Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently the Premier announced that the Alberta Energy Regulator has been chosen to provide expert advice to our new oil and gas regulator, noting, “This model was arrived at by careful review and consideration of several possible models.” I would very much like to see the report that Cabinet considered on this.
Since then, I have received many expressions of dismay from the public at the intent to use the Alberta regulator; with some saying they felt sick to their stomach at this choice. They provide me with a little review and consideration of their own.
Here are some highlights from the report they provided me released last July, assessing Alberta’s regulation and monitoring of oil and gas activity. Lead author Dr. Timoney says, “Examination of the records in the Alberta Government’s Environmental Monitoring System demonstrates a legacy of over 9,000 environmental instances from 1996 to 2012, while environmental legislation remained virtually unenforced. Over 4,000 of the incidents were violations of Alberta’s environmental laws and regulations,” and incidentally, records for the previous 29 years were completely missing.
Minister Ramsay said he took some issue over my concern about the Alberta regulator, and that “they have the technical and professional expertise,” from Hansard. In fact, the report revealed that Alberta has a dismal enforcement rate of 0.9 percent, 17 times lower than the U.S. With that expert advice, we will enforce our own rules in less than one of 100 violations.
Here are a few more conclusions in the report to be tabled later today. “A recurrent feature of the incidents it that the volume, duration and chemical composition of the releases in the air, and spills, leaks and discharges to land or water are unspecified or unknown. This lack of basic data limits the ability to understand the industrial impacts and represents a significant deficiency in government and industrial monitoring,” and, “The contraventions were chronic and repetitive and indicated little progress towards better management practices.” Finally, “Industrial self-reporting as the foundation of the environmental record, both on the part of Alberta government and the Alberta Energy Regulator, fails the test of openness and transparency that are essential to good governance.”
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
On Thursday we heard in the ITI Minister’s statement detailing the support and subsidies that ITI will provide for the fossil fuel industry. I must observe, once again, there is a clear conflict of interest putting the government cheerleader of this industry in the position of its regulator. Devolution could indeed be great, but I already feel our credibility slipping and public confidence draining away. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
