Ms Blakeman: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. Albertans want an oil sands industry they can be proud of, and industry wants to be innovative and respected internationally for its environmental record, but this government’s continual foot-dragging is making both things impossible.

We’ve had no new standards for oil sands water monitoring, no new CCS, no health impact studies. All promised; not delivered. To the Minister of Environment and Water. Industry will step up to the challenge if it’s provided, so why does this government insist on dragging its feet on implementing environmental standards?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mrs. McQueen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I wouldn’t say that we’re dragging our feet at all. I would say that what we’re doing is working with the federal government to come up with a world-class monitoring system here in Alberta that Albertans can rely on. We looked at the portal that we announced a week or so ago. The transparency of the information is there. I would say that in the last month that I’ve spent here as minister, we’re not dragging our feet.

Ms Blakeman: Well, Mr. Speaker, back to the same minister. Given that this government’s inaction has led the federal government to step into our oil sands to a degree never seen before, what tangible evidence can the minister offer us that would show that they’re encouraging environmental innovation in the oil sands on a scale that can’t be denied internationally?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mrs. McQueen: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I would say that we share the jurisdiction with regard to the environment with the federal government. Rather than having two separate monitoring systems for air, land, water, and biodiversity, we’re doing what makes sense, and we’re having one first-class system in Alberta. Albertans will see the transparency with that, and that is what we’re doing with the federal government because we share that jurisdiction.

Ms Blakeman: I can’t wait for transparency from a provincial and a federal government. Good Lord.

Back to the same minister: given that climate change is real and a threat to our biggest industry, what will the minister do to ensure Alberta is leading the way in environmental innovation rather than toddling along 10 steps behind?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mrs. McQueen: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I’d like to say that I’m very proud that Alberta is leading the way and has been leading the way. We’re the first one with regard to putting a price on carbon. We’re the first one with regard to putting in a huge commitment with regard to carbon capture and storage, a $2 billion investment that around the world is seen as a huge investment, taking real steps, real concrete steps to real projects on the ground. These are just a couple of the things that we’re doing that are taking real leadership in Alberta, and quite frankly I’m proud of that.

Alberta Hansard, November 21, 2011

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