Speeches/Hansard

Oil Sands Development

April 22, 2008

Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The manner of tar sands development continues to provoke both national and international outrage. Even the U. S. government has passed an energy bill excluding its military and government fleet from using fuel that produces more emissions than conventional oil. This government is through its mismanagement threatening the very industry it most prizes. To the Energy Minister: does he believe the market is the best at managing our tar sands development?

Mr. Knight: Well, Mr. Speaker, initially I guess my answer to the question would be that there's been a bit of a misnomer used in most of the preamble with respect to the question. In Alberta we're developing oil sands, and I think that all Albertans understand that. It's odd that the member opposite doesn't understand that. Nevertheless, there is – there is – internationally and certainly in our neighbour to the south a low-carbon fuel standard initiative, and we're prepared to deal with that in due course.

Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Environment minister. Two recent federal decisions on the Kearl tar sands decisions have forced tar sands developments on hold due to environmental concerns. Why is it falling to the federal Environment minister to manage this resource in a safe manner?

Mr. Renner: Well, Mr. Speaker, there are certain jurisdictions that fall within the realm of the provincial government. There are other areas that fall legitimately within the realm of the federal government. We do our very best to try and co-ordinate those responsibilities to ensure that we don't have duplicative hearings. In this particular case the federal court mandated that the hearing that took place, the dual hearing, the federal-provincial hearing, did not deal
with some outstanding federal issues, and we have a decision that's based upon that court decision.

Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Sustainable Resource Development minister. With about 70 per cent of the Wood Buffalo region already leased, the cumulative effects management associa-tion in January called for protective green zones elsewhere. The
minister is quoted as saying that he's reviewing the situation. We cannot sustain some of our boreal forests and dependent species. What exactly is his department sustaining in Sustainable Resource Development?

Dr. Morton: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should state the facts accurately with respect to CEMA. In January there was a letter from some members of CEMA making a nonconsensus recommendation. There has not yet been a report. This government, of course, being responsible, is waiting for the final report, will act on the whole set of recommendations that come from that committee.
Thank you.