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Jean isn’t impressed by Notley’s efforts to give Alberta a world-leading environmental reputation.

“I would not have gone to Paris with a carbon tax, and certainly not with the cap on oilsands,” he says. “I don’t think that’s the right signal to send to commodity and capital markets.

“We would have gone to explain what we’ve done and explore other options, and see where the world is going related to greenhouse gas emissions and carbon.

“It’s all about doing our fair share. And our fair share means we have to be in lockstep with the rest of the world. If the rest of the world is prepared to take the hit, then I think we should be too.

“But we should not be more aggressive than the rest of the world. I do believe that’s what currently the NDP is trying to do. I do not believe we should lead to such an extent that it damages the economy.”

Climate-change policy is just one of Jean’s many issues with the NDP, but he says it illustrates the basic problem.

“No matter what political stripe you are you must recognize that ideological things that hurt the economy must not happen.

“I would encourage her to revisit each and every one of these policies, including royalty review, the $15 minimum wage, and the business tax and income tax increases, and say maybe we can delay these things to a future time, when oil is back to $100, or the economy is not in a deficit position.”

Jean is discouraged by the premier’s apparent backup on raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2018. Notley told the Herald Wednesday she was flexible on this, but then appeared to retreat from the position.