Sask. Premier Brad Wall wades into Twitter battle with activist Naomi Klein | Globalnews.ca
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Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall found himself locked in a digital war of words on Twitter Tuesday while promoting the Energy East pipeline in eastern Canada.
On June 14, Wall delivered a speech in Toronto on the proposed $15.7 billion pipeline that would transport oil from Alberta and Saskatchewan to refineries in eastern Canada and a marine terminal in New Brunswick.
The pipeline was also part of a closed-door discussion between Wall and New Brunswick premier, Brian Gallant.
READ MORE: Wall, Gallant discuss proposed Energy East pipeline benefits
However, it was online where Wall ran into some criticism.
In a clip of the Toronto speech posted on his Twitter page, Wall speaks out against the Leap Manifesto and the Saskatchewan NDP finance critic, Cathy Sproule, for wanting to debate the manifesto.
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“The contents of which would destroy our economy, literally destroy the economy of Saskatchewan,” Wall said in the speech.
“It doesn’t like modern farming, agriculture, doesn’t like mining, it certainly doesn’t like oil and gas, it doesn’t want to build any more pipelines.”
He also references a study produced by Mark Z. Jacobson, a civil and environmental engineering professor and director of Stanford’s Atmosphere and Energy program. The study provides wind, water and solar roadmaps for 139 countries.
Wall claimed the plan would cost $1.86 trillion and triple Canada’s debt.
“A number so big as to be meaningless, but it is a platform, for may I say, an assault on…one of the things that Canada does so well, the resource business, the energy business,” Wall said in the speech.
Leap Manifesto’s 100% renewable plan cost? $1.86 TRILLION, 3X Canada’s debt. A number so big as to be meaningless. https://t.co/7DyMXtgOwK
— Brad Wall (@PremierBradWall) June 13, 2016
After his speech, Canadian author and activist Naomi Klein condemned Wall, calling him out for wanting a federal bailout to clean up old Wells.
It’s not “our” plan, @PremierBradWall – it comes from Stanford wiz engineer @mzjacobson. And I’m pretty sure he’s better than you at math.
— Naomi Klein (@NaomiAKlein) June 14, 2016
1 more thing @PremierBradWall: Aren’t you the guy that wants a federal bailout out to clean up oil + gas wells? But renewables are too $…
— Naomi Klein (@NaomiAKlein) June 14, 2016
READ MORE: One way to get ex-oil workers on the job again: cleaning up old wells
Wall answered back, saying the numbers came directly from Jacobson, then Klein pointed out the energy savings.
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1/3 Nice try @PremierBradWall: you can add but you forgot to subtract. @mzjacobson projects savings to Canadians https://t.co/NjnPga8kHA…
— Naomi Klein (@NaomiAKlein) June 14, 2016
2/3 @PremierBradWall Annual energy, health, and climate cost savings per person in 2050: $8,887….
— Naomi Klein (@NaomiAKlein) June 14, 2016
.@PremierBradWall Annual energy cost savings per person in 2050: $163.
+The upfront costs are over 34 YEARS, 0 to do with annual debt!— Naomi Klein (@NaomiAKlein) June 14, 2016
Jacobson also corrected Wall with his own tweet, which said energy cost includes capital cost plus fuel plus operations and maintenance equals only 10 centers per kilowatt hour for 100% wind, water and solar.
He then said Wall did forget health care savings and saving related to costs associated with climate change.
Each person in #Canada pays same fuel cost w/100% WWS but $8700/yr less in health+clim cost @PremierBradWall @NaomiAKlein
— Mark Z. Jacobson (@mzjacobson) June 14, 2016
Jacobson added wind, water and solar energy sources would reduce Canada’s demand for energy by 42%.
.@PremierBradWall also forgot 100% WWS reduces Canada engy demand 42% mostly bec effic of electr & engy not needed to mine FFs @NaomiAKlein
— Mark Z. Jacobson (@mzjacobson) June 14, 2016
.@PremierBradWall forgot that 100% WWS elim 10,000 mortalities+100s of thousands morbidities+all global warm emis in #Canada @NaomiAKlein
— Mark Z. Jacobson (@mzjacobson) June 14, 2016
.@PremierBradWall also forgot 100% WWS stabilizes energy costs because fuel free. FF fuel costs rise forever @NaomiAKlein
— Mark Z. Jacobson (@mzjacobson) June 14, 2016
.@PremierBradWall 100% WWS allows countries to become energy independent & reduce risk of large power disruption @NaomiAKlein
— Mark Z. Jacobson (@mzjacobson) June 14, 2016
Wall continued tweeting against the Leap Manifesto.
Meanwhile estimated savings of Leap @mzjacobson completely speculative while trillion $ cost and destruction of Cdn economy is real. 2/3
— Brad Wall (@PremierBradWall) June 15, 2016
.@NaomiAKlein @mzjacobso Leap: 34 nations incl China eliminating fossil fuels in 34 yrs?? No oil, gas, coal, uranium Great talk. Fun times
— Brad Wall (@PremierBradWall) June 15, 2016
On Wednesday morning, Wall once again took to Twitter to write a sarcastic response.
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Yes…I was blinded by the pixie dust and gored by the unicorn. https://t.co/mLxoZGBxWc
— Brad Wall (@PremierBradWall) June 15, 2016
Jacobson responded to the tweet with information on New York and California’s plans to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.
James Glennie, president of SaskWind, provided a statement to Global News regarding the Twitter exchange.
“If Premier Wall spent less time attacking perceived enemies and more time looking for common ground, then we could create a win-win, which would be good for businesses, the economy, jobs and the environment. Exchanges like today’s, between Premier Wall and Naomi Klein, make[s] one realise we are still far from that point: the Saskatchewan economy will continue to suffer as a result. The shame of it is Saskatchewan has the best wind and solar resource in the country and almost no industrial supply-chain with which to develop it.”
Click to share quote on Twitter: “If Premier Wall spent less time attacking perceived enemies and more time looking for common ground, then we could create a win-win, which would be good for businesses, the economy, jobs and the environment. Exchanges like today’s, between Premier Wall and Naomi Klein, make[s] one realise we are still far from that point: the Saskatchewan economy will continue to suffer as a result. The shame of it is Saskatchewan has the best wind and solar resource in the country and almost no industrial supply-chain with which to develop it.”