Province concerned over promise to regulate oilsands
Posted May 24, 2011 7:50 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Provincial officials are concerned over new promises being made by the Harper Tories.
Federal Environment Minister Peter Kent promised Thursday that Ottawa would be introducing new environmental regulations for the oilsands sector later this year to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Finance Minister Lloyd Snelgrove tells the Calgary Herald they have been proactive on the issue and Ottawa’s help isn’t needed.
He says it’s a “real issue,” but no one wins when multiple levels of government try to accomplish the same goals.
In recent months, the province has introduced new legislation and pursued efforts to prosecute violators.
Much of the anger stems from the release of a 2009 diplomatic note from the U.S. ambassador, released by WikiLeaks.
The cable suggests the Americans were considering a moratorium on Alberta oil and that former Environment Minister Jim Prentice stepped in to assure the Obama administration that Ottawa would act if Alberta failed to enact tougher rules.
President of Delta One Energy Fund Peter Linder tells 660News, Alberta shouldn’t overreact to the news.
“I think from an optics standpoint it makes sense for the federal government to do something or try to do something,” he says. “But as long as it’s done in conjunction with the provincial government, we should not be worried and just accept it.”
Linder says the premier and prime minister play for the same team and won’t try to outdo each other in the end, adding Albertans are not looking at another energy crisis in this province.
“At the end of the day with new regulations, the cost to develop the oilsands and operate may rise maybe a few dollars a barrel, but in a $150 oil price world, the industry can certainly handle it,” he says.
The analyst adds the Harper Tories are not going to want to do anything to kill the “golden goose” and hamper one of this country’s largest industries.
