The Tri-partite battle on climate change

I remember when "State v. Federal Government" was a battle between an anxious Governor in California (D - Totally Recalled) and George Bush (R - Don't mess with Texas, either). Then it evolved into an emboldened Governor in California (R -the Hummerator) and a bunch of other enlightened states, who pulled in a handful of Canadian provinces.

At all times, however, the battle has been how the Feds (Canadian and Americain) weren't doing enough to fight climate change.

Apparently there is a new cabal of governors/Premiers who think the feds will be doing to much and it will disproportionately affect their states provinces.

I don't think I need to tell you who they are - but Rick Perry (R - from GWB's Texas), Ed Stelmach (C - not quite what Harper wanted) and Sarah Palin (R - Hockey Mom) are forming their own West Coast Climate initiative - except the goals are the opposite of the WCI.

It is kind of fun to watch. None of them believe in Dinosaurs.

I think that should be a pre-condition for elected office.


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Is Alberta ready for Sarah Palin?
The Calgary Sun
Monday, December 15, 2008
Page: 15 Section: Editorial/Opinion
Byline: BY NEIL WAUGH

You can't put lipstick on this pig either.

With Premier Ed Stelmach scheduled to wing to the Lone Star State today for important talks with Texas Governor Rick Perry, it appears another energy player is about to hit the ice.

America's favourite hockey mom, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, could be joining Steady Eddie's team when an Alberta government delegation heads north early in the new year to possibly form a state-provincial front against tough new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency carbon emission rules.

Which will inevitably spill over into the North America-wide carbon cap and trade deal that Prime Minister and token Alberta MP Stephen Harper vowed he wants to negotiate with Barack Obama.

In a hot letter to EPA officials Perry complained about the "disproportionate impact on Texas." And how "ripple effects will be felt throughout the national economy."

The last thing the U.S. or Canadian economies need right now is more ripples.

Perry goes on to accuse Washington of "intentionally crippling" his state's energy, agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

Which would "irreparably damage an already fragile national economy."

No one knows that more than Palin, who right now would be trying to rescue the world's largest economy from the trauma centre had she become the Republican vice-president.

Alaska is already feeling the pinch. Today Palin will reveal her 2009 budget.

She has already alerted state legislators to expect an economic game plan that will "stress fiscal conservatism."

"There is no need to panic," she said in reacting to the recent nose-dive in oil prices.

"A few short years ago $40-a-barrel oil would have been great news for Alaska."

That's why the Alaska government is putting so much faith in the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act she signed earlier this month with Calgary's TransCanada Pipelines to build a 48-inch natural gas pipeline from Prudhoe Bay to the Alberta Hub at Empress.

She called it a "long deferred dream" to bring Alaska's resources to market.

Just like Alberta's diminished fiscal status, not exactly a good time to impose new charges and taxes on energy producing areas in the name of greenhouse gases.

That's what will be on the agenda Jan. 2 and 3 when an Alberta delegation rushes north to Alaska to help Palin celebrate her state's 50 anniversary and talk about what kind of economic punishment Ottawa and Washington are cooking up.

"There are any number of reasons for Alaska officials to welcome Alberta's delegation," governor's office spokesman Bill McAlister said.

"Governor Palin is always concerned when the federal government does anything that could hamper oil and gas exploration and development."

That's the message Stelmach takes to Austin today when he describes Texas and Alberta as "pillars of North American energy economy."

"It's critical for our jurisdictions to work together," the premier said about the two-day meeting, which his office calls a "summit."

Whatever deal Steady Eddie can cut with the Texas governor will be used to build on the Coalition West meeting scheduled for Jan. 12.

That's where the seven western premiers will hammer out a common front to take to the first minister's budget meeting with the prime minister.

Stelmach is putting the final touches on a shopping list for a piece of Harper's "significant" stimulation package.

This includes a major financial commitment from the feds for carbon capture and storage, a promise to back off any punitive measures that could harm the only industrial sector in the country still firing on most cylinders --and infrastructure bucks.

And Stelmach's favourite, removal of interprovincial trade barriers.

Eddie is ready for Alaska. But are Albertans ready for Sarah?