Letter from Canada: New Alberta premier brings uncertainty
Danielle Smith’s proposals to take power back from Ottawa do not even have the oil and gas sector’s support
“Today marks a new beginning in the Alberta story,” said the province’s new premier, Danielle Smith, on winning the leadership race for the governing United Conservative Party in early October. “No longer will Alberta ask permission from Ottawa to be prosperous and free... we will not have our resources landlocked, or our energy phased out of existence by a virtue-signalling prime minister." Smith, who is from the libertarian wing of the UCP, campaigned on another legal challenge to the federal government’s carbon tax—despite the Supreme Court of Canada’s March 2021 decision to uphold it—and the prompt passage of a proposed Alberta Sovereignty Act (ASA) to protect the province from perceived
Also in this section
28 January 2026
The alliance looks to bolster market management credibility by bringing greater clarity and unity to output cuts and producer capacity later in 2026
23 January 2026
A strategic pivot away from Russian crude in recent weeks tees up the possibility of improved US-India trade relations
23 January 2026
The signing of a deal with a TotalEnergies-led consortium to explore for gas in a block adjoining Israel’s maritime area may breathe new life into the country’s gas ambitions
22 January 2026
As Saudi Arabia pushes mining as a new pillar of its economy, Saudi Aramco is positioning itself at the intersection of hydrocarbons, minerals and industrial policy






