Canada: Liberals, NDP decry Tories’ oilsands plan

EDMONTON – Alberta’s Energy Minister — and some oil industry leaders — took a conciliatory tone to new federal rules affecting oilsands developments and coal-fired power plants yesterday, at the same time they were denounced by opposition parties.

The restrictions will require new oilsands plants to install carbon-capture and storage systems by 2012, and restrict construction of coal-fired plants using dirty coal.


Environment Minister John Baird said his approach would make Canada a world leader in fighting global warming because it would set tough targets on existing facilities and even tougher targets on new and future facilities in the oilsands and coal-fired electricity sectors which produce most of the country’s greenhouse gas pollution.

“This will be one of the most mammoth environmental infrastructure projects ever taken in Canadian history,” Mr. Baird said. He said he wanted to ensure that the “polluter pays” to introduce new technology, such as carbon sequestration underground, instead of using taxpayers money to clean up industry. Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach criticized the announcement that the federal strategy includes a national carbon-emissions trading and offsets program.

National Post