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A Conversation with Alison Redford

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A Conversation with Alison Redford 7 Premier Alison Redford meets with CNOOC CEO Li Fanrong at her Calgary office on February 26. On the rules on foreign investment, like the CNOOC takeover of Nexen, Redford says: “We need investment and we need to have a clear and transparent process that allows people to have confidence.” Flickr photo Policy: There are so many pieces to the Q&A: A Conversation great Canadian energy puzzle. How do you see them all fitting together? With Alison Redford Alison Redford: I think that if we carry on with that analogy, that it is a Managing energy in the Canadian federation puzzle, and in Canada, where, because of our perspective on provincial juris- diction around energy, particularly if you happen to come from Alberta; we haven’t been prepared to engage with Alberta Premier Alison Redford met with Policy Edi- each other across provincial borders. tor L. Ian MacDonald in her Calgary office May 3 A lot of the work that we started to do, that we needed to do, triggered by for a wide-ranging Q&A on the Canadian energy Keystone and some of the work that puzzle. Of all the political elements, Redford con- we want to do to open up internation- al markets, was allowing us to engage curred that managing the energy issue within the differently. Canadian federation was the most important. “I So the pieces are quite different. The think back to those conversations with Premier Alberta piece of the puzzle is around Lougheed,” Redford recalled. “He said the most im- conventional energy. The Ontario piece is more green energy. It’s not pactful way to come to a Canadian consensus, was only about energy sources, it’s also to understand that every premier who comes to the about manufacturing capacity, and how we actually bring together an table is promoting the interests of their province, economic plan that’s based around and if you understand that there can be wins for both conventional and unconven- everyone, then that allows for greater success.” tional energy, as well as renewables. Policy: So if you had to pick one piece of the puzzle that was most impor- June/July 2013 8 We always run the risk with any federal government, and tion, that that would be problematic. maybe I have a little bit of suspicion around this because I’m But I do think there’s a role for every- one to be at the table. an Albertan, that when the federal government gets involved, if their approach was to impose a solution, that that would be Policy: We were kind of in that movie problematic. But I do think there’s a role for everyone to be at during the Lougheed years, weren’t the table. we? Alison Redford: (Laughs) We were! tant, would it be managing the energy Quebec and New Brunswick. That is We were! issue in the federation? an issue that has now captured the public imagination, not only in Al- Policy: With the NEP, dare I say that Alison Redford: I think so. Under- berta, but across the country. word in Calgary? standing that even though these are issues that are part of provincial juris- Policy: You mentioned the role of Alison Redford: You know it’s so diction, the only way we can have im- the federal government in all of this. funny, because there are people in pact is to come together as provincial At the end of the day the feds are re- this city who’ve moved here recently partners, and set a direction together. sponsible – and you’re a lawyer, you who don’t even know what the NEP And that’s a very difficult issue be- learned this in law school – for inter- was, which is rather ironic, because it cause we’ve never done that before. national trade, and interprovincial was so fundamental to my psyche as And there’s always been an idea that trade with the provinces. And they an Albertan growing up, and for many if issues are of national importance, can invoke Section 92 (10) of the Con- others across the country. then the federal government has to stitution if they want to invoke the Policy: Speaking of Peter Lougheed, lead on the agenda. declaratory power and declare things no Alberta premier since him has In some instances in this area, it’s dif- like pipelines to be in the national in- stepped onto the national stage the ficult for the federal government to terest. Leaving that aside, how would way you have since you’ve come to lead, partly because as provinces we you feel about the Prime Minister call- office. He used to say, “We were Ca- want to retain jurisdiction, but also ing an energy summit, with all the nadians first,” he said that in the last because, very often, these cross-border players, the 13 provinces and territo- speech of his life in June of last year. issues have to involve real-time con- ries and the First Nations at the table? And you’ve said famously in Toronto, versations around energy, environ- ment and industrial growth. I think back to those “we rise together or we fall together, conversations with Premier there is no other way.” So how do you And from my perspective, that’s prob- see Alberta’s leadership role in the fed- ably the biggest challenge, not just Lougheed. He said the most eration on this issue, among others? as a federal-provincial constitutional impactful way to come to a issue, but in terms of actual business Canadian consensus, was to Alison Redford: Well, I’m pretty development and growth. understand that every premier excited not just as premier, and head of government, but in our discussions Policy: This issue seems to be evolv- who comes to the table is with industry leaders who’ve really ing slowly under the umbrella of the promoting the interests of engaged across the country, in terms Council of the Federation, and under their province, and if you of communicating with people about the brand name of “the Canadian En- understand that there can be how economic growth in Alberta re- ergy Strategy.” How do you see that ally does matter to Canada. And the progressing? wins for everyone, then that allows for greater success. way that industry leaders in other Alison Redford: I’m not sure that parts of the country, and other po- I’d say they’re evolving slowly, but litical leaders in other jurisdictions, they’re not issues that are part of have understood that this really is, as the national conversation right now. you have said, a puzzle or mosaic that For example, the work we’re doing needs to come together. And I think around investing in renewables, look- Alison Redford: Well, I think that’s we’re making very good progress on ing at east-west grids for transmission, a very important conversation to hap- that. At the beginning, when you is work that’s essentially happening pen. My concern would be that we were talking about what this means in at an officials or a technical level, and have developed now a pattern, under terms of the federation, I think back it’s not something that’s necessarily the Canadian Energy Strategy, where to those conversations with Premier capturing the public imagination. But we’re beginning to understand that as Lougheed. He said the most impact- that’s okay, it’s still work that needs equal players we need to come to the ful way to come to a Canadian con- to be done. And then there are other table. We always run the risk with any sensus, was to understand that every pieces that are going to develop much federal government, and maybe I have premier who comes to the table is pro- more quickly than even we’ve antici- a little bit of suspicion around this be- moting the interests of their province, pated, such as the reversal of the east- cause I’m an Albertan, that when the and if you understand that there can west pipeline, and the partnership federal government gets involved, if be wins for everyone, then that allows that we now have between Alberta, their approach was to impose a solu- for greater success. Policy 9 Alberta Premier Alison Redford and Policy Editor L. Ian MacDonald in conversation at the premier’s Calgary office on May 3. On the need to diversity export markets, she said: “Getting our product to tidewater is fundamental to doing what we as a government have an obligation to do, which is to get the best possible price for the resources that are owned by Albertans.” Policy photo, Lee Richardson Policy: What’s your sense of First Na- States. How do you feel about the to New Brunswick, to Saint John, that tions equity in this conversation? need to diversify our markets? the cost of transporting that product to India is not greater or not much Alison Redford: I think it’s funda- Alison Redford: Well, we have to, greater than if we were to export that mental that we bring First Nations in and I remember the first time that I product from the West Coast. Now to talk about this in a way that ensures went to Washington, and I was talking the other thing which is wonder- everyone receives economic benefit to legislators. And they said: “Well, if ful is that there’s so much product from this. In fact, last year when I was Keystone doesn’t go, then what do you in Alberta that we have the ability in Toronto at a mergers and acquisi- do next?” And I said: “Well, make no to be able to use that to continue to tions panel, and someone asked the mistake about it, Alberta is an export develop refinery capacity in Quebec, question: “What are you most wor- driven economy.
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