Media Room

Turning an oil sands mine into an ATV park
March 01, 2011
Published in Alberta Oil Magazine, March 2011
By Adam Driedzic, Staff Counsel, Environmental Law Centre

What shall we do with a mined-out mud bog? Oil sands operators are spending billions to answer that question. While the focus to date has been on restoring land to its pre-industrial state, another option might be to turn some mines near Fort McMurray into a giant, fenced-in motorsport park.

The false promise of the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan
January 06, 2011
The false promise of the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan: Woodland caribou remain unprotected despite at risk designation

Published in Alberta Oil Magazine, January 2011
By Laura Bowman, Staff Counsel, Environmental Law Centre

In the Lower Athabasca portion of the Alberta oil sands region, biodiversity is a live issue. The region is resource-rich and subject to large forestry and oil and gas tenures that bring about the need for difficult political and economic tradeoffs. Wetlands and borea

Bill 29 (Alberta Parks Act) Reflects a Step Backward in Good Park Governance
November 17, 2010
MEDIA ADVISORY

BILL 29 (ALBERTA PARKS ACT) REFLECTS A STEP BACKWARD IN GOOD PARK GOVERNANCE

Edmonton, AB, 17 November 2010 – ”It’s an unfortunate and reversible trend,” says Jason Unger, Staff Counsel at the Environmental Law Centre in Edmonton. “We have legislation now that sets specific prohibitions in some of our protected areas and Bill 29 will nullify that.” The Bill makes protected areas, most notably ecological reserves and wilderness areas, into Provincial Parks and relies on zonin

How a change of plans can jeopardize environmental goals: The trouble with results-based environmental management
November 10, 2010
Published in Alberta Oil Magazine, November 2010
By Jason Unger, Staff Counsel, Environmental Law Centre

An application has recently been made to Alberta Environment to divert water from the Clearwater River, a Canadian Heritage River in northeastern Alberta, for use in the Long Lake oil sands project south of Fort McMurray. This application has garnered considerable attention and publicity as the original project contemplated using groundwater (potable and non-potable) for underground bitu

Investors seek full disclosure on oil sands investments
September 09, 2010
Published in Alberta Oil Magazine, September 2010
By Laura Bowman, Staff Counsel, Environmental Law Centre

In the wake of Syncrude Canada’s conviction for the death of approximately 1,600 ducks at the Aurora mine tailings pond, investors in oil and gas should give serious scrutiny to the state of tailings ponds and other environmental issues in Alberta’s major oil and gas projects. The trial court’s verdict – guilty of violating the Migratory Birds Convention Act and Alberta’s Environmental

Updated - Senate Committee Protects the Environment
July 21, 2010
MEDIA ADVISORY

Edmonton, AB, 9 July 2010 – In the past few months, the Environmental Law Centre (ELC) has been actively involved in campaigning against amendments that could render the environmental assessment process ineffectual, needlessly exposing the environment, the Canadian public, and future generations to unknown and potentially irreversible risks by providing the Minister of Environment with discretion to reduce the scope of activ

Alberta’s Bill 50 electricity debate conveys wildly varying claims
June 01, 2010
Published in Alberta Venture Magazine, June 2010
Article by Duncan Kinney

Known as the Electric Statutes Amendment Act, Bill 50 and its effects on power generation and transmission in Alberta are not reducible to a simple, television-friendly explanation. Instead, the elements are numerous and complex. The price tag is a moving target. Cost estimates ranging from $3 billion to more than $20 billion. Allegations of backroom deals from Enmax CEO Gary Holden. Long lines of experts stating...

Water Transfers Require Due Process
April 21, 2010
MEDIA ADVISORY

Water Transfers Require Due Process – Environmental Law Centre

Edmonton, AB, 21 April 2010 – Last month a public notice appeared on the Alberta Environment website that indicated that the Eastern Irrigation District (EID) had proposed changes to the purpose of its water license from irrigation only to a variety of purposes including “municipal, agriculture, commercial, industrial, habitat enhancement and recreation.”

The Environmental Law Centre (ELC), upon considering t

Who Gives a Dam About Hydro in Alberta?
April 21, 2010
Recently the provincial government directed the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to hold an inquiry on the regulatory process for hydroelectric power generation development. The AUC’s April 14th Notice of Inquiry gives a May 7th deadline for submission of statements of intent to participate (SIP).

Are you asking yourself “who gives a damn?”

Well, the answer is “maybe you.”

Industry and government are slowly defining the duty to consult and accommodate First Nations
April 19, 2010
Published in Alberta Oil Magazine, April 2010
By Adam Driedzic, Staff Counsel, Environmental Law Centre

An aboriginal claim against the government has an exploration company under pressure.

Flow-through shares were issued and tax deadlines are approaching. The company gambles and starts surveying, only to be blocked by a court injunction. Another company avoids this fate by deploying its own negotiators, but reporting to shareholders arouses investor unrest.

Feds 'gut' environmental assessments: Changes in budget could mean less scrutiny in oilsands
April 07, 2010
By Kevin Ma
St. Albert Gazette

The public is at risk of another Walkerton if the government passes proposed changes to the federal environmental assessment act, says a major environmental group.

The right to water: World water scarcity makes the right to access a key question
March 18, 2010
Published in VUE Weekly
Article by Sheryle Carlson

As we enter into yet another spring facing a global water crisis, March 22nd marks the United Nations designated World Water Day. The UN reports an estimated 1.1 billion people still rely on unsafe drinking water, despite the fact that since 1990, 1.6 billion people have gained access to safe water. Vandana Shiva, author and environmental activist, believes, "Water wars are not a thing of the future. They already surround us.

Lake Ontario Waterkeeper Podcast on Environmental Prosecutions
March 16, 2010
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper
Interview with Adam Driedzic

Environmental prosecutions are making headlines again as Syncrude finds itself in court in Alberta. The company has contaminated ponds at its tar sands site in Alberta and is facing charges from both the provincial and federal governments after 1600 migratory birds died there in 2008. We talk about public and private environmental prosecutions today. Our guests are Adam Driedzic of the Alberta Environmental Law Centre and Fraser Riverkeep

Deciding Factor: The mandate to protect public interest tests the resolve of regulators
February 08, 2010
Published in Alberta Oil Magazine, February - March 2010
By Cindy Chiasson, Executive Director, Environmental Law Centre

Give yourself a few minutes’ break to indulge in a little imagination. Picture yourself as a member of one of the most influential regulators in Alberta: the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB). Envision yourself seated at the front of a hearing room, listening to evidence from industry and landowners on proposed oil and gas projects. You have power. There is potential for you to affect the direction of Alberta’s future.

It's About Time: Reclamation and managing cumulative effects require quick action
December 03, 2009
Published in Alberta Oil Magazine December 2009-January 2010
By Jason Unger

It is a sequence of events that has played out thousands of times in Alberta. A surface lease is obtained. Provincial authorizations are acquired. A well is drilled and (hopefully) produces. The well ages, runs down and is suspended. In some instances, where there is a determination that no more oil or gas can be efficiently produced, the well is abandoned.

Alberta’s Changing Land-Use Planning System
November 24, 2009
Published in Wild Lands Advocate October 2009
By Cindy Chiasson

The Alberta government has moved closer to implementation of its new land use planning and management system in passing the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA) during the spring 2009 legislative session. The Land Use Framework, which has been under development since 2006, seeks to manage Alberta’s lands on a regional basis to address the cumulative effects of activities. ALSA provides the legislative structure and authority to anchor this initiative, but many of the details remain to be develop

Balancing resource development needs with environmental concerns in Alberta
November 17, 2009
Alberta Primetime
Interview with Cindy Chiasson

Is Alberta doing enough to safeguard the environment in the face of development?

What more can be done to manage the process?

Bill 50 – A Curious Solution To Transmission Problems - Media Advisory
November 17, 2009
There is no doubt that electricity transmission planning and approval in Alberta faces challenges, including difficulty responding to public concern. Bill 50 – the Electric Statutes Amendment Act – is the most recent attempt to address these challenges. However, not everyone agrees that Bill 50 will work.

Kelly decision and sour gas permits
November 13, 2009
Alberta Primetime
Interview with Cindy Chiasson

Building Relationships: Industry should look to family law of all places, to improve the fairness of energy projects
October 19, 2009
Published in Alberta Oil Magazine October-November 2009
By Cindy Chiasson

Communication is recognized as a key element of good relationships, from marriages to corporate transactions. In the world of petroleum development, this generally takes the form of public consultation.

Vast Control: New land use apparatus blankets Alberta and concentrates power in the provincial cabinet
August 04, 2009
Published in Alberta Oil Magazine August-September 2009
By Cindy Chiasson

Alberta’s proposed new system of land use planning and management moved closer to fruition with passage of the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA) during the 2009 spring legislative session. ALSA creates the legal outline for implementation of the Land Use Framework initiative, which has been under development since 2006. The initiative seeks to manage Alberta’s land base on a regional basis to address the cumulative effects of activities.

Worth Our Salt: Tightening constraints on water supplies call into question the legal line drawn between saline and pure sources
July 03, 2009
Published in Alberta Oil Magazine Summer 2009
By Jason Unger

As a food preservative, salt has been essential to civilization. It is no accident that the word “salary” derives from the same linguistic root. Water is also essential to civilization. Combine the two materials, however, and the resulting substance has diminished value for human use. Nevertheless, a

ELC Backgrounder: Bill 36 – Broad discretion with little accountability
May 01, 2009
The Land Use Framework is an ambitious undertaking intended to guide the management of Alberta’s lands and natural resources to achieve long-term environmental, social and economic goals. Its vision and guiding principles promise a new system based on a balance of those goals, and encompasses values of accountability, shared responsibility, collaboration, transparency, fairness, equity, and clear roles, responsibilities and processes. However, these elements are not fulfilled in Bill 36, the A

ELC Backgrounder: Bill 36 – Lack of substantive planning criteria
May 01, 2009
Bill 36, the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA), sets out a variety of regulation making powers that allow government to pursue valid land use planning goals, including dealing with the establishment of thresholds, transitional provisions and monitoring and enforcement. In addition, Bill 36 allows the use of various planning tools such as expanded conservation easements, conservation off-sets and tradable development credits systems. Enabling these tools is a major step to effective land us

ELC Backgrounder: Bill 36 - Limited rights to participate and appeal
May 01, 2009
Effective regional planning involves a good mix of “top-down” direction from government and “bottom-up” input from the public. Unfortunately, Bill 36, the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA), is solely a “top-down” process with all power residing in Cabinet.

ELC Media Advisory: Alberta Land Stewardship Act Needs More Planning and Less Politics
May 01, 2009
Edmonton, AB, 1 May 2009 – On April 27, 2009, the Alberta government introduced Bill 36, the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA). While the Bill is a positive step to give legal effect and support to the provincial Land Use Framework initiative, it has some inherent weaknesses which are of concern to the Environmental Law Centre, but which can be remedied by amendment.

Perennial Pipeline Puzzle: The question of surface rights compensation for buried lines goes to court
April 20, 2009
Published in Alberta Oil Magazine, April-May 2009
By Dean Watt

For years, pipeline operators in Alberta and other provinces have had to address recurrent arguments made by landowners seeking annual compensation for surface rights, citing ongoing impacts of buried pipelines. Operators have argued against these awards on grounds that the losses suffered by landowners are only temporary.

Great Expectations: Keeping the promises of Alberta’s Land Use Framework a mammoth task
February 01, 2009
Published in Alberta Oil Magazine, February-March, 2009
By Cindy Chiasson, Executive Director, Environmental Law Centre

A long-standing part of Alberta’s mythology has been the concept of no limits – limitless space, limitless resources, limitless beauty, limitless opportunities and limitless activities. Life, work and play in our province have proceeded for many decades on the basis that we had all w

B.C. Serves Notice: A novel approach sees landowners in the province’s energy heartland informed prior to resource development
December 01, 2008
Published in Alberta Oil Magazine, December 2008-January 2009
By Jodie Hierlmeier, Staff Counsel, Environmental Law Centre

Take note Alberta Energy: The province of British Columbia has broadened the notice given to surface owners before minerals are developed under private property. This change is notable for Alberta, as the province seeks ways to better integrate surface and subsurface rights under its Land-Use Framework planning initiative.

MLAs must give public greater voice in energy hearings
June 24, 2008
Published in the Edmonton Journal, June 24, 2008
By Cindy Chiasson, Executive Director, Environmental Law Centre

The editorial on the current ERCB sour gas hearing in Tomahawk (“Sour gas drilling rules need review”, 20 June 2008) discussed concerns that local residents have about their limited ability to participate in the hearing, and places the blame on “the new, restrictive rules of Bill 46”. The statement about Bill 46 is incorrect.

Public Input Into New Land-Use Regime Critical
May 23, 2008
Published in the Edmonton Journal, May 23, 2008
By Jodie Hierlmeier, Staff Counsel, Environmental Law Centre

The province’s land-use framework signals a dramatic shift away from the current laissez-faire approach to planning towards a regime that will set firm limits on development and land-uses.

Short Window For Public Comment on Draft Land-Use Plan
May 23, 2008
Published in the Calgary Herald, May 23, 2008
By Jodie Hierlmeier, Staff Counsel, Environmental Law Centre

The province’s draft land use framework has received a fairly warm reception from environmentalists, industry and municipalities.

Marie Lake Example of Larger Problems
September 10, 2007
Published in the Calgary Herald, September 10, 2007
By Jodie Hierlmeier, Staff Counsel, Environmental Law Centre

The cottage owners around Marie Lake are no doubt delighted by Premier Ed Stelmach's announcement that the government will not allow seismic testing to proceed on the lake.