Thread by @Tommy_Slick

This is about to begin in a few minutes. Follow along as I'll tweet any interesting details, and maybe we can all learn something about small modular reactors! #ableg

https://twitter.com/Tommy_Slick/status/1382099338705346561

Two minute warning has been given. Again, as I mentioned in the above thread, Alberta announced the intention of joining the MOU last year, so I'm wondering if this is just a formal ceremony rather than anything new. bennettjones.com/Blogs-Section/…

Doug Ford starts us off, says he is happy to join other provinces in looking for energy alternatives. He is happy to welcome Alberta into the fold after Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick signed the MOU in 2019.

Ford says Ontario is leading the way in SMR development as well.

So no, it doesn't sound like there's anything new here it's just the formal "signing" of the MOU that was announced last year.

Premier Higgs speaking now. He believes this will be the world's most sought after technology. A feasibility study has also been completed, he says it's very encouraging. They attracted a couple of companies developing technology right now as well.

The study identified three streams of projects, Higgs adds. New Brunswick designs represent economic diversity opportunities as well. A pan-Canadian approach will help the efforts as well, happy to welcome Alberta into this.

Now hearing from Premier Scott Moe. He says this is a good day for the provinces, the country, and therefore the world.

He says there's a lot of opportunities to deploy SMRs in Alberta especially. Adds on that the feasibility report found that SMRs are feasible. Saskatchewan is also well poised as they are a major producer of uranium.

Moe thinks this technology will be a gamechanger for us. We need nuclear power to help fight climate change, he says.

And here's Premier Jason Kenney. He says Alberta was immediately excited when the original MOU was signed and wanted to join on as soon as possible. He says the technology is zero emitting (what about nuclear waste though, I should add).

Former Premier Ralph Klein also previously expressed interest in this sort of technology, but it wasn't well developed back then. Kenney says that has changed, and they can use it for powering oilsands sites, for example.

Kenney says he gets frustrated when people demand big reductions in emissions, when ignoring the "only" zero emitting source, which is nuclear he says.

He adds Alberta may also be a big purchaser of the tech, so they also need to keep an eye on worldwide development. Ideally, Alberta could be a big developer though.

Premier Jason Kenney formally signs the MOU.

Questions now, @ByJamesKeller asks about vaccines.

Premier Ford says they're being affected tremendously by supply issues. Millions of appointments booked but shipments are not enough right now.

Premier Moe says the unreliable supply is an issue, also SK has not brought pharmacies online yet. Thinks this is a parallel to SMRs, ropes it into a yarn about domestic supply.

Now to Premier Kenney who says this has been a "great frustration." He thinks the more delays there are, may increase vaccine hesitancy. Talking about how Canada is far below other nations in per capita doses.

Kenney going more into domestic vaccine supply, says they have received 17 responses after issuing a request for proposals.

Premier Higgs adds they are also experiencing similar issues. Looking at reaching the most amount of people who would be vulnerable. Also says the same logic around domestic supply applies to SMRs.

Still on vaccines, James follows up to ask about J&J vaccine and AZ issues over the extremely rare blood clot reports.

Ford says they need officials to agree on age ranges for the vaccines, wants more Pfizer and Moderna because there's no hesitancy.

Kenney adds they are seeing more people excited about getting vaccinated (about 78% right now), but there's still some confusion especially about AZ. But he says flow-through clinics are not being utilized and doses are just sitting around.

Kenney says he's not aware of any blood clotting as a result of AZ in Canada. Guess he wasn't watching the news yesterday. cbc.ca/news/health/ca…

Higgs joins on, he jokes and says he got the AZ vaccine, and he feels fine. But there needs to be more of a push to encourage vaccinations, just need to give out as many shots as possible, as fast as possible.

Next question now, directed to Premier Ford about vaccinations as well. Stuff about cancelled appointments in Ontario. This is some Ontario-specific stuff so not really in my wheelhouse.

Question now from @KevinCTV about the anti-mask protests in Alberta, asks if the premiers are concerned about health officials' safety.

Kenney says the comments were "disgusted" and "the people responsible should be ashamed of themselves." Defends Dr. Hinshaw fervently.

Kenney says law enforcement tracks all threats. Similar vitriol heard in Saskatchewan as well.

Kenney adds he welcomes debate on how best to respond to COVID-19, and he understands frustration people have, but this is all starting to go too far.

Kenney says the "clowns" who trespassed at the Enoch Cree First Nation are doing a disservice to their own cause, much like the other people in front of the Legislature this week.

Premier Moe also chimes in, no place for comments like locking up health officials. We're all being affected by the most stringent health orders in the country's history, but there's no place for people to treat others in this way.

Moe says there's only one way through this: vaccines. The restrictions are temporary, they need supply. Says the federal government is responsible for lower supply levels and that is what's holding us back.

Ford says he is hearing from reliable sources that AZ vaccines are sitting in freezers around the United States, and he wants them to be shipped up to Canada. He offers to hop into his pickup truck and drive down to grab them, invites the other premiers to hop in as well.

Kevin follows up, whats up with the blaming of the federal government constantly?

Premiers jump over each other trying to answer first. Moe says the feds had a few responsibilities here, including vaccine supply. Provinces focus on administration of doses only.

Ford says he is looking at facts here. The facts are we are short on supply, and he knows the feds are "trying their best" but we still don't have the amount of doses needed. Provinces have the capability to give out tons of doses every day.

Kenney says he has never used the word "blame", but the feds have the responsibility here. He says they have generally put aside partisan differences across the country, but that doesn't overcome the problem with supply issues.

Kenney now attacks Kevin a bit, saying he runs a lot of stories blaming the provincial government. Wants to know how many stories he runs to cast blame on the feds. This is an absurd thing to say to a reporter.

Kenney says this is not a political football, but we are facing a significant issue. How come other places without domestic supply have so many doses given? uses Israel as example. Israel sold anonymized health data to pharma companies and paid a higher price to get more doses.

Higgs again looks at the US, wonders why vaccines are not being shipped up here if they have a surplus. Thinks we should be able to count on the feds to push for this sort of thing.

Ford adds that they all travelled to the US when the NAFTA update was signed, he says they are a great group of people to go down and talk to governors about more supply. Ford really pushing for an American field trip today.

And this brings the presser to a close. Learned disappointingly little about SMRs but a lot of talk on vaccines. Have a nice day everyone.