All aboard the Net Zero express

In the end, all that was missing was the, “Build Back Better,” logo.

On Nov. 29th, Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government went all-in on the Net Zero agenda, announcing one of the largest subsidies in provincial history to one of the world’s largest corporations to help retrofit a Fort Saskatchewan plastics plant.

The Dow Chemical plant was rechristened as the Path2Zero project, referring to the plan to capture all carbon emissions from the plant’s operations.

The cost to Alberta taxpayers will be $1.8 Billion, not in loans or guarantees, but in direct subsidies. Federal taxpayers (including Albertans) will be on the hook for another $400 Million.

Sharing the stage with Smith at the announcement was Justin Trudeau’s handpicked Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, a member of the World Economic Forum’s Board of Trustees. Dow is also listed as a partner on the WEF’s website.

It should also be noted that back in April, Dow’s board officially selected Linde as its clean hydrogen partner for the project. Linde is a participant in the United Nations Global Compact, a group dedicated to pushing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Folks, something stinks and it isn’t carbon dioxide.

While many countries around the world are currently stepping away from expensive and often counterproductive Net Zero commitments, there appears to be no closing the 24/7 corporate welfare buffet here in Alberta.

While Smith’s government ostensibly opposes the federal carbon tax, it has done nothing to curtail its own industrial carbon tax – which is tied directly to the federal carbon tax’s rates (which are set to increase from $65 per tonne today to $170 per tonne in 2030).

Even worse, the government’s joint statement on the Path2Zero project went so far as to praise the provincial carbon tax, stating, “We are pleased that Alberta’s… stable industrial carbon pricing system… made Alberta the most attractive choice.”

You heard that right, tripling the provincial carbon tax over seven years is apparently, “stable.”

Just shut up and pay more. We’ll tell you what’s good for you.

If it wasn’t clear before now, Alberta’s government is back to playing the Jason Kenney game.

Sure, Smith talks tough when the cameras are on – but she’s more than happy to play ball with the federal government and the World Economic Forum the second you’re not looking.

Keep this in mind as Ottawa and Edmonton continue their feud over electricity regulations.

As I have written previously, virtually every industry expert agrees that the Trudeau Net Zero 2035 plan is unworkable in the real world, and will lead to brownouts. But Smith’s Net Zero 2050 plan will also cost Albertans tens of billions in higher rates, delivery charges, and taxpayer-funded corporate welfare.

As it happens, both plans are deigned to meet arbitrary objectives that were set by foreign bureaucrats, and neither plan has ever been directly ratified by Canadian voters.

Funny how that works.

There is a term that perfectly describes these Net Zero plans, which are supported by both provincial and federal governments, backed by lobbyists from global companies, and driven by international organizations like the WEF and UN.

The term is railroaded. We’re being railroaded.

So, for now, it’s, “All aboard the Net Zero express.”

You’re getting a ticket whether you want one or not.