Time for Ottawa to step in around Alberta oilsands

(The Canadian Press) A new report released by Environmental Defence says it's time for the federal government to stop tip-toeing around Alberta's prickly oilsands sensibilities and step in to address concerns from greenhouse gases to cancer levels to mutant fish.

"It's about time we started clamping down on environmental issues," said Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, who live in the area. Adam was to be in Ottawa on Friday to release a report summarizing a long list of environmental worries generated by the oilsands.

The report calls the oilsands "the most destructive project on earth" and warns that "with the tarsands, Canada has become the world's dirty energy superpower." The problem goes well beyond Alberta.

Saskatchewan has complained about acid rain blowing in from the oilsands. The Northwest Territories worries about being downstream of them.

Tanker traffic along the British Columbia coastline is likely to increase to carry oilsands oil to China, the report suggests. It also predicts refinery capacity in Ontario will grow to process the oil.

It also estimates greenhouse gas emissions from the oilsands are likely to grow enough by 2020 to completely offset Ontario's emissions cuts.

"The federal government must now step in, said Environmental Defence spokesman Matt Price. The report, developed by the environmental health organization , lists previously identified concerns including:

Elevated levels of toxins including arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in area fish, wildlife, water and sediments.

Lax and industry-friendly oversight.

Massive forest destruction, inadequate reclamation and some of the largest tailings ponds on earth.

Increasing and nationally significant emissions of greenhouse gases.

Suggestions of high rates of rare cancers in downstream communities.

Price says successive federal governments have been unwilling to take on Alberta given the province's hostility to perceived federal intrusions. The national energy program, blamed for ending Alberta's last energy boom, is still a fighting word.

"The politicians still feel reverberations from that today," said Price. "There is definitely an Alberta factor at play. There's an element of not wanting to repeat the backlash against the NEP.

"We don't have a decent climate change policy because of the tarsands."

Price said federal officials have repeatedly avoided invoking federal environmental legislation and have instead delegated their responsibilities to the province.

"We're putting federal elected officials on notice that this is their duty. We think they have a duty to uphold federal laws."

Adam hopes Ottawa -- the level of government primarily responsible for aboriginals -- will help ease the concerns of his people. Alberta has failed to address them, he said.

"If the provincial government has their way, they won't even consult with First Nations people. There's no cause for sustainability in that region. Everything is non-renewable, taken as fast as you can and get out of there."

Price said his group isn't interested in shutting down the oilsands.

"We're on the same page as a lot of the industry and government is. Our challenge is we're not going fast enough on these things. There's no regulatory hammer making these things happen in a time frame that's acceptable."

You can view the full report online.


Tags: alternative energy, global warming, oil, vital signstag cloud.