Alberta's premier says new environment minister a 'step in the wrong direction'

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says picking Julie Dabrusin as Canada's environment minister is a bad idea that forecasts renewed federal opposition to her province's wellspring oil and gas industry.

``I am very concerned the Prime Minister (Mark Carney) has appointed what appears to be yet another anti-oil and gas environment minister, ``Not only is she a self-proclaimed architect of the designation of plastics as toxic, but she is a staunch advocate against oilsands expansion, proponent of phasing out oil and gas, and for the last four years, she has served as the right hand to former environment minister and militant environmentalist, Steven Guilbeault.

``This is a step in the wrong direction.'' Smith's chief of staff, Rob Anderson, echoed her comments, saying on social media that appointing Dabrusin was like saying, ``fire...meet gas.''