With the leadership race for the next Alberta premier nearing an end, today the Pembina Institute makes public its policy primer for Alberta PC party leadership candidates and opposition party leaders. The primer contains recommendations designed to help Alberta's future premier ensure the province is a leader in delivering environmental and social quality.
The primer highlights some disturbing trends in the province:
- As a result of global warming, the glaciers that supply Alberta's main rivers are receding rapidly, raising concerns about long-term water supply for cities like Calgary and Edmonton.
- In Alberta air emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides and particulate matter are all projected to significantly increase by 2015 over 2002 levels, with oilsands development being the primary cause.
- Oilsands production will also account for close to 50% of the growth in Canada's greenhouse gas emissions between 2003 and 2010.
- Social quality is suffering too. Alberta's suicide rate has averaged 122% of the Canadian average rate over 40 years, while suicide is now the leading cause of death among Calgary males aged 10 to 49.
Marlo Raynolds, Pembina Institute Executive Director, says Alberta is arguably better placed than any other province to assume a leadership role in the drive to sustainability. "With Alberta's blessing of abundant natural resources, debt-free economy and strong-willed people, its next premier has the opportunity and obligation to reverse the disturbing trend of Alberta being the pollution capital of Canada. It's simply a question of leadership."
The Institute offers viable recommendations for change:
- Establish a levy on water used for oil recovery, and direct revenue generated into a dedicated fund for improved water management and research.
- Establish air emission caps on areas experiencing rapid emission growth.
- Set clear targets for absolute (instead of intensity-based) reductions in greenhouse gas pollution in line with Alberta's portion of emissions.
- Enhance Alberta's "Measuring Up" system to ensure that the province's performance measurement system rigourously takes into account environmental and social indicators, in addition to economic ones.
- Revise the oilsands royalty structure to ensure Albertans are receiving their fair share of the profits.
The full recommendations brief can be downloaded from pembina.org/pubs/doc.php?id=1332
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For more information contact:
Marlo Raynolds, Executive Director, Pembina Institute
Cell: 403-607-9427