Pembina reacts to Premier Stelmach's resignation

EDMONTON, AB — Ed Whittingham, executive director of the Pembina Institute, made the following statement in response to Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach's announced plans to resign after the current legislative term:

"Under Premier Stelmach's leadership, Alberta has made some progress on key energy and environment issues, such as land use planning and jumpstarting carbon capture and storage. The premier's recent recognition of the gaps in the province's water quality monitoring also represents a step toward more responsible management of the oilsands.

"Unfortunately, if the premier fails to make much bolder progress on the environment file during his remaining time in office, he will leave his successor a legacy of missed opportunities and a host of environmental problems. Nearly every jurisdiction in the developed world is working toward capping or reducing greenhouse gas emissions — meantime, Alberta's own climate change plan will let emissions continue to rise for at least the next decade. While Alberta has tremendous potential for clean energy like wind power, Premier Stelmach has put in place few policies to properly encourage the development of such opportunities.

"The Alberta government's failure to protect air quality, land and water resources in the oilsands has been well documented. Strong environmental management in the oilsands is the key to sustaining our export markets and, consequently, Alberta's economic stability."

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