UCP Stands Firm: Grassroots Victory Over Federal Overreach – A Win for Alberta's Energy Future

ALBERTA'S ENERGY WIN

Alberta Radio - Jason LaFace

December 11, 2025 – Edmonton, AB

In a resounding display of Alberta-first grit, delegates at the United Conservative Party's (UCP) annual general meeting in Edmonton this past weekend sent a clear message to Ottawa: Hands off our economy, our autonomy, and our energy sector. Over 4,500 registered party members gathered to debate and vote on resolutions that reaffirm the UCP's unyielding commitment to protecting Alberta's interests against relentless federal interference. This wasn't just a convention – it was a battle cry for sovereignty, and the grassroots won big.

At the heart of the weekend's triumphs was the overwhelming rejection of key concessions in Premier Danielle Smith's recent memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Prime Minister Mark Carney's federal government.

Signed on November 27, the deal promised a new pipeline to export one million barrels a day of Alberta crude from a deepwater port in British Columbia – a long-overdue lifeline for our oil and gas industry. But buried in the fine print were provisions that would have saddled Alberta with federal emissions caps, greenwashing regulations, and a hike in the industrial carbon tax. Delegates weren't buying it. In a floor vote that drew cheers across the hall, they scrapped those elements, opting instead for a resolution to "defend Alberta’s economy and autonomy by opposing all attempts by the Federal government to regulate or legislate on industrial carbon emissions within Alberta’s boundaries."

Premier Smith, addressing the crowd with her trademark fire, hailed the outcome as "a clear win for Alberta families and workers." She emphasized that while the pipeline commitment remains a priority – one that could create thousands of high-paying jobs and boost provincial revenues by billions – Alberta won't trade its sovereignty for scraps from Ottawa's table. "We're building pipelines on our terms, not Trudeau-era holdovers or Carney's climate lecturing," Smith declared, drawing sustained applause. This pushback comes at a critical time: Alberta's energy sector, which employs over 200,000 Albertans and accounts for 25% of our GDP, has been choked by federal policies like the emissions cap and tanker moratorium for years. The UCP's stance ensures we fight for every barrel, every job, and every dollar that belongs to Albertans.

The convention wasn't all pipelines and federal feuds. Delegates also fired shots across the bow on other fronts, passing resolutions to oppose the paused federal electric vehicle (EV) mandate – a one-size-fits-all disaster that would force rural Albertans into unaffordable, unreliable vehicles while ignoring our cold winters and vast distances. They rejected anti-greenwashing rules in the Competition Act, which critics say stifle free speech and innovation in the energy sector. And in a nod to everyday affordability, members voted to repeal the incoming "care-first" no-fault auto insurance reforms set for January 2027, pushing instead for a return to an at-fault system that rewards personal responsibility and cuts down on fraud. 75% support on the floor, this resolution underscores the UCP's core values: accountability, fairness, and keeping more money in drivers' pockets amid skyrocketing premiums.

These aren't abstract policy tweaks – they're lifelines for families squeezed by inflation and overregulation. Take the carbon tax hike buried in the MOU: It would have jacked up costs for manufacturers, farmers, and energy producers, ultimately hitting grocery bills and gas pumps. By nixing it, the UCP is shielding Alberta from what amounts to a hidden wealth transfer to Eastern Canada. And on EVs? Forcing them down our throats ignores the reality that Alberta's grid is powered by affordable natural gas and hydro, not pie-in-the-sky wind farms that freeze in -30°C. The grassroots get it: We need practical solutions, not virtue-signaling mandates.

Of course, the left-leaning media – ever quick to clutch pearls – spun the convention as "extremism" or "climate denial." But let's call it what it is: Democracy in action. UCP members, from Fort McMurray rig workers to Calgary ranchers, showed up to hold their party accountable. This is the beauty of the UCP – a big-tent conservative movement where everyday Albertans shape the agenda, not elite bureaucrats in Ottawa or Edmonton cocktail circuits.

Looking ahead, the momentum from Edmonton is already rippling outward. Premier Smith announced plans to introduce a motion under Alberta's sovereignty act to defy the federal gun buy-back program – another wasteful, rights-trampling scheme that disarms law-abiding hunters and sport shooters while criminals laugh. And with federal Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, forcing a House of Commons vote next week on the pipeline MOU, Alberta's fight is going national.

Poilievre's motion mirrors the UCP's language: Build the pipeline, adjust the tanker ban, respect Indigenous consultations, and get 'er done. If Liberals vote it down, they'll own the economic sabotage.

To UCP supporters across the province: This weekend proved why your voice matters. The Edmonton convention wasn't about photo ops or platitudes – it was about reclaiming Alberta's destiny. Premier Smith and the UCP caucus have our backs, but we need yours too. Join a constituency association, volunteer for the next by-election, or simply share this story. Together, we're not just conserving – we're building a bolder, freer Alberta.

Alberta Strong and Free. Let's keep it that way.

Fact Check: All claims in this article are verified against official UCP announcements, convention resolutions, and independent reporting from sources including Canada's National Observer (Dec. 1, 2025), CityNews Calgary (Dec. 5, 2025), and CBC News (Dec. 2, 2025). Economic impacts cited align with Alberta government data on the energy sector's contributions.