Albertans Want Oilsands Companies to Pay for Pollution

A recent poll reveals that more than 90 percent of Albertans want oilsands companies to be held responsible for their share of industrial pollution by applying the "polluter pays" principle.

These observations are the result of a recent poll conducted by Probe Research, a professional polling firm based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The findings are based on a province-wide phone survey of 500 Albertans conducted between April 3 and 16, 2007, with a margin of error of 4.4 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

"Oilsands operations have massive impacts on Alberta's boreal forest and water supply. They're also expected to cause nearly half of Canada's greenhouse gas pollution growth between 2003 and 2010," says Amy Taylor, Senior Economist with the Pembina Institute. "Albertans clearly understand that meaningful improvements will only happen once pollution becomes a cost that businesses have to factor into their decisions."

"Polling data from last week showed that 70 percent of Albertans want oilsands producers to achieve absolute emissions reductions," adds Taylor. "Today's results only serve to reinforce the conclusion that Albertans are light years ahead of their leaders when it comes to the environment."

The Probe poll also investigated Albertans' perceptions of the current oilsands royalty regime, which was designed ten years ago to spur oilsands development by applying relatively low royalties. A clear majority of Albertans now want the system reformed to reflect the true value of the resource, in particular, by tying royalties to companies' profits. Albertans also want their government to take a leadership role in maximizing value for citizens, and to start investing for the future by dedicating 1/3 of oilsands royalties to renewable energy and energy efficiency.

"Albertans own the oilsands resource," says Taylor. "The provincial government manages the resource on Albertans' behalf and as manager, has a duty to obtain maximum value for the resource owners by limiting commissions - the profit earned by resource developers - to a reasonable return on investment."

The Pembina Institute will be making a presentation to the expert panel assigned to review the oilsands royalty regime (as well as the royalties applied to conventional oil and natural gas) on May 22 in Calgary. The presentation, preceded by a press conference at 10:30 AM, will show how royalties could be reformed to maximize value for Albertans while maintaining investment viability.

A backgrounder describing the survey questions and findings in detail is available at www.pembina.org. Information on the royalty review is available at www.albertaroyaltyreview.ca.