EDMONTON, AB: The NDP government has shown a new side of their anti-business agenda by launching an unnecessary lawsuit against Enmax, an energy company owned by Calgarians, the Wildrose Official Opposition said.
The returning of Power Purchasing Arrangements (PPAs) to the balancing pool was entirely preventable and foreseen by both the Wildrose and key energy stakeholders in the province, and should have been understood by the NDP government before changing the carbon levy under the SGER.
“At the end of the day the launch of this lawsuit shows the NDP government’s blatant disregard for covenants, business sense, respect for taxpayer dollars, and knowledge of how our electricity system works,” Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said. “The NDP government is taking on a lengthy and costly court case against an energy company owned by the people of Calgary. It just doesn’t add up.”
Rather than launching a lawsuit to cover up the poor planning done to date by the NDP government on the electricity file, they should be sitting down with energy companies to find a collaborative pathway towards a sustainable electricity market.
“The NDP government needs to face the facts and drop this frivolous lawsuit. If it wasn’t for their mishandling of the energy file, their abrupt and ideological change to SGER after one month in office, and their accelerated coal phase out, we wouldn’t be in this current situation,” Wildrose Shadow Electricity and Renewables Minister Don MacIntyre said. “At the end of the day, Wildrose will be on the side of everyday Albertans, and that means working collaboratively with our energy companies in the best interests of Albertans, not slapping lawsuits down and whining about the consequences of irresponsible policy.”