil patch," according to an October 10, 2019 article in The National Observer . Premier Kenney had said that Climate Leadership Plan introduced by Rachel Notley "crippled

686-511: A background paper—the "Cooper Report" by Barry Cooper , a University of Calgary political scientist professor and key member of the Friends of Science . In June 2019, Premier Kenney announced the creation of a Calgary-based $ 30 million 'war room' to "fight misinformation related to oil and gas." In an October 9, 2019 press release, Minister Savage announced the appointment of former journalist and lobbyist Tom Olsen as CEO and managing director of

784-486: A combination of interconnected unprecedented global events—including the 2020 coronavirus pandemic , the COVID-19 recession , the 2020 stock market crash , and the 2020 Russia–Saudi Arabia oil price war with the resulting "collapse in oil prices"—represent what Premier Kenney called "the greatest challenge" in Alberta's "modern history, threatening its main industry and wreaking havoc on its finances." By April 19, 2020, as

882-413: A common or even a normal daily event in many developing countries , where electricity generation capacity is underfunded or infrastructure is poorly managed. In well managed under-capacity systems blackouts are planned and schedules are published in advance to allow people to work around them. In poorly managed systems they happen without warning, typically whenever the transmission frequency falls below

980-425: A controlled blackout longer than 90 minutes. In Canada, blackouts have been rolled so that no area had to spend more than one hour without power. In some countries, generating capacity is chronically below demand. Assorted factors may prevent adequate investment in generation. Alternately, generating capacity may temporarily decrease below demand due to power station outages or loss of renewable capacity due to

1078-442: A flexible market rate, power suppliers sometimes deliberately keep the generating capacity too low, or fake accidents that take capacity offline, to jack up prices. Demand spikes can also cause blackouts. Unusually hot or cold weather can cause demand spikes. Independent system operators may introduce rolling blackouts in anticipation of demand spikes, based on often arbitrary minimum thresholds of electricity reserves. In

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1176-465: A forensic accountant, Steve Allan, as commissioner of the Public Inquiry, which is tasked with investigating foreign-funded efforts to undermine the oil and gas industry. In November 2019, CBC News reported that Allan, and "two other business associates" had supported and/or campaigned for Schweitzer in 2018 and 2019, and that Allan had awarded sole-source contracts for them after he was appointed to

1274-502: A letter of warning of potential legal challenge to commissioner Allan asking for a response within 30 days. On July 27, 2020, Ecojustice requested that the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta stop the Public Inquiry into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns until the court gave its ruling on their November judicial review application. The University of Calgary 's Martin Olszynski and Shaun Fluker from

1372-736: A month. Compared to other cities in North America, Calgary and Edmonton placed seventh and eighth in terms of highest power costs. The unit price of electricity in Calgary in April 2013 was 14.81 cents per kWh, compared to 6.87 cents per kWh in Montreal, 15.45 in Halifax. On 1 November 2019, during the premiership of Jason Kenney , the United Conservative Party (UCP) removed the electricity price cap of

1470-524: A potential caucus revolt, Kenney called for a leadership review on May 18, 2022, where he would go on to receive 51% approval from the party membership. While technically sufficient for him to remain leader of the party under the United Conservative Party's constitution, Jason Kenney nonetheless announced, moments after the results were released, that he would resign as UCP leader, and Premier of Alberta (albeit he will only formally leave office once

1568-755: A potentially very expensive and very long legal challenge, which the US has never lost. Of the Albertans surveyed on their voting intentions for the 2023 provincial elections—41% said they would vote for the NDP, 30% for the UCP, and 20% for the Wildrose Independence Party, according to a June 2021 Angus Reid Institute poll. The UCP government also ranked lowest in Canada in its response to COVID-19, with only 33% of Albertans approving of their response as of June 2021. Faced with

1666-472: A specific part of the electricity network, or they may be more widespread and affect entire countries and continents. Rolling blackouts generally result from two causes: insufficient generation capacity or inadequate transmission infrastructure to deliver power to where it is needed. Rolling blackouts are also used as a response strategy to cope with reduced output beyond reserve capacity from power stations taken offline unexpectedly. Rolling blackouts are

1764-689: A talk at Manhattan Institute on September 12, 2018, "The Real Fuel of the Future: Natural Gas", Kenney said that there were "domestic economic benefits from an expanded shale gas industry," but there was a "potential American upset of the former hegemony in global gas trade." Kenney said that these "fake accounts advocated for 'the complete abandonment of specific fuel sources, such as fossil fuels, by touting exaggerated claims about alternative energy sources,' while sometimes both promoting and mocking climate change, all intended to “generate further domestic [U.S.] controversy." Minister Schweitzer appointed

1862-543: A third decrease of 9% on January 1, 2021, and a fourth cut of 8% cut that come into effect on January 1, 2022. Toews repeated the campaign pledge when he announced Bill 13, saying that the "cuts should create at least 55,000 jobs in Alberta". As well the Alberta's revised tax rates —will increase the province's "international competitiveness" as they will be lower than those of 44 out of 50 American states, according to Toews. According to an October 26, 2019 CBC News article, when Bill 3 "came into effect on July 1, it gave Alberta

1960-400: Is a "flagship project" of FES, established by then-19-year-old Steve Lee in 2012. On June 25, 2020, Minister Savage announced that a million dollars would be transferred from the CEC's budget to that of the Public Inquiry into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns. In March 2021, the government-funded war room launched a petition against Netflix's Bigfoot Family , a cartoon for children because it

2058-541: Is itself a cost because generators must be purchased and maintained and fuel must be regularly replenished. When blackouts are scheduled in advance, they are easier to work around. The speed at which blackouts roll may be adjusted so that no blackout lasts longer than a certain limit. For instance, in Italy, the PESSE ( Piano di Emergenza per la Sicurezza del Sistema Electrico, Emergency plan for national grid safety) does not permit

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2156-564: Is no carbon tax on consumers. On July 4, 2019, Premier Kenney announced a one-year $ 2.5 million Public Inquiry into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns . The inquiry will include interviews, research, and potentially, public hearings. Kenney announced the creation of the public inquiry along with the "Energy War Room" in a release by the UCP party during his election campaign. Kenney cited "the intrepid reporting of journalist Vivian Krause," who has spent ten years examining foreign funding of Canadian environmental non-profit organizations (ENGOs). In

2254-509: Is on the executive board of Telus Corporation . As president of Telus Home Solutions, Mawji focused on increasing the market share in Canada's western provinces, and the Telus "consumer health product line." The Council "will also focus on strategies for long-term recovery from the crisis, including efforts to accelerate diversification of the Alberta economy." On June 29, 2020, when Premier Kenney outlined his plans for economic growth, he said that

2352-556: Is one of the primary reasons for continuing load shedding. This has caused severe damage to the South African economy and has played a large part in limiting the country's economic growth. In late 1990s in Ukraine there were frequent daily scheduled electricity blackouts throughout the country's power system due to miners' strikes, the destruction of the coal industry in 1991–1996, the hidden privatization of energy companies and barters in

2450-401: Is stopped for non-overlapping periods of time over different parts of the distribution region. Rolling blackouts are a last-resort measure used by an electric utility company to avoid a total blackout of the power system. Rolling blackouts are a measure of demand response if the demand for electricity exceeds the power supply capability of the network. Rolling blackouts may be localised to

2548-555: Is the arithmetic average of the 60 one-minute system marginal prices. Only those offers accepted generate power and receive the AESO pool price. All offers accepted receive the same price, the pool price, not the price offered." In April 2013, Calgary ranked third (with an average monthly payment of $ 216 based on a monthly consumption of 1,000 kWh) and Edmonton fourth ($ 202 a month) in Canada compared to other cities in terms of high electricity bills. Halifax placed first and worst in Canada at $ 225

2646-507: The $ 290,000 job as Commissioner. In response to a request for an investigation into a violation of Alberta's Conflicts of Interest Act, in July 2020, Alberta's ethics commissioner Marguerite Trussler found that Minister Schweitzer did not breach the Act when he appointed Allan. In July 2019, shortly after his appointment as chair of the Public Inquiry, Allan had awarded a $ 905,000 sole-source contract for

2744-519: The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami , Tokyo Electric Power Company implemented rolling blackouts. Its service area were divided to five blocks and blackouts were implemented from 6:20 to 22:00. The schedule from 15 to 18 March 2011 was as follows: In California rolling blackouts during 2000–01 California energy crisis occurred in June 2000, January, March and May 2001, and August 2020. The 2021 Texas power crisis involved rolling blackouts caused by

2842-483: The 2020 Canadian pipeline and railway protests —including the bill targeting those who disrupt critical infrastructure with severe penalties. Other concerns included aggressive cuts in the 2019 and 2020 budgets designed to balance the budget and support the oil and gas sector. Reductions to funding for post-secondary institutions and to municipalities and the freeze on spending on health and public schools also raised questions. The provincial government unilaterally changed

2940-825: The Calgary Herald and in The Tyee said that these ideas were introduced in the Firewall Letter sent to then-premier Ralph Klein on January 24, 2001, from Stephen Harper, who was then president of the National Citizens Coalition at that time; University of Calgary professors— Tom Flanagan , Ted Morton and Rainer Knopff ; Andrew Crooks, then-chair of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation ; and Ken Boessenkool , who had previously served as Stockwell Day 's former policy adviser. On June 20, 2019,

3038-660: The February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm and lack of winterization . The Late December 2022 North American winter storm resulted in rolling blackouts in parts of the eastern US. Intermittent access to electricity causes major economic problems for businesses, which incur costs in the form of lost resources, reduced patronage, or curtailed production if electrical equipment—for example refrigeration, lighting, or machinery—abruptly stops working. Businesses in areas that are subject to regular blackouts may invest in backup power generation to avoid these costs, but power backup

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3136-615: The Kainai Nation . On March 16, when the report was submitted there were eight members on the Panel—Oryssia Lennie, a retired civil servant, who chaired the Panel, Preston Manning , former premier Peter Lougheed 's son, Stephen Lougheed, former MLA Donna Kennedy-Glans , Moin Yahya, and UCP MLAs, Drew Barnes, Tany Yao, and Miranda Rosin. Among other things, Kenney had demanded "reforms to

3234-654: The Public Sector Wage Arbitration Deferral Act (Bill 9)—informally known as the "bargaining rights bill was passed into law. Bill 9 was introduced by Minister Toews in order to "suspend and delay" hearings related to wage arbitration for public sector workers until after the MacKinnon panel report was submitted. is a bill, informally known as the "bargaining rights bill". The bill affected Alberta's 180,000 public service employees represented by unions in 24 collective agreements. In January 2020,

3332-534: The United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) started a collective bargaining process. On July 7, 2021, Finance Minister Toews said that Alberta Health Services was asking for a 3% salary rollback for nurses as part of the negotiation process. Toews said that the government "The needs to "bring wages in line with other large provinces" as nurses in Alberta earn approximately 5.6% "more on average than comparable provinces". He said that, this "does not diminish our deep respect for

3430-460: The subsequent leadership election and was sworn in as premier. The approval rating for Premier Kenney's response to the COVID-19 pandemic is the lowest in Canada, falling to 33% in June 2021. By December 1, 2020, Kenney's overall approval rate among Albertans had dropped to 30% from 60% in September 2019. In March 2020, the reasons for the drop in popularity had included the UCP's response to

3528-487: The 'safe' limit. These have wide-ranging impacts, and can effect the expectations of communities. For example, in Ghana dumsor describes the widespread expectations for intermittent unexpected power outages due to rolling blackouts. In 2021 Iran regularly conducted large blackouts nationwide. In July 2024, the government started 4 hour per day blackouts affecting homes and industries despite 40 degrees Celsius heat waves, and

3626-566: The 18% of the province's electricity came from renewables, many coal-powered plants had converted to natural gas, and it was anticipated that coal generation would be completely phased out by 2023. According to their homepage, AESO operates "independently of any industry affiliations and owns no transmission or market assets." As of November 2023, the AESO executive and board of directors was composed of: (2022, in CAD$ ) (2022, in CAD$ ) According to

3724-548: The AESO are dictated by the Province of Alberta's Electric Utilities Act (EUA) and the Transmission Regulation (T-Reg) and include, without limitation, the following: The AESO operates a market for the exchange of electric energy in Alberta and attempts to uphold the principles of market fairness, openness, and efficiency. To this end the AESO "contracts with transmission facility owners to provide generators access to

3822-534: The Alberta economy." This claim was refuted by the November 15, 2019 Government of Alberta report, "Economic Assessment of Climate Policy in Alberta," which was submitted by the Kenney's government as a court document to the Alberta Court of Appeal , as part of Alberta's constitutional challenge of the federal government's carbon tax. The Alberta government's "own analysis" revealed that Notley's carbon tax economic effect

3920-471: The CEC by the Calgary marketing agency, Communo. Steven Lee, the founder of the Foundation for Environmental Stewardship (FES) became the first to be "scrutinized by the centre". Lee was criticized in a December 10 post entitled "Alberta father irked by charity group that targets fossil fuel industry" that was posted on the newly launched CEC website. An irate parent was concerned about the presentation and

4018-636: The CEC, said that the centre was not "subject to freedom-of-information searches and could be used to stifle legitimate dissent and commentary on the oil and gas industry." In his December 18 rebuttal, Olson, who is a former Calgary Herald journalist, said that "oversight" of the CEC is "rigorous" and that the centre is subject to the Fiscal Planning and Transparency Act, the Whistle Blowers Act and audits by Alberta's auditor general. Olsen said that "campaigns to shut down new pipeline projects and damage

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4116-531: The COVID-19 pandemic was at 37%, which was much lower than that of any other provincial leader. As Premier Kenney's poll numbers fell, there were signs of a potential electoral split on the right, which could contribute to the NDP winning in the next provincial election. During the UCP caucus meeting in October 2020, in a lengthy response to a question from a delegate about the potential for Alberta separating from Canada if

4214-541: The Enmax RRO increased 10.66 to 18.245 cents from the same time period. Prices reach record highs in December with predictions of even higher prices in early 2023. On 2 November, 2023, TransAlta purchased Heartland Generation - the third-largest electricity generation corporation in Alberta - for $ 658 million. Resultingly, TransAlta now controls 46% of electricity generation in the province, which critics have pointed out gives

4312-617: The Faculty of Law, raised concerns about the Alberta Inquiry "from the perspective of the rule of law and procedural fairness." Their colleagues said that the Inquiry could unjustifiably violate the "freedom of expression of the Canadian organizations it is aimed at as well as those associated with such organizations, including their members and supporters." On June 25, Minister Savage announced that

4410-629: The Fiscal Stabilization Program that respond to concerns that Albertans are now "receiving a $ 2.4 billion equalization rebate." The panel advised the province to "proceed with the proposed referendum on equalization," to replace the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in rural Alberta with a provincial police force, to create an Alberta Pension Plan to replace and withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan . An article in

4508-652: The Liberals won another term in the 2021 Canadian federal election in 2021, Premier Kenney responded that his patriotism was to the country, Canada. By July 2020, there were two registered provincial separatist parties—the Independence Party of Alberta led by Cory Morgan , a blogger and columnist for the Western Standard , and the Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta , established in July 2020 with

4606-446: The MacKinnon's August report's recommendations. The first presumptive COVID-19 case in Alberta was announced by Dr. Deena Hinshaw , Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health on March 5, 2020. On March 17, Premier Kenney declared a public health state of emergency. By the end of his first year as premier, Kenney's overall performance approval rate had dropped to 47% with the leader of the opposition rising to 46% approval rate. During

4704-586: The Poor, and Fails to Fix the Climate by Bjørn Lomborg , and Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All by Michael Shellenberger . Both Lomborg and Shellenberger are climate change denialists . The commissioned readings include a 133-page report by United Kingdom-based historian, Tammy Lynn Nemeth—the "Nemeth Report", an Energy in Depth report entitled "Foreign Funding Targeting Canada's Energy Sector", and

4802-555: The Spring Sitting of the 1st Session of the 30th Alberta Legislature , which spanned May through July, 2019, the Kenney government passed about thirteen pieces of legislation, including the Act to Repeal the Carbon Tax, the Alberta Corporate Tax Amendment, and the Public Sector Wage Arbitration Deferral Act . Premier Kenney established a one-year $ 2.5 million Public Inquiry into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns and

4900-577: The Three Percent Project handout given to his fifteen-year-old son at his Airdrie, Alberta school on December 5, 2019. Lee received a phone message from a caller saying, "I'm a reporter with the Canadian Energy Centre. Our website is launching next week and we will be writing a story about the 3% Project, which has raised concerns among some parents who reached out to us following presentations at their children's schools." The 3% Project

4998-459: The UCP's corporation tax will drop to 9% on New Year's Day 2021 and 8% in 2022, which would represent the "lowest rate in Canada by a 30 per cent margin". The UCP's Job Creation Tax Cut was intended to lead to the "creation of at least 55,000 new jobs, according to economist Jack Mintz. Since 2009, the unemployment rate in Alberta hit its lowest point—4.3%—in September 2013 and its highest—9.1%—in November 2016. Alberta had experienced boom years in

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5096-401: The UCP's goal of eliminating the deficit by 2023. It focused on slashing health care costs and various measures related to the public sector, including education. The report's mandate did not include the impact of potential revenue if a provincial sales tax were introduced. By September 2019, polls showed that Premier Kenney had a 60% approval rate. The November 2019 fall budget closely followed

5194-502: The case of South Africa , failing and aged infrastructure, lack of maintenance and alleged corruption in the country's African National Congress -led government in the running of their primary electricity provider, Eskom , is the direct cause of rolling blackouts. Premiership of Jason Kenney The premiership of Jason Kenney spanned from April 2019 until October 2022, when Jason Kenney and his cabinet were sworn in by Lieutenant Governor of Alberta , Lois Mitchell . Kenney

5292-426: The collapse in the price of oil worsened, Alberta's benchmark crude oil— Western Canadian Select (WCS)—descended to negative pricing. By May 2021, the price of WCS had increased to $ USD54.78, representing an increase of $ USD40 a barrel compared to June 2020. By January 7, 2021, faced with the controversy related to international visits undertaken by members of the caucus and the cabinet, as well as key staff, during

5390-454: The company increased incentive and ability to use economic withholding and other monopoly powers to artificially increase electricity prices. A C G H L M P Rolling blackouts A rolling blackout , also referred to as rota or rotational load shedding , rota disconnection , feeder rotation , or a rotating outage , is an intentionally engineered electrical power shutdown in which electricity delivery

5488-461: The country's thermal generation amount was either damaged or under occupation by May 2024. In summer 2023, with the unprecedented heatwave that hit the country, the Egyptian government announced it will start a scheduled blackout across all major cities for 1 hour every day until the heat wave ended. However the blackouts remained well into the winter and were increased to 2 hours a day. In summer 2024,

5586-565: The creation of a Fair Deal panel, to respond to the "frustration, the anger, and even the fear felt by many Albertans and other Western Canadians, arising from our current circumstances within the Canadian federation." Panel member, Jason Goodstriker , who died in January 2020, had previously served as the Alberta Regional Chief for the Assembly of First Nations and was also a councillor with

5684-468: The cuts would "generate a $ 12.7 billion increase in nominal GDP", a "6.5% increase in per capita real GDP", and a "$ 1.2 billion in additional government revenues by 2023-24." The Stokes analysis predicted the "cut will result in $ 1 billion less net revenue for the province by 2022-23." On March 4, 2019, the UCP had announced their intention to cut corporate taxes by one third with a prediction of adding $ 13 billion to Alberta's economy. On January 1, 2021,

5782-473: The deadline for the Public Inquiry's final report has been extended to October 30, 2020, from July 2 and that the Inquiry's budget has been increased from $ 2.5 million to $ 3.5 million. The added funds will be diverted from the Canadian Energy Centre's budget. Commissioner Allen provided inquiry participants with several reports funded and commissioned by the Public Inquiry and a reading list, which included False Alarm: How Climate Change Costs Us Trillions, Hurts

5880-549: The economist, Trevor Tombe. In 2013, oil tax revenues brought in 9.58 billion, or 21% of the total Provincial budget, whereas in 2018 it had fallen to just 5.43 billion, or 11% of the Provincial budget. In 2013, the energy industry had provided 7.7% of all jobs in Alberta. In 2017, 140,300 jobs representing 6.1% of total employment of 2,286,900 in Alberta in 2017 was due to the energy industry. The unemployment rate in Alberta peaked in November 2016 at 9.1%. The unemployment rate in

5978-500: The electric grid." Alberta electricity policy changed in 1996, with the province restructuring its electricity market away from traditional regulation to a market-based system. The market now includes a host of buyers and sellers, and an increasingly diverse infrastructure. By 2020, Alberta had 900 wind turbines, which represented approximately 40% of Canada's total at that time. In 2006, wind power provided less than 8% of Alberta's total power generation. AESO had said wind power

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6076-581: The electricity portfolio of the Calgary-headquartered TransAlta —a utility company—generated a gross margin of $ 864 million in the three months that ended 31 December 2021, which was $ 405 million more than its earnings during the same time frame in the previous year. The price of electricity had increased in 2022, after spiking early in the year. By November 2022, Direct Energy's residential monthly regulated rate option (RRO) increased to 17.597 cents/kWh from 10.483 cents in November 2021, while

6174-550: The energy industry, which included even nuclear power. During 2022 invasion of Ukraine , Russia conducted multiple attacks on energy infrastructure of Ukraine . On October 23 rolling blackouts were introduced in Kyiv and its oblast . Rolling blackouts were introduced in all Ukrainian regions on 25 October 2022. In 2024 Ukraine again faces an unprecedented energy crisis due to Russia's destruction of energy infrastructure, re-introducing rolling blackouts. Approximately 70% of

6272-691: The energy sector starting in 2010, but this boom was followed by a "long and deep" recession that lasted from 2014 to 2017—driven by both low commodity pricing globally and controversial political policies from both the Provincial and Federal Government. When the UCP government were elected in the spring of 2019, Alberta's economy was still in recovery. Overall, by July 2019, about 35,000 jobs had been lost in mining, oil and gas alone. Since 2014, sectors that offered high-wage employment of $ 30 and above, saw about 100,000 jobs disappear—"construction (down more than 45,000 jobs), mining, oil and gas (down nearly 35,000), and professional services (down 18,000)," according to

6370-418: The equalization formula." CBC News reported on May 16 that the panel had submitted its final report. Kenney said that he would not release either the report or the province's response to the public, until "the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is over." The 64-page report made 25 recommendations that would, if implemented remove some control from the federal government, which includes pushing for changes to

6468-406: The exceptional work and dedication of public sector workers." The UNA negotiator said that, "Every profession in Alberta is paid higher than comparator provinces — we used to call that the Alberta advantage." The Alberta government has set a goal of balancing the budget by 2022–2023. As part of Premier Kenney's "main strategy to lure investment to the province, stimulate job growth, and resurrect

6566-477: The fourth wave of the pandemic, saying he waited too long to introduce new measures and that delay will cost lives." In response, Premier Kenney shuffled his cabinet, replacing Tyler Shandro as Minister of Health with Jason Copping . Tyler will replace Copping as Minister of immigration. The UCP government repealed the federal Carbon Tax in 2019 and replaced it with a provincial carbon tax on industrial emitters, which does not tax consumers directly. In 2019,

6664-584: The government began a series of corporate tax cuts with the goal of becoming the most competitive rate in Canada—8% by 2022–23. The government deferred arbitration on public sector wages. They established the commission an inquiry into anti-Alberta energy campaigns, called the Canadian Energy Centre —a 'war room'. A report was commissioned on Alberta's finances by Janice MacKinnon 's task force, that recommended freezes and cuts that would help to reach

6762-537: The icons were "identical, stylized sharp-angled depictions of what appear to be radiating waves... the Progress one is emerald-green and the war room version is two shades of blue." According to a CP report, the Massachusetts -headquartered "software giant"— Progress Software sent an email that morning saying that it was "looking into whether Alberta's new energy war room has violated the company's trademarked logo." In

6860-400: The industry." Kenney said the centre will "counter misinformation" "coming from some environmental groups and others seeking to landlock Alberta's oil and gas". On December 11, Olsen described the centre as a place to tell the story of the oil and gas industry in Alberta, which includes rebutting its critics respectfully. A December 14 Medicine Hat News opinion piece, that was critical of

6958-500: The inquiry to the Calgary law firm, Dentons Canada LLP, where he was a former partner, and where, Toby Allen, Allan's son is a "partner and his good friend, Quincy Smith, also works", according to the Canadian Press (CP), and other media sources. In her ruling Trussler said, "It does stretch credibility that Mr. Allan did not consider whether or not there may possibly be a conflict of interest in his engaging of Dentons as counsel for

7056-455: The inquiry, given that, for all intents and purposes, the firm gave him free office space and both his close friend (although that alone is not significant) and his son were partners at the firm...[However], [n]either the minister, his children, nor his direct associates had any personal or particular interest in, or anything to gain from, the appointment of Mr. Allan as inquiry commissioner". In September 2019, Vancouver-based Ecojustice issued

7154-407: The lowest corporate tax rate in Canada." Bill 3 "formalizes" one of the UCP's election promises. Several economists were cited by the UCP in their April 2019 Alberta Strong and Free Platform, including Jack Mintz , Bev Dahlby , and Aaron Stokes of Stokes Economics . Mintx said that the tax cuts would "lead to the creation of at least 55,000 full-time private sector jobs". Dahlby estimated that

7252-672: The merger of the Wexit Alberta party and the Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta with Paul Hinman as leader, and 40% of Albertans—mainly in rural Alberta—supported separation. According to a 2022 investigative report by journalists Charles Rusnell and Jennie Russell and based on interviews with UCP staffers, both current and former, the efforts made by the office of the premier to "stymie transparency and accountability...are unlike anything they have seen in their many combined years working for other governments". This included

7350-600: The oilpatch" promised during his electoral campaign in their April 2019 campaign platform "Alberta Strong and Free," on June 28, 2019, the Job Creation Tax Cut (Alberta Corporate Tax Amendment) Act (Bill 3), introduced by Minister Toews, came into law. Bill 3 included further reductions in Alberta's corporate tax rate in four stages to lower the "corporate tax rate for all businesses, from 12 to 8% by 2022-23". The first cut from 12 to 11% came into effect on July 1. The second cut of 10% will come into effect in January 2020;

7448-562: The pandemic. Alberta, at one point, had the highest total COVID-19 case in Canada. In response, the UCP experienced a "sharp decline" in the polls. Alberta intends to join TC Energy in their $ 15 billion North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Chapter 11 claim against the United States over the Keystone XL pipeline cancellation, according to a July 7, 2021 Financial Post . This represents

7546-425: The party elects a new leader). Reuters described his leadership style as "uncompromising", "tenacious" and "combative". Kenney won the United Conservative Party leadership election October 28, 2017. He previously represented Calgary Midnapore . In the 2019 Alberta general election held on April 16, 2019, Kenney won with won 54.88% of the popular vote and 63 seats in the legislature. The 30th Alberta Legislature

7644-478: The provincial government had set a target of transitioning away from power generation dependent on fossil fuels by using renewables. The goal was to replace 30% of all electricity generation in the province with renewables by 2030. By December 2022, Alberta had made progress towards reaching the 30% by 2030 target ahead of schedule. According to AESO, in 2017, 59% of Alberta's electricity generators were still using coal; renewables only accounted for 10%. By late 2022,

7742-435: The regulated rate option (RRO) at 6.8 cents/kW—which had been in place since then-Premier, Rachel Notley 's New Democratic Party had set the price cap in 2016. In Alberta, the residential monthly utilities bill includes the cost of electricity, natural gas, water, delivery fees, and transmission fees, with energy costs representing approximately a third of the total. According to a 24 February 2022 Canadian Press article,

7840-443: The reputation of our oil and gas industry have received tens of millions of dollars from U.S. environmental foundations." This has resulted in the "landlocking of Alberta energy" which had resulted in the loss of jobs, "tens of billions of dollars" in capital, less money for public services, as well as "lower value for their shareholders that include many of the country's biggest pension plans and investment funds." The CEC logo, which

7938-452: The severity of power shortages exceeded worst case scenario predictions. In 2024 November 10th government began reimplementing blackouts nationally. Remote areas or off-grid areas are the most vulnerable to power supply issues. Areas placed with under yellow and red alerts are subject to rolling blackouts. Since 2007, South Africa has experienced multiple periods of rolling blackouts which are locally referred to as load shedding by

8036-471: The spring of 2019 in Alberta was 6.7% with 21,000 jobs added in April. By July 2019, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate had increased to 7.0% and remained at about that level since then. By August 2019, the employment number in Alberta was 2,344,000, following the loss of 14,000 full-time jobs in July, which represented the "largest decline" in Canada according to Statistics Canada. According to Statistics Canada, in November, Alberta lost 18,000 jobs and

8134-434: The state-owned energy company Eskom . This was initially caused by the country's demand for electricity outstripping supply, and as time progressed, later exacerbated by ageing power infrastructure, poor maintenance, and the slow completion of new power stations. It was recently revealed by Eskom's former spokesperson Sikhonathi Mantshantsh, that widespread tender corruption and the sabotage of power infrastructure by employees

8232-467: The temperatures rose even higher and the schedule changed to 3 hours every day with reports of unplanned cuts in Alexandria, Cairo and other cities where some places faced over 6 hours without electricity for 3 consecutive days. Rolling blackouts in developed countries sometimes occur due to economic forces at the expense of system reliability, or during natural disasters such as heat waves . After

8330-779: The twelve member Economic Recovery Council composed of policy and industry experts, to advise the government in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy price crash. Jack M. Mintz chairs the twelve member committee. Council members include Clive Beddoe , who served as WestJet 's CEO and who was co-founder of AIMco serving on its board from until 2013, AIMCo's CEO Kevin Uebelein, Robert Blakely, TorQuest Partners' Brent Belzberg, Mainstreet Equity Corporation's Bob Dhillon, Canadian Western Bank 's Chris Fowler , Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper , former Prime Minister of Canada, Morgan Construction and Environmental's Peter Kiss, ATCO 's Nancy Southern, ARC Financial's Mac Van Wielingen, and Zainul Mawji, who

8428-474: The unemployment rate was 7.2%, "with declines occurring in a number of industries, led by wholesale and retail trade. On a year-over-year basis, total employment in the province was little changed." As UCP popularity declined considerably by December 2019, the polling agency, ThinkHQ Public Affairs Inc., said that "governments tend to get more blame for the economy when times are tough than they do credit when times are good." In March 2020, Premier Kenney created

8526-637: The very foreign-funded special interests the CEC is looking to counter." CEC's board of directors is composed of Minister Savage, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Doug Schweitzer, and Jason Nixon , Minister of Environment and Parks . The Canadian Energy Centre (CEC) was launched on December 11 by Premier Kenney, Minister Savage and Olsen at a press conference at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). The CEC will "highlight achievements in Alberta's oil and gas sector" and will "refute what it deems to be misinformation about

8624-474: The war room which will be called the Canadian Energy Centre Limited (CECL). The Canadian Energy Centre Limited is a private corporation, which means that it is not subject to Alberta's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act). Premier Kenney's press secretary Christine Myatt said that keeping CECL's internal operations secret is a "tactical and/or strategic advantage to

8722-501: The way doctors could bill the province and warned that there would be freezes or cuts to government employees in the spring of 2020. Concerns were raised about the cost of the Canadian Energy Centre and about the March 4 decision to "fully or partially [close] 20 provincial parks and seeking "partnerships" for 164 more." The bill that targeted those who disrupt critical infrastructure with severe penalties also raised concerns. By April 7, 2020,

8820-426: The wind dropping or the sun shining less. Natural disasters can also abruptly reduce supply by damaging power plants. A lack of fuel makes some types of power plant useless. Industrial accidents and poor maintenance can also take generation capacity offline. Conflict can disrupt fuel supply, as well as damage or destroy generating and delivery infrastructure. In electricity grids where power generators are paid

8918-587: Was "an average reduction in annual growth of Alberta's gross domestic product (GDP) of only 0.05%." In December 2019, the federal government accepted Kenney's Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Bill 19 legislation—a provincial carbon tax on industrial emitters—which helps Canada reach its Paris Agreement goals. Industrial emitters will pay "$ 30 per tonne of emissions" with an estimated reduction in emissions of "32 megatonnes in 2030." The funds collected will go towards "deficit reduction and technological advancements with respect to climate change." There

9016-549: Was "brainwashing our kids with anti-oil and gas propaganda." Kenney defended the petition, saying the cartoon attempts to "defame, in the most vicious way possible, in the impressionable minds of kids, the largest industry in the province." University of Alberta 's Andrew Leach , said the war room's "quixotic crusade" was "mind-boggling". On November 9, 2019, in a speech at the Manning Centre in Red Deer , Premier Kenney announced

9114-484: Was appointed House Leader, and Doug Schweitzer, Ric McIver , and Savage were appointed as Deputy House Leaders on April 30, 2019. By September 2021, during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic as Alberta's health system was overwhelmed, Premier Kenney faced criticism from all sides including from the official opposition and some MLAs those in the UCP caucus—who allegedly challenged his leadership. Critics, who included 2 UCP MLAs blamed Premier Kenney for his "inaction on

9212-478: Was constituted after the general election on April 16, 2019 . On April 30, the cabinet was sworn in by Lieutenant Governor of Alberta , Lois Mitchell . Ministers in the newly formed cabinet included Travis Toews who was appointed President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance on April 30, 2019. Doug Schweitzer as Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Jason Nixon as Minister of Environment and Parks , Sonya Savage as Minister of Energy , Nixon

9310-532: Was invited to form the 30th Alberta Legislature and became the 18th Premier of Alberta , following the 2019 Alberta general election where Kenney's United Conservative Party (UCP) won a majority of seats in the Alberta Legislature leading to the resignation of Premier Rachel Notley . Kenney stepped down as leader of the UCP party on May 18, 2022, after receiving 51.4% of the UCP party members' votes. His premiership ended shortly after Danielle Smith won

9408-466: Was not reliable enough because wind doesn't blow consistently. When it drops off, coal and natural gas plants have to take up the slack to avoid power shortages." At that time, Alberta didn't have "enough transmission lines to connect new wind turbines to its power grid." By 2021, most of the power generators in Alberta used natural gas as the province transitioned away from coal. AESO announced an all-time record peak electricity demand of 12,187 megawatts

9506-406: Was reached on 19 December 2022 during an extended spell of extreme cold. A grid alert was announced when Keephills 3 power plant west of Edmonton experienced an unplanned outage. In Calgary overnight wind chills of -10 combined with -25 C temperature. On 3 January 2022, AESO reported a record high electricity demand of 11,939 megawatts during an extreme cold spell. In 2016, under then-Premier Notley,

9604-468: Was unveiled at the launch, was also used in the December 11 promotional video, on the CEC's website, "on the wall of its downtown Calgary office, and on signs". By the evening of December 18, "social media users" on Twitter began to share side-by-side versions of the CEC logo and the "trademarked symbol" for Progress Software Corporation , the Massachusetts -headquartered "software giant"— Progress Software , A December 19 Canadian Press report said that

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