Alberta Proposes Oil-Site Trespass Bill to Keep Federal Workers From Grabbing Data That is the Property of the Alberta Government

Alberta’s government is proposing a law it says would ban federal employees from going on any oil-related sites — from wellheads to corporate head offices – but the NDP says it’s an illegal and performative distraction.

Premier Danielle Smith says the goal is to keep federal staffers away from any place where oil and gas production and emissions data might be located.

Smith says it’s necessary because she doesn’t trust how the federal government will calculate greenhouse gas emissions as it crafts its proposed emissions cap.

Smith says emissions data is the property of the Alberta government and says if a private company doesn’t comply, the province could make it a condition of its licence.

Opposition NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir says the province can’t bind the federal government, and says the bill puts industry in the difficult position of being told to breach federal law.

Smith’s United Conservative government has said it is determined to protect Alberta’s jurisdiction over its natural resources and says the emissions cap could lead to a mandated production cut.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 19, 2025.

Lisa Johnson and Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press

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