This is from the Globe and Mail.
This is a rather astonishing headline until it becomes clear from the article that Stelmach's actions show the opposite. No doubt he is trying to appeal to environmentalists who oppose him. Stelmach refuses to say whether he has changed his mind on letting market forces determine Oilsands development.
Taft accuses Stelmach of not having a plan. This is a bit strange after Stelmach in the same article outlines his plan such as it is: reduction of emissions by 14 percent from 2005 levels by 2050. Surely Taft should have criticised that rather than complain that Stelmach had none.
Environment trumps economy, Stelmach says
Alberta Tory leader trumpets emissions targets but falls short of calling for controls on oil-and-gas developments
DAWN WALTON AND KATHERINE O'NEILL
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
February 26, 2008 at 5:24 AM EST
CALGARY, EDMONTON — Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has been steadfast about not putting the brakes on oil sands development, but in a surprising about-face in the midst of a provincial election campaign, he suggested yesterday that environmental policy may trump economics.
"Environment takes precedence over the economy," Mr. Stelmach told reporters in Calgary, responding to questions about future expansion in the oil sands north of Fort McMurray.
Still, he warned that government should not step in to "control the economy" and rustled up the image of the still-not-forgotten national energy program implemented by Pierre Trudeau's federal Liberal government in 1980, which drove up interest rates and drove out investment.
"We're not going back to those dark days," said Mr. Stelmach, reiterating his party's environmental plan to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 14 per cent from 2005 levels by 2050. "Our plan is achievable. It's realistic. It's fiscally responsible."
With voting day set for next Monday, Mr. Stelmach is facing an emboldened opposition and polls predicting a slimmed-down majority for the Tories. His pro-industry stand on environmental protection is widely viewed as his Achilles heel.
His latest comments came in response to a report that some of Canada's biggest oil producers want to see a partial moratorium placed on oil sands development in an apparent effort to preserve conservation land, as first reported in The Globe and Mail.
Husky Energy Ltd., Petro-Canada Corp. and Suncor Inc. were among the big players in the oil patch who signed a letter submitted to the provincial government last month that asked Alberta to halt land lease sales until 2011 in three areas - one of which, Mr. Stelmach pointed out, doesn't even have oil sands underneath it.
Slowing development would also ease pressure on energy companies struggling through a labour shortage and protect their interests from new competition.
The oil and gas industry did not unanimously sign the letter, which was presented on behalf of the Cumulative Environmental Management Association, whose members include representatives from government, the energy sector and native bands.
Yesterday, Mr. Stelmach said the province is still waiting for environmental reports on air, water and soil quality before making a decision about how to proceed with leases. He also said he is waiting on a final vote among the association's 46 members slated for June.
But that vote applies to an overall land-management framework for the region. The moratorium on leases as proposed by the oil companies could be addressed at any time, a source said, but the government risks losing income from land leases.
"We've yet to receive a response from the Alberta government," association spokesman Corey Hobbs said yesterday. "We eagerly anticipate it."
Greenpeace said yesterday a partial moratorium doesn't go far enough and called for no new approvals in "one of the dirtiest and largest industrial projects on the planet."
At the same time, the treaty chiefs in the Athabasca region have passed a unanimous resolution that calls for no new oil sands approvals until they have accepted watershed and resource management plans.
Since the day Mr. Stelmach held his first news conference in 2006, after being named Leader of the governing Tories, he has said he had no plans to slow down oil sands growth, preferring to let the market decide the pace of development.
Yesterday, he wouldn't directly answer questions about whether he has changed that view and instead criticized the opposition parties for wanting to impose "Kyoto-style emissions controls" on the energy sector and increase the province's share of royalties, which could scare away investment. Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft said Mr. Stelmach is "out of touch" on the issue.
"The right thing to do is say that Alberta needs a plan," he told reporters in Edmonton.
It's ridiculous, he added, that Mr. Stelmach keeps invoking the memory of a former prime minister on the campaign trail.
"Pierre Trudeau was elected 40 years ago - Ed, get over it," Mr. Taft said.
Showing posts with label Alberta environmental policy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alberta environmental policy. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Stelmach: Canada's economy depends on Alberta oil.
It seems that underlying issues are not discussed in most articles about the Oilsands. The environmental issue is front and center and the economic importance of the oil sands project for Alberta and Canada. Nothing is said about the US economy. The oil sands project is regarded as in effect a source for US oil supplies and part of a US plan to ensure its own energy supplies.
The US wants Oil Sands production to increase five fold:
U.S. urges 'fivefold expansion' in Alberta oilsands production
Last Updated: Thursday, January 18, 2007 6:31 AM ET
CBC News
Also, 99 per cent of our oil exports are to the U.S.:
Over 99% of Canadian oil exports are sent to the United States, making Canada, not Saudi Arabia, the United States' largest supplier of oil.[9]
So the relationship of Oil Sands production to US energy needs is just left out of the story. Our relationship to the US is also left out when our role in Afghanistan is discussed.
Canada's economy depends on Alberta oil: Stelmach
Updated Mon. Jan. 28 2008 9:34 PM ET
The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER -- Canada depends on Alberta's oil-rich economy to fuel prosperity and any shut down in the province's oil industry would be felt across the country, says Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach.
The Alberta leader was greeted by protesters as he joined other provincial and territorial leaders in Vancouver Monday for Council of the Federation meetings focused largely on climate change.
But he was unapologetic.
"It's fact,'' Stelmach told reporters. "I'm not saying that in a boastful way.''
Stelmach said he knows Alberta is being singled out by environmental groups but the premiers were told that deep cuts by Alberta would be felt across Canada.
"Today, the economy of Canada is dependent in large part on the economy in the province of Alberta,'' he said at a press conference at the end of Monday's meetings.
"So if we were to race everyone and immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions, that would mean a total shut down, a total shut down of the oilsands.''
Environmentalists have been calling on Alberta to re-evaluate the multibillion-dollar oilsands industry, saying pollution from the industry threatens to wipe out any gains other provinces make in cutting the greenhouse gas emissions largely blamed for global warming.
Stelmach, who is preparing to call a provincial election, said 1.25 million barrels of oil a day come out of the oilsands, most of it exported.
"If that happens, not only will there be significant job loss across the country, but there will be a radical change and we will lose a considerable amount of investment,'' he told reporters.
Stelmach said Alberta needs more time to implement its climate change agenda, which he deemed a real plan for a real problem.
"Albertans are buying it,'' he said.
Alberta plans to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions before they are released into the atmosphere.
Once in place, oil from Alberta's oilsands will produce fewer emissions than conventional oil, Stelmach said.
Alberta's plan calls for cutting emissions by 14 per cent by 2050, compared to British Columbia's plan to cut emissions by 33 per cent by 2020.
Talks could heat up as the provincial leaders try to find common ground on the issue of climate change but New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham, who served as the meeting chairman, said the other premiers didn't ''gang up'' on Alberta.
B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell said the leaders are all committed to reducing emissions but some will use different methods to meet the challenge.
"Setting the bar where we've set it will be successful for us in British Columbia,'' Campbell said. "Premier Stelmach will follow, obviously, the course he thinks is best for his province.''
Campbell said he didn't preach climate change to Stelmach or the others. He said British Columbia prefers to lead by example.
Manitoba Premier Gary Doer said he recalled days when Alberta would not admit climate change even existed.
"Having a plan and trying to deal with it is a step in the right direction,'' Doer said of Alberta. "We've gone from denial to acceptance.''
About two dozen protesters gathered outside of the waterfront hotel where the politicians were meeting, some dressed in polar bear costumes, other carrying placards denouncing Alberta's oil sands as "dirty oil.''
"Oooh, it's hot in here, there's too much carbon in the atmosphere,'' they chanted.
Protester Tzeporah Berman said Alberta is becoming politically incorrect because of its dirty oil.
"It takes three times as much energy from the tar sands than it does to produce conventional oil,'' she said. "This is dirty, dirty oil at a time when the world knows we have to clean up our act to address global warming.''
Monday was their only chance to target Stelmach during the two-day council.
He will not be attending Tuesday's federation meeting devoted solely to climate change. Alberta Environment Minister Rob Renner will take his place.
But global warming wasn't the only issue of concern to the premiers.
The premiers of Quebec and Ontario held a joint news conference calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's federal government to aid their ailing manufacturing and forestry sectors.
"We have done much in order to ensure we can go through a transition period and emerge stronger,'' said Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. "But we can do even more with the help of the federal government.''
Harper has proposed a development trust fund to help traditional industries that have suffered job losses and shutdowns.
But the prime minister has warned the money won't flow unless opposition parties pass his minority government's next budget.
"I am urging the prime minister to do as much as he possibly can by way of providing supports to Ontario and Quebec that are not dependent upon the outcome of the next federal election,'' McGuinty said.
He and Quebec Premier Jean Charest called on Ottawa to help companies invest in new economic opportunities. They also called for Employment Assistance changes to help laid-off workers.
The US wants Oil Sands production to increase five fold:
U.S. urges 'fivefold expansion' in Alberta oilsands production
Last Updated: Thursday, January 18, 2007 6:31 AM ET
CBC News
Also, 99 per cent of our oil exports are to the U.S.:
Over 99% of Canadian oil exports are sent to the United States, making Canada, not Saudi Arabia, the United States' largest supplier of oil.[9]
So the relationship of Oil Sands production to US energy needs is just left out of the story. Our relationship to the US is also left out when our role in Afghanistan is discussed.
Canada's economy depends on Alberta oil: Stelmach
Updated Mon. Jan. 28 2008 9:34 PM ET
The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER -- Canada depends on Alberta's oil-rich economy to fuel prosperity and any shut down in the province's oil industry would be felt across the country, says Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach.
The Alberta leader was greeted by protesters as he joined other provincial and territorial leaders in Vancouver Monday for Council of the Federation meetings focused largely on climate change.
But he was unapologetic.
"It's fact,'' Stelmach told reporters. "I'm not saying that in a boastful way.''
Stelmach said he knows Alberta is being singled out by environmental groups but the premiers were told that deep cuts by Alberta would be felt across Canada.
"Today, the economy of Canada is dependent in large part on the economy in the province of Alberta,'' he said at a press conference at the end of Monday's meetings.
"So if we were to race everyone and immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions, that would mean a total shut down, a total shut down of the oilsands.''
Environmentalists have been calling on Alberta to re-evaluate the multibillion-dollar oilsands industry, saying pollution from the industry threatens to wipe out any gains other provinces make in cutting the greenhouse gas emissions largely blamed for global warming.
Stelmach, who is preparing to call a provincial election, said 1.25 million barrels of oil a day come out of the oilsands, most of it exported.
"If that happens, not only will there be significant job loss across the country, but there will be a radical change and we will lose a considerable amount of investment,'' he told reporters.
Stelmach said Alberta needs more time to implement its climate change agenda, which he deemed a real plan for a real problem.
"Albertans are buying it,'' he said.
Alberta plans to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions before they are released into the atmosphere.
Once in place, oil from Alberta's oilsands will produce fewer emissions than conventional oil, Stelmach said.
Alberta's plan calls for cutting emissions by 14 per cent by 2050, compared to British Columbia's plan to cut emissions by 33 per cent by 2020.
Talks could heat up as the provincial leaders try to find common ground on the issue of climate change but New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham, who served as the meeting chairman, said the other premiers didn't ''gang up'' on Alberta.
B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell said the leaders are all committed to reducing emissions but some will use different methods to meet the challenge.
"Setting the bar where we've set it will be successful for us in British Columbia,'' Campbell said. "Premier Stelmach will follow, obviously, the course he thinks is best for his province.''
Campbell said he didn't preach climate change to Stelmach or the others. He said British Columbia prefers to lead by example.
Manitoba Premier Gary Doer said he recalled days when Alberta would not admit climate change even existed.
"Having a plan and trying to deal with it is a step in the right direction,'' Doer said of Alberta. "We've gone from denial to acceptance.''
About two dozen protesters gathered outside of the waterfront hotel where the politicians were meeting, some dressed in polar bear costumes, other carrying placards denouncing Alberta's oil sands as "dirty oil.''
"Oooh, it's hot in here, there's too much carbon in the atmosphere,'' they chanted.
Protester Tzeporah Berman said Alberta is becoming politically incorrect because of its dirty oil.
"It takes three times as much energy from the tar sands than it does to produce conventional oil,'' she said. "This is dirty, dirty oil at a time when the world knows we have to clean up our act to address global warming.''
Monday was their only chance to target Stelmach during the two-day council.
He will not be attending Tuesday's federation meeting devoted solely to climate change. Alberta Environment Minister Rob Renner will take his place.
But global warming wasn't the only issue of concern to the premiers.
The premiers of Quebec and Ontario held a joint news conference calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's federal government to aid their ailing manufacturing and forestry sectors.
"We have done much in order to ensure we can go through a transition period and emerge stronger,'' said Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. "But we can do even more with the help of the federal government.''
Harper has proposed a development trust fund to help traditional industries that have suffered job losses and shutdowns.
But the prime minister has warned the money won't flow unless opposition parties pass his minority government's next budget.
"I am urging the prime minister to do as much as he possibly can by way of providing supports to Ontario and Quebec that are not dependent upon the outcome of the next federal election,'' McGuinty said.
He and Quebec Premier Jean Charest called on Ottawa to help companies invest in new economic opportunities. They also called for Employment Assistance changes to help laid-off workers.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Alberta green plan puts PM 'on the spot'.
This is from the Globe and Mail. It is really doubtful that this plan will cause many tears from the Harper crew. Harper is after all trying his hardest to catch up with and surpass the Liberal record of doing little or nothing about reducing emissions while himself emitting a lot of hot air about his environmental good deeds. That the critics are wrong is shown by the fact that John Baird the federal environment minister welcomed the plan!
The plan is so weak that even industry spokespeople support it.
Alberta green plan puts PM 'on the spot'
Stelmach lowballs Harper's emissions reduction targets
SHAWN MCCARTHY , BILL CURRY and NORVAL SCOTT
January 25, 2008
OTTAWA, CALGARY -- Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach is at odds with the federal government and on a collision course with other premiers after the release yesterday of his long-anticipated climate-change plan.
On the eve of an expected election call, Mr. Stelmach promised that his province will freeze greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and reduce them by 14 per cent from 2005 levels by 2050. But that target is a long way from Prime Minister Stephen Harper's promises at international summits that Canada will reduce its heat-trapping emissions at least 60 per cent by this century's halfway mark.
With its booming oil industry and reliance on coal-fired electricity, Alberta is responsible for one-third of Canada's total emissions and shows the fastest growth in greenhouse gases.
Critics fumed yesterday that Alberta's plan will force the rest of the country to carry an unfair burden in the climate-change battle, while a senior adviser to Ottawa says the Prime Minister's targets will now be challenged.
"It puts Harper on the spot," said Robert Page, the Calgary-based vice-chair of the National Roundtable on the Economy and Environment, which advises the Prime Minister on climate change. "It just seems to me there is just this growing gap between Alberta and the feds."
Several premiers have been calling for aggressive action on climate change, and the issue will be a key agenda item when all 13 premiers meet in Vancouver next week.
Mr. Stelmach said his plan strikes the right balance between environmental action and protecting jobs.
"This delivers real measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining [Albertans'] quality of life," he said. "It's a real plan for a real problem."
Alberta will now create a government-industry council that will look at implementing carbon capture technologies, in which the carbon dioxide produced from power plants and oil sands facilities is intercepted and injected back into the ground. Mr. Stelmach said the technology could deliver as much as 70 per cent of the 200-megatonne reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that Alberta is targeting by 2050.
Federal Environment Minister John Baird issued a statement yesterday welcoming Alberta's plan, but his spokesman insisted that federal regulations for industry coming out this year are separate from provincial measures.
"Any reductions taken by the provinces are complementary to what we're doing," spokesman Garry Keller said.
Industry leaders in Alberta responded favourably to the plan's focus on capturing carbon emissions.
"It's music to our ears," said Michael Smith, the director of environment for Epcor. The Edmonton-based firm's coal-fired power plants are some of Alberta's biggest emitters, but the company has made significant commitments to reducing emissions through technologies such as clean coal.
Liberal environment critic David McGuinty said Alberta's announcement proves the federal targets are not credible. He also said the rising emissions from Alberta's tar sands are the "elephant in the room" that Ottawa has yet to properly address.
Mr. McGuinty acknowledged that previous Liberal governments also lacked the political will to tackle the rising emissions from Alberta's oil sands, which are projected to double between 2004 and 2015.
"I don't know if we really had the resolve, because the big challenge facing Canada today if we are going to tell the Canadian people the truth, is that we have this huge greenhouse gas challenge while we continue to see a rapid expansion in the oil sands," he said. "What we're not seeing, now that we have a new government in the driver's seat, is a real honest negotiation ... that will reconcile those two competing interests."
The Bloc Québécois, representing Quebec ridings powered by hydroelectricity, has long criticized the Conservatives in Quebec for being too lenient on the oil and gas sector, while the NDP said the announcement proves the national targets are out of reach.
NDP Leader Jack Layton, who has a bill nearing the final stages in the Commons that would legislate a 2050 target of 80-per-cent reductions from 1990 levels, said Alberta must move toward renewable energy.
"This program put forward by the government of Alberta would be totally contrary to virtually any target that anyone has set anywhere," Mr. Layton said.
Emissions get personal
2005 provincial and territorial per-capita emissions in tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person
Quebec
11.77
Yukon Territory
12.89
British Columbia
15.48
Ontario
16.00
PEI
16.50
Manitoba
17.29
Nfld. and Lab.
20.43
NWT and Nunavut
21.35
Canada
23.13
Nova Scotia
24.25
New Brunswick
28.34
Alberta
71.09
Saskatchewan
71.62
SOURCE: THE PEMBINA FOUNDATION
The plan is so weak that even industry spokespeople support it.
Alberta green plan puts PM 'on the spot'
Stelmach lowballs Harper's emissions reduction targets
SHAWN MCCARTHY , BILL CURRY and NORVAL SCOTT
January 25, 2008
OTTAWA, CALGARY -- Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach is at odds with the federal government and on a collision course with other premiers after the release yesterday of his long-anticipated climate-change plan.
On the eve of an expected election call, Mr. Stelmach promised that his province will freeze greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and reduce them by 14 per cent from 2005 levels by 2050. But that target is a long way from Prime Minister Stephen Harper's promises at international summits that Canada will reduce its heat-trapping emissions at least 60 per cent by this century's halfway mark.
With its booming oil industry and reliance on coal-fired electricity, Alberta is responsible for one-third of Canada's total emissions and shows the fastest growth in greenhouse gases.
Critics fumed yesterday that Alberta's plan will force the rest of the country to carry an unfair burden in the climate-change battle, while a senior adviser to Ottawa says the Prime Minister's targets will now be challenged.
"It puts Harper on the spot," said Robert Page, the Calgary-based vice-chair of the National Roundtable on the Economy and Environment, which advises the Prime Minister on climate change. "It just seems to me there is just this growing gap between Alberta and the feds."
Several premiers have been calling for aggressive action on climate change, and the issue will be a key agenda item when all 13 premiers meet in Vancouver next week.
Mr. Stelmach said his plan strikes the right balance between environmental action and protecting jobs.
"This delivers real measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining [Albertans'] quality of life," he said. "It's a real plan for a real problem."
Alberta will now create a government-industry council that will look at implementing carbon capture technologies, in which the carbon dioxide produced from power plants and oil sands facilities is intercepted and injected back into the ground. Mr. Stelmach said the technology could deliver as much as 70 per cent of the 200-megatonne reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that Alberta is targeting by 2050.
Federal Environment Minister John Baird issued a statement yesterday welcoming Alberta's plan, but his spokesman insisted that federal regulations for industry coming out this year are separate from provincial measures.
"Any reductions taken by the provinces are complementary to what we're doing," spokesman Garry Keller said.
Industry leaders in Alberta responded favourably to the plan's focus on capturing carbon emissions.
"It's music to our ears," said Michael Smith, the director of environment for Epcor. The Edmonton-based firm's coal-fired power plants are some of Alberta's biggest emitters, but the company has made significant commitments to reducing emissions through technologies such as clean coal.
Liberal environment critic David McGuinty said Alberta's announcement proves the federal targets are not credible. He also said the rising emissions from Alberta's tar sands are the "elephant in the room" that Ottawa has yet to properly address.
Mr. McGuinty acknowledged that previous Liberal governments also lacked the political will to tackle the rising emissions from Alberta's oil sands, which are projected to double between 2004 and 2015.
"I don't know if we really had the resolve, because the big challenge facing Canada today if we are going to tell the Canadian people the truth, is that we have this huge greenhouse gas challenge while we continue to see a rapid expansion in the oil sands," he said. "What we're not seeing, now that we have a new government in the driver's seat, is a real honest negotiation ... that will reconcile those two competing interests."
The Bloc Québécois, representing Quebec ridings powered by hydroelectricity, has long criticized the Conservatives in Quebec for being too lenient on the oil and gas sector, while the NDP said the announcement proves the national targets are out of reach.
NDP Leader Jack Layton, who has a bill nearing the final stages in the Commons that would legislate a 2050 target of 80-per-cent reductions from 1990 levels, said Alberta must move toward renewable energy.
"This program put forward by the government of Alberta would be totally contrary to virtually any target that anyone has set anywhere," Mr. Layton said.
Emissions get personal
2005 provincial and territorial per-capita emissions in tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person
Quebec
11.77
Yukon Territory
12.89
British Columbia
15.48
Ontario
16.00
PEI
16.50
Manitoba
17.29
Nfld. and Lab.
20.43
NWT and Nunavut
21.35
Canada
23.13
Nova Scotia
24.25
New Brunswick
28.34
Alberta
71.09
Saskatchewan
71.62
SOURCE: THE PEMBINA FOUNDATION
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