It seems that Steven Guilbeault, the Environment Minister of Canada, isn’t a popular as he thinks he should be, what with saving the world and all. His “suck it up, Shriners” message, announced yesterday as part of the Trudeau government’s draft regulations to move Canada ever closer to NetZero, have really ruffled some feathers.

Especially that part about “costing more” but, oh, saving you money on the backside because of gas and oil expenditures.

RIGHT

Everyone’s heard the line about renewables being cheaper and no one’s falling for it any more.

.Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault’s newly announced plan to largely phase out the use of fossil fuels to generate power in Canada over the next 12 years is being criticized as costly and unrealistic, despite his claims that higher electricity costs would be offset by savings on oil and gas.

..Environment and Climate Change Canada officials said in a technical briefing that the national average household energy bill would increase by between $35 and $61 per year when the regulations are adopted by 2040, although the government says that only two per cent of this increase would be the result of the regulations. It also projects that the increase would be offset by savings when consumers reduce their dependency on fossil fuels, for instance the savings from the cheaper cost of recharging an electric vehicle (EV) compared to filling up with gasoline.

“Shifting to clean electricity saves households on their energy bills away from the shocks of yo-yoing gas and oil prices,” said Guilbeault.

RIGHT

That clean electricity switch is going to be a rude shock to folks who live in the more frigid regions, not to mention the remote areas. Guilbeault actually has stated that the savings off-setting the electricity price increases will be from everyone swapping over to heat pumps and…

…also projects that the increase would be offset by savings when consumers reduce their dependency on fossil fuels, for instance the savings from the cheaper cost of recharging an electric vehicle (EV) compared to filling up with gasoline.

…charging up your EV. So everyone in Canada is supposed to go completely electric then?

For giggles, let’s take the average January lows for a handful of Canadian cities, why don’t we? How are they looking for maximum heat pump efficiency and compatibility, not to mention “charging your EV”?

BBBBrrrrrrrr

The theme song from “Frozen” comes to mind looking at those. And that’s the average – it gets much colder. EVs are allergic to cold and heat pumps? HAH. We’ve gone over that a dozen times already. Heat pumps are not a bitterly cold weather “heating” solution, period, never.

There are lots of people throwing the “WHAT ARE YOU THINKING” flags. No doubt probably wondering if the Ottawa crowd even knows where the rest of Canada is located.

…Heather Exner-Pirot, director of energy, natural resources and environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and special adviser to the Business Council of Canada, said the federal Liberals are choosing to go “much faster and further than what anyone else thinks is logistically or economically possible.”

“They’re arguing that switching to clean electricity will save Canadians money. That’s not being realistic,” she argued. “Natural gas in Canada is cheap and reliable. Heat pumps and EVs do not work well in large parts of the county in winter, and that’s a fact.”

One sadly disillusioned Canadian citizen is already calling EV’s the “biggest scam of modern times.” Wait until he finds out the government expects Canadians to make the things their primary vehicles.

Dalbir Bala, who lives in the Winnipeg area, bought a Ford F-150 Lightning EV in January for $115,000 Canadian dollars (around $85,000 U.S. dollars), plus tax. Ford said the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) on the vehicle is $77,495 U.S. dollars.

But Bala was quickly hit with the reality of owning and operating an EV soon after the purchase. The vehicle compelled him to install two chargers – one at work and one at home – for $10,000. To accommodate the charger, he had to upgrade his home’s electric panel for $6,000.

In all, Bala spent more than $130,000 – plus tax.

Not long after the purchase, Bala got into a minor accident which, he said, required “light assembly” on the front bumper. Bala took the vehicle to the body shop and did not get it back for six months. He said no one from Ford answered his email or phone calls for help.

The limitations of the EV truck became even more apparent when Bala embarked on a chaotic 1,400-mile road trip to Chicago.

I don’t think the price tag is going to fly with your average Joe, less mind the irritation – the guy’s story is a nightmare. I’m sure he’s telling all his Canadian neighbors.

Saskatchewan and Alberta basically told the crusading Minister of Climate Cults, “Keep dreaming, brother.” Ottawa is welcome to rush to their doom, but they won’t be taking everyone with them.

…Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said Thursday the draft regulations are “unaffordable, unrealistic and unconstitutional,” and that he would oppose the new rules.

“They will drive electricity rates through the roof and leave Saskatchewan with an unreliable power supply. Our government will not let the federal government do that to Saskatchewan people,” Moe said in a post on social media.

…“Trudeau’s net-zero targets are simply not achievable in Saskatchewan, and we will not ask our residents to pay the extraordinary price for the federal government’s divisive policies, nor will we risk the integrity of our provincial power grid to defy the laws of thermodynamics,” he said.

Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz blasted the federal government for putting “ideology before common sense, affordability and reliability”, and said “they will not be implemented in our province, period”.

Beauty.

The problem with bucking the liberal plan, while they remain in power, is very much the problem we are seeing here. You can tell them to fly a kite, and then they pull a regulatory rug out from under you. That’s what is happening with this announcement and the pushback.

…Smith also said, “The draft federal 2035 net-zero power grid regulations are unconstitutional, irresponsible and do not align with Alberta’s emissions reduction and energy development plan that works towards a carbon-neutral power grid by 2050.”

No matter what Ottawa says, Smith promised Alberta will bring on more energy with natural gas plants rigged with carbon capture, utilization and storage, small modular nuclear reactors, hydrogen and “a sustainable” amount of wind, solar and other renewables.

A major sticking point, referenced by Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz in her news conference, is that Ottawa will put a 20-year time limit on new gas plants, as opposed to their usual 40-year lifespan, greatly limiting their ability to either turn a profit or provide affordable energy. Guilbeault’s plan will drive up consumer costs three, four or five times as high as they are now, Schulz said.

They get you coming or they get you going, but they get you.

Canadians have to wake up.

Everything they are doing is just punative now.
Now is the Time to fight back.
We can’t wait any longer. https://t.co/5V5zoIhdVC

— Sheila Walker 🤷🏻‍♀️⛳️🍸🔥 (@sheilawalker73) August 11, 2023

That sounds familiar.