Jennifer Grant, oilsands program director at the Pembina Institute, made the following comments today concerning the release of the Alberta Wetland Policy:
“Alberta has spent eight years developing the wetland policy that was released today, but it is unclear when and how it will actually affect oilsands decision-making. The Government of Alberta needs to confirm the following:
- All planned and approved oilsands projects will be subject to the policy,
- That the policy is in effect from today and will result in mitigation of current impacts for all oilsands projects going forward, and
- No exemptions for oilsands will entertained.
“Alberta needs to implement a policy that requires urban and industrial developers to restore a wetland every time a wetland is destroyed. This is called a no-net-loss wetland policy and was recommended by the Alberta Water Council in 2008.
“Alberta cannot afford any further delay: thousands of hectares of wetlands were lost while this policy was being developed. More than 300,000 hectares of wetlands — or an area four times the area of the City of Calgary — are at risk from oilsands development.”
-30-
Contact:
Jennifer Grant
Oilsands Director
(403) 678-0449