Alberta Minute: Nenshi Waffles, Oil Exports, and Electricity Market Reforms

Alberta Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Alberta politics.

This Week In Alberta:

• Rachel Notley, former Premier of Alberta and former leader of the NDP, is resigning from her position as MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona, effective December 30th, 2024. Naheed Nenshi, the current leader of the Alberta NDP, says he’s thinking about running for the seat. When a vacancy arose in Lethbridge, Nenshi said that he preferred to represent a Calgary seat, citing his roots in the city. At the time, critics suggested that his reluctance to run in Lethbridge was likely due to concerns over his ability to win there - it looks like they were probably right! Now, with a safe NDP seat opening in Edmonton, Nenshi appears to have no reservations about running outside of Calgary.
  
  
• Alberta is implementing electricity market reforms to reduce costs for ratepayers and enhance affordability. Starting April 18th, 2025, the Province will shift to a day-ahead market model, where power generators commit their energy 24 hours in advance, providing clearer information for better grid management and less price volatility. These changes aim to improve the reliability of the system and foster competition, making electricity pricing more stable.
  
  
• Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee will be the Province’s new top bureaucrat. Starting February 24th, 2025, he will serve as Deputy Minister of Executive Council and head of the Alberta Public Service. McFee has been the Edmonton Police Chief since 2019 and has held leadership roles with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Police Association. Prior to his role in Edmonton, he worked as a Deputy Minister for Corrections and Policing in Saskatchewan. Premier Danielle Smith says she’s confident that McFee's experience and perspective will benefit the Province's public service.

Last Week In Alberta:

• Premier Danielle Smith announced the creation of a new Interdiction Patrol Team (IPT) to address illegal activities along the province’s 298-kilometre border with Montana. The team will include 51 officers and four drug detection dogs, as well as drones and narcotics analyzers to enhance border security. In addition, a "critical border zone" will be established, allowing sheriffs to arrest individuals without a warrant for illegal border crossings or trafficking activities. The project will be supported by a $29 million investment in its first year.
  
  
• Premier Smith also stated that the Province would not impose retaliatory tariffs on oil and gas exports if US President-elect Donald Trump follows through with plans for heavy tariffs on Canadian goods. Smith emphasized that Alberta’s energy exports are a valuable bargaining tool for satisfying US demand and expressed her opposition to tariffs, which she believes would make life more expensive for both Canadians and Americans. In contrast, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has suggested cutting off electricity exports to certain US states in response to potential trade tensions.
  
  
• Alberta announced an investment of $5.5 million in new grants to support organizations combating human trafficking and assisting victims. This funding is part of the Province’s anti-trafficking initiative. The grants aim to provide trauma-informed care for survivors, raise awareness of their challenges, and prevent re-exploitation. Human trafficking remains a serious issue in Alberta, with multiple high-profile cases and reports of trafficking routes passing through cities like Calgary and Edmonton.

-----

Donate:

The Alberta Institute doesn't accept any government funding and never will. We think you should be free to choose, for yourself, which organizations to support. If you're in a position to contribute financially, you can make a donation here.

-----

Share:

If you're not in a position to donate, we understand, but if you appreciate our work, you can help by spreading our message. Please forward this email to your friends, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and help make sure every Albertan knows what's going on in our province.