Climate and Energy Policy and the MOU - Jeanette Leitch

The MOU appears to set the course for climate and energy policy for the whole country. Yet it has little to say about impacts in jurisdictions outside of Alberta or direct Federal control.

Only one paragraph appears to recognise that impacts on other provinces: Article 10 entitled “Application of this agreement” states at point (4) “Should a proposed project be located on or cross a boundary with another province or territory with a portion of the project located within Alberta, the Parties would seek to apply the principles and approaches contained herein in co-operation with the other province or territory.”

Likewise although there are various statements concerning Indigenous Peoples, there is nothing that deals with the disparity with respect to compliance with UNDRIP in the Whereas paragraphs noted below”

”AND WHEREAS Canada maintains its commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP);

AND WHEREAS Alberta continues to act in a manner that is consistent with treaties, the Canadian Constitution, and Alberta law, and views UNDRIP as non-binding”

Thus while Article 1 emphasizes that the MOU is intended to apply to projects primarily located in, and impacting Alberta, whether under provincial jurisdiction or Federal jurisdiction, applicable projects are primarily energy related and necessarily extend beyond Alberta geographically, and even within Alberta beyond both Federal and Provincial jurisdiction to rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The MOU needs to be clear that in dealing with climate and energy policy which could be a template for the whole country it is essential that:

· The outcome balances the economic benefits of oil and gas in the short term while also encouraging new clean industries that scale up quickly and provide new careers and prosperity for decades to come;

· The rules are fair and equitable across the country; and

· Indigenous Rights are respected and honoured.

In identifying specifics to consider I would echo the comments from East Kootenay Climate Hub (March 22) including the reference to the four Must-Haves from Feb 17-26 Pembina Release(External link) (https://www.pembina.org/media-release/pembina-institute-releases-four-must-have-results-ottawa-alberta-mou-talks) viz

#1 No taxpayer money devoted to a new pipeline because if the business case is there the private sector should be investing

#2 Any new rules on electricity and methane should be clear and fair across the country and Alberta must present credible plans to reduce emissions and encourage clean investment.

#3 The oilsands companies, Canada’s largest source of emissions need to put their money on the table for their long-awaited carbon capture and storage project (Pathways CCS)

#4 Alberta’s industrial carbon pricing system must be stronger to work properly. And that means reaching the much-talked-about $130 effective price by 2030 at the latest.

I also endorse their suggestion to rebrand the “industrial carbon tax” as a “Clean air initiative.”

It is important to make clear the purpose of enforcing “an effective carbon price” as distinct from regulating the “headline carbon price” ://http://www.pembina.org/blog/magic-130-2030

In addition, I fully support the constructive and insightful comments made by Melanie Daniels B.Sc., P.Biol, vice chair of the Indigenous Centre for Cumulative Effects (ICCE).