Author Topic: Alberta provincial election  (Read 3949 times)

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Offline Squidward von Squidderson

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Re: Alberta provincial election
« Reply #120 on: April 24, 2020, 06:35:39 pm »
Alberta tar sands mine denied by Alberta Supreme Court.

https://www.castanet.net/news/Canada/298222/Top-court-overturns-Albetra-oilsands-mine-approval

Quote
In 2001, the band began talks with the province to preserve Moose Lake and a 10-kilometre buffer zone around it. Former Alberta premier Jim Prentice signed a letter of intent with the band in 2015 and three years later Fort McKay thought it had a deal, although it was never ratified.

But that year, the Alberta Energy Regulator approved Prosper Petroleum's 10,000-barrel-a-day mine that would have come within two kilometres of the lakeshore.

It argued before the Appeal Court that its mandate forbids it from considering issues of Indigenous consultation. Nor could it consider deals not yet in force.

Not good enough, said the court.

"The public interest mandate can and should encompass considerations of the effect of a project on Aboriginal Peoples," wrote Justices Barbara Veldhuis and Jo'Anne Strekaf. "To preclude such considerations entirely takes an unreasonably narrow view of what comprises the public interest."

Greckol added the regulator was also wrong to say that cumulative effects of development are beyond its purview.

"The Crown has long been on notice that the piecemeal approach to addressing (the band's) concerns through consultation on individual projects has not adequately considered the cumulative effects of development."

In a statement, Prosper CEO Brad Gardiner said the ruling reflects problems with Alberta's energy regulation.

"This decision reflects a failure of the regulatory framework for the energy industry and a failure of the Crown to address the concerns of Fort McKay First Nation. These issues need to be addressed by the government."