Alberta introduces bill to ban federal employees from collecting emissions data from energy companies

Alberta is once again telling Canada to back off the oil and gas industry.

This time, the province is amending the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act to ban federal employees from obtaining emissions data from energy companies.

“What we’re asserting is that we own the emissions data that comes from the oil and gas operations that we license, we permit and that develop it on our behalf,” said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith at a press conference in Edmonton Wednesday.

Bill 45 is part of an ongoing effort to fight a proposed federal emissions cap, which the UCP government says will slow production and hurt workers.

Alberta says it will collect that data and report it to Ottawa instead.

But the province wouldn’t say what’ll happen – if anything – if private companies or the federal government ignore that legislation.

“I’m not going to go down the road whether or not, hypothetically, somebody is going to be arrested or not arrested,” said Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis. “Right now, we just really hope that people in the federal government abide by, really, respect property owners and property rights.”

It’s not the first time Alberta has fought back against a federal emissions cap. The government passed a sovereignty act motion last year, with the premier saying this cements that effort in legislation.

But the Alberta NDP is calling it political theatre, saying the government should instead negotiate a deal with Ottawa that protects Alberta’s industries.

“There was nothing in the sovereignty act that did anything except barring employees from entering private lands, which is illegal and unconstitutional,” said NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi. “And I’m reasonably sure the province hasn’t even tried to do it. So again, performance, performance, performance. Let’s make some deals.”

Legal experts have suggested Alberta is on shaky legal ground on this issue and the government’s efforts could be overturned in court.

But the justice minister is willing to take that chance.

“We take the position that we’re going to respect the court, we’re going to abide by the court, especially when it is a ruling by our country’s highest court,” said Minister Mickey Amery. “However, the federal government has not done that. And so, we continue to take these measures to protect our industry.”

Bill 45 also includes amendments to create a two-kilometre critical infrastructure zone around Alberta’s border with the United States.

The premier has said for weeks this is necessary to address Donald Trump’s fentanyl and human trafficking concerns, and hopefully avoid some tariffs.