Rethink Alberta should rethink its own strategy
Author: David | Date: July 16, 2010 | Please Comment!I’m very disappointed that some passionate but misinformed Americans are urging their fellow citizens to cancel any plans to visit Alberta.
While I can understand someone’s passion to stand up for what they believe in, this is a misguided public relations war without a comprehensive understanding of the issue.
It also unfairly punishes all Albertans – including the people who work in our tourism sector and their families – for the perceived sins of one industry, an industry that not only fuels Canadian prosperity, but the US and world economies. Rethink’s strategy is also counterproductive; how can Alberta diversify its economy and move to something more sustainable if people sabotage our tourism sector, as this campaign does? Where’s the logic?
It’s true that the oil sands must be more carefully developed and monitored. Government has failed to set and enforce the highest standards and industry must do a far better job of reclaiming the water and land damaged by oil sands mining. But it is not true, as our detractors claim, that the oil sands are the number one menace to the environment. In fact, managed properly, the oil sands will be transformed with new, cutting-edge technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, eliminate tailings ponds and reclaim the environment. An Alberta Liberal administration would revive the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority and add a two to three cent/bbl levy on bitumen production; both of these initiatives would jump-start the development of the new green technologies we need.
I have little respect or sympathy for those who would boycott Alberta and deliberately harm families based on misinformation. To those with more open minds, I urge you to visit Alberta, talk to people in the industry – many of whom are working hard to reduce the environmental impact of the oil sands – and form an opinion based on a rational analysis of all the facts.
We all have a part to play in protecting the environment. But spreading misinformation and attacking all Albertans isn’t the way to do it.
9:13 am on July 16th, 2010
If they wish to boycott Alberta as a Tourist location ,lets stop sending them the oil/gas that they so openly claim to be the problem, this way they cannot complain about where the fuel they use comes from as they will no-longer be receiving it.
3:46 pm on July 16th, 2010
Let’s look at the numbers. The oil sands are the single largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, and, in fact, total 0.6% of the entire planet’s production. In terms of population, Canada is only 0.47% of the planet, and Alberta a tenth of that. And that’s OK?
Yes, the oil sands can be made cleaner. But at the moment, no one is doing anything to make that happen. And while a liberal government in Alberta may do something like that, they are unlikely to form a government for a very long time, if ever.
Tourism dollars spent in Alberta go to help Albertans, this is true. But they also go towards propping up a corrupt and clueless government. Without external pressure, the Alberta government has no incentive to force change on the oil sands. There certainly is little to no internal pressure in Alberta making that effort.
5:10 pm on July 16th, 2010
Let’s invoke the highly logical proposition, “follow the money.” In that light, the primary beneficiaries of Alberta’s oil resources are not Albertans, but the oil companies. Seems THEY should be funding the defense of Alberta campaign.
3:41 pm on July 17th, 2010
This Rethink Alberta is a reflection of just how the Tarsands are viewed in some quarters. People really SHOULD come and see for themselves–and not just see, but smell and taste the sulphur and the ammonia in the air–part of life in and around this region. Stop and take a good look at the leaky tailings lakes–and see how long it takes before private security guards shoo you away! See the polluted Athabasca. Talk with residents of Ft McKay, and listen to their descriptions of how their lands and traditional ways have been impacted by the type of and spate of development that now surrounds them. Read the respected scientific studies that describe the presence of increasing toxins, in water, air, and traditional foods. Realise that Fort Chip, at the receiving end of the toxin-laden Athabasca, has a high and increasing rate of cancers, many of them associated with the very toxins found in the area. Then read of the Alberta governments repeated denial of ALL of this, its treatment of everyone daring to criticise the “Sacred Cow”, and its intent on “not touching the brakes” on development of the Tarsands. Listen, look, read, and reflect. And draw your own conclusions.
10:14 am on October 4th, 2010
No one seems to recall that EPCOR owned Capital Power, still owns 72% (though Edmontonians gave up thier controlling voting rights), and derive most of Alberta’s electrical generation from coal. A simple decision by visionaries would have us using 55% less polluting natural gas for generating electricity, with the higher cost automatically (Mr. Smith’s hidden hand) encouraging resource conservation.
The issue of carbon reduction through sequestration is a lie!
Sequestration does not reduce carbon production, just changes where that carbon resides – in Alberta’s ground, or in the World’s air !
As an Albertan I know where I would like to dump my carbon.