'I'm pissed': Smith calls Guilbeault's emissions cap 'deranged vendetta' against Alberta

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is firing back at federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault over his plan to impose an emissions cap on the province's oil and gas sector.

Smith said in a statement on Friday that Guilbeault's plan is a "deranged vendetta" against Alberta and is based on "ignorance and arrogance."

Guilbeault announced on Thursday that the federal government will impose a cap on greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector, starting in 2024. The cap will be set at 350 megatonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.

Smith said that the cap is "unfair and discriminatory" and will hurt Alberta's economy. She said that the province is already a leader in environmental protection and that the federal government should be working with Alberta, not against it.

"I'm pissed," Smith said in her statement. "This is a deranged vendetta against Alberta and our energy industry. It's based on ignorance and arrogance. I will not let this happen."

Smith said that she will be fighting the federal government's plan "tooth and nail."

She said that she is considering all options, including legal action.

Guilbeault said on Thursday that the emissions cap is necessary to help Canada meet its climate change targets.

He said that the oil and gas sector is the country's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and that it needs to do more to reduce its emissions.

The emissions cap is part of the federal government's plan to reduce Canada's greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030.

The plan also includes measures to increase the use of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, and invest in carbon capture and storage technology.