Federal NDP leader tries to calm fossil-fuel job concerns
Anchor: Federal NDP leader Avi Lewis tried to calm concerns about fossil fuel job loss during his stop today in the Queen City. Now, Saskatchewan NDP leader Carla Beck has distanced herself from Lewis over his stance on phasing out fossil fuels — something Lewis said wouldn’t be immediate if his party gains power, which would be the first time in federal NDP history. Wayne Mantyka has more.
Mantyka: Avi Lewis clarified his controversial stance on fossil fuels during a stop outside a Regina Cathedral neighbourhood coffee shop.
Lewis: I understand that fossil fuels are a big part of Saskatchewan’s economy. Nobody is talking about shutting things down tomorrow. I have literally never said that.
Mantyka: Lewis delivered a message in the neighbourhood that a federal NDP government would promote a gradual shift to renewables.
Lewis: And in California, at peak electricity times, they are running almost half their grid on batteries. The world is moving on. And we’re not doing fossil fuel workers any favours by sticking our head in the sand and pretending that we can keep expanding oil and gas forever.
Mantyka: A meeting with Saskatchewan NDP leader Carla Beck was not scheduled. Beck has been distancing herself from Lewis over energy policy. However, during a pre-taped interview with Your Morning Saskatchewan, Lewis stressed that the two share common ground on a variety of issues.
Lewis: We have some differences of visions, but we’re aligned on so many things. Like this memo that Carla got a hold of, of this $26-billion SaskPower plant to keep coal alive forever and double people’s electricity bills. This is bonkers.
Mantyka: The federal NDP leader said he spoke to Carla Beck a couple weeks ago. And while they don’t agree on oil and gas policy, they do agree on a vast majority of things, like helping people make ends meet. Wayne Mantyka, CTV News, Regina.
Later in the broadcast (teaser)
Anchor: We’re off for the long weekend, but when we return, we are in conversation with federal NDP leader Avi Lewis about his recent Saskatchewan stop and rebuilding his party.