'We are at a crossroads': Alberta premier pens open letter to Trudeau over proposed 'just transition' legislation

Smith sends 'just transition' concerns to Trudeau Austin Lee reports on premier's open letter to the Prime Minister expressing her concerns with proposed 'just transition' legislation.

In an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith once again expressed concerns over the federal government's proposed legislation to move the country away from high-polluting jobs.

Smith has previously said that she would fight the 'just transition' bill, and Thursday's letter once again highlighted her disdain for the proposed legislation.

"We are at a crossroads in Alberta's relationship with the federal government," said Smith in her letter. "We can continue with the endless court challenges, legislation to protect jurisdictional rights and inflammatory media coverage over our disagreements, or, as is my strong preference, Alberta and Ottawa can work in partnership on a plan that will signal to all Canadians and investors from around the world that our governments have cooperatively designed a series of incentives and initiatives intended to achieve the following objectives:

Smith says she hopes to meet with Trudeau in February to work on the legislation collaboratively.

Alberta's premier including the following requests in the letter:

Trudeau has yet to respond to the letter. However, several cabinet ministers, including Minister of Natural ResourcesJonathan Wilkinson, later responded to Smith with their own open letter on Twitter.

Earlier this month, both the UCP and the Alberta NDP agreed that the federal government should scrap the bill altogether.

In response to Smith's most recent open letter, opposition leader Rachel Notley accused the UCP of being "missing in action."

"This late-breaking pivot won't do anything to restore Albertans' trust in Smith's ability to engage productively at the discussion table on the future of our economy," said Notley.

"Many of the objectives in today's letter are laudable, but Danielle Smith lacks credibility among working people and investors as a result of her combative and inflammatory positioning to date."

Notely has also said that the federal government's emissions targets for 2030 are unrealistic.