# Mark Carney’s pact with Danielle Smith is climate carnage Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZMoJF16LdI Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/VZMoJF16LdI Generated: 2025-12-04T22:07:01.46+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The main outcome is that the political maneuvering by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, exemplified by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the federal government to remove environmental regulations and secure massive tax credits for LNG and AI projects, is criticized as a political capitulation that benefits the fossil fuel industry at the expense of climate action, particularly concerning the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. **Key Points:** - Danielle Smith's government signed an MOU with the federal government to remove environmental protections and secure tax credits for LNG and AI projects, which the host calls a concession to the fossil fuel industry. - The MOU exempts new oil projects from regulations that would hinder increased oil production, including the removal of the federal carbon tax for those specific emissions. - The federal government previously committed to a $170/tonne carbon price by 2030, but the current framework allows for a significant carve-out for heavy oil and LNG projects, effectively weakening climate commitments. - The opposition to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which was cancelled and then revived, is highlighted, showing that the current government's actions contradict previous climate goals. - The speaker notes that the political climate in Canada, particularly in Alberta and BC, shows a majority of people support climate action, making the government's moves politically risky. - The speaker highlights that Alberta's climate goals are now dependent on the success of LNG and carbon capture, which are seen as risky long-term bets. - The speaker points out that federal policies, such as the federal carbon price, are significantly lower than what would be necessary to meet climate targets, suggesting a lack of seriousness from the government. ![Screenshot at 00:15: Host Desmond Cole introduces the topic, stating that Alberta Premier Mark Carney wants more oil production in Canada and is using a Memorandum of Understanding to remove environmental protections and secure tax credits.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VZMoJF16LdI/00-00-15.png) **Context:** This video segment from "The Breach Show," hosted by journalist and author Desmond Cole, features an interview with Seth Klein, an author and analyst at BC Policy Solutions. The discussion centers on the recent political actions taken by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and the federal government regarding climate policy, specifically focusing on an MOU that grants concessions to the oil and gas industry, particularly concerning the Trans Mountain pipeline and new LNG/AI infrastructure, despite growing public support for stricter climate action. ## Detailed Analysis The discussion centers on the political maneuvering by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith regarding climate policy, specifically an MOU with the federal government that grants concessions to the fossil fuel industry. Desmond Cole frames Premier Smith's actions, such as securing tax credits for LNG and AI projects and removing environmental regulations, as a major setback for climate action. Smith's government is actively rolling back or weakening environmental rules that were meant to limit greenhouse gas emissions, including scrapping the consumer carbon tax for industrial emissions associated with these projects. Seth Klein notes that the proposed industrial carbon price is only $100/tonne, far below the $170/tonne target set for 2030, and that the federal government previously supported these carve-outs. Klein emphasizes that the political logic behind these moves is questionable, especially given the opposition from First Nations and the general public in provinces like BC, where there is broad support for climate action. He points out the hypocrisy of the government supporting the TNMX pipeline expansion while claiming to be carbon neutral, noting the ongoing environmental damage caused by past oil spills. The overall sentiment is that the government's actions prioritize fossil fuel dependence over genuine climate resilience and that this political maneuvering is likely to be challenged legally and politically. ### Introduction - Alberta Premier Mark Carney's actions - Host Desmond Cole welcomes Seth Klein to discuss Carney's push for more oil production in Canada facilitated by an MOU that removes environmental protections and secures tax credits for LNG and AI. ### The MOU Concessions - Premier Smith's government secured major concessions - The deal effectively exempts new oil/LNG projects from federal carbon pricing and other environmental regulations, contradicting previous climate commitments. ### Carbon Pricing Failure - The federal carbon price is significantly lower than needed - The industrial carbon price remains at $100/tonne, far from the projected $170/tonne needed by 2030, leading to insufficient incentives for decarbonization. ### Political Opposition and Risk - First Nations and BC opposition - Coastal First Nations and BC oppose the LNG terminal expansion, and the political risk for the government is high given strong public support for climate action. ### Industry Reliance on Fossil Fuels - Oil and gas industry push - The industry is heavily invested in securing favorable policies that allow continued reliance on fossil fuels, demonstrated by the TNMX pipeline's history and current government support. ### Conclusion and Outlook - Unlikely progress and future challenges - Klein believes the current approach is unlikely to lead to a resilient future, as it relies on risky technologies like carbon capture and storage, and the political momentum seems to favor fossil fuels despite the climate crisis. ![Screenshot at 00:07: Host Desmond Cole begins the interview, introducing the topic of Premier Mark Carney's policies on oil production and environmental agreements.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VZMoJF16LdI/00-00-07.png) ![Screenshot at 00:52: The split screen shows Cole on the left and Seth Klein on the right, with Klein introduced as an author and analyst at BC Policy Solutions.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VZMoJF16LdI/00-00-52.png) ![Screenshot at 01:45: Seth Klein discusses the impact of Carney's shift in climate policy, noting that the oil patch has already won concessions regarding greenhouse gas emissions.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VZMoJF16LdI/00-01-45.png) ![Screenshot at 03:32: Seth Klein details how the federal government's budget and the Competition Act revisions favor fossil fuel companies over climate goals.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VZMoJF16LdI/00-03-32.png) ![Screenshot at 06:09: Desmond Cole gestures emphatically while explaining that the climate movement is pushing hard for change, contrasting with the government's actions.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VZMoJF16LdI/00-06-09.png)