This week in Alberta news: nationalizing oil, border patrol

There has been a deluge in Alberta lately, each week bringing an endless stream of announcements or re-announcements. Some are small, some are let’s-see-if-we-can-break-Canada significant. Think: ignoring federal laws and establishing its own border patrol.

Let’s just say the past week has been one for the books. 

It’s hard to keep track of everything and the context behind it, even for those who are, ahem, paid to keep track of what’s tied to energy and the environment (let’s face it, that’s everything). 

Here is a roundup of Danielle Smith’s significant moves related to energy and the environment recently — and a little analysis of what is, or could be, behind them. 

1. Alberta Oil and Gas Inc.?

Hands down the most significant announcement this week is Danielle Smith’s plan to (sort of) nationalize aspects of the province’s oil and gas industry in response to the federal government’s proposed emissions cap.

Smith wants to invoke her creatively titled Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act to sell oil and gas directly for companies through a royalty-in-kind program. Basically, “give us the oil and gas instead of paying us royalties and we’ll sell it for you” — our words, not hers.

Smith has also mused this week on “de-risking” the long-dead Keystone XL pipeline to the U.S. “De-risking” means providing some sort of insurance for anyone willing to build the pipe — it’s something her predecessor Jason Kenney did, costing Albertans more than $1 billion. Details to come?

The province also vows to work with other jurisdictions to build more pipelines to the U.S., but the details are unclear. 

The moves to directly market and sell oil, as well as investing or intervening to build pipelines (not to mention the little nuggets you’ll read below about controlling data and access to oil and gas sites) are a not-insignificant departure from the free hand of the market. 

But wait, there’s more. 

2. Danielle Smith wants to ban federal employees from Alberta oil and gas sites

The province argues the emissions cap on the oil and gas industry is actually a cap on production and will hurt the economy. The federal government, well, disagrees.

Smith’s government said it would retaliate against the federal government if it brings in an emissions cap by launching a constitutional challenge. Smith also suggested Alberta would somehow block access to private oil and gas facilities for…