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Opinion
Energy
Environment

Canada's Environment Minister Responds to Tyee Article

Government meets its eco-responsibilities when it comes to oil sands development: Prentice.

Jim Prentice 27 Oct 2010TheTyee.ca

Jim Prentice is Canada's Minister of the Environment and Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre-North.
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Minister Prentice: Fires back at report that Tyee blogged.

To the Editor:

In response to Geoff Dembicki's Hook blog news item [published Oct. 20] concerning the recent Environmental Defence, Pembina Institute and Equiterre report about role of the Government of Canada in the oil sands, I would like to provide some facts regarding the actions that the Government of Canada is taking to address environmental concerns related to the oil sands. I disagree with the assertion that the federal government is not exercising its responsibilities when it comes to oil sands development. That is fundamentally incorrect.

I have said before that the oil sands need to be developed in an environmentally responsible way. We intend to be the most environmentally responsible producer of all forms of energy including the oil sands.

We have made significant investments in science and technology. We have increased our monitoring and have a new chemical fingerprinting science program to develop ways to track the source of chemicals in water and air. And, of course, we continue to invest in enforcement and conservation to ensure that oil sands operations comply with federal legislation. This was demonstrated recently by the toughest environmental penalties in Canadian history that were levied against Syncrude. We are serious about enforcing environmental regulations in the oil sands.

Our decisions need to be based on sound science. That is why on September 30, I appointed an independent advisory panel of leading scientists to provide advice on a world class water monitoring system. I look forward to receiving their report on December 16; it will shape our approach on this important issue.

I respect the concern that has been expressed in recent reports and by many Canadians about the possible impact of the oil sands development on our environment, particularly in Northern Alberta and adjacent provinces. We all share the same goal -- to ensure that energy is produced in the most environmentally responsible way possible. We continue to support that goal with sound science and a commitment to environmental stewardship. We're going to make sure that we have a state of the art system and that we protect the environment and also that we balance it with economic growth.

Jim Prentice

Minister of the Environment [Tyee]

Read more: Energy, Environment

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