Fast tracking projects and reducing standard reports ignores sustainability and accountability

When the Alberta government and regulators do not hold industries and companies accountable, the federal government for assessments and accountability is needed as a safe guard.

The Alberta government has disregarded:

First Nations - not consulting them, not considering treaty laws, or reconciliation

The public’s voices in countless projects and bills, ignoring basic democratic practices and ignoring rights and freedoms:

• Using the notwithstanding clause
• Violating rights, freedoms and dignity of the people - trans people, people of color, women
• Cuts to social programs
• Attempted to ban books
• Constraining minority groups with higher costs for AISH, MAID
• Increased deficit, increased taxes (e.g. property taxes) for cities
• Ignoring teachers
• Ignoring healthcare workers
• Support and demonstrating support for Trump and fascist beliefs and policies

How can the federal government trust the provincial government that disregards people rights and freedoms by relying solely on the province to tell the federal government how issues would be assessed through regulatory and environmental assessment processes? Federal oversight provides a safe guard for these risks. By allowing a government that disregards people, the environment, and Indigenous peoples, the process may reflect the same values the provincial government upholds. If Alberta defines the scope of a project narrowly, or downplays certain risks, the entire process may overlook, ignore, or downplay important environmental and community impacts. "The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) facilitates the sustainable development of major projects through open and efficient assessments. These assessments identify ways to ensure the environment and Indigenous rights are protected as projects get built." The federal government has a responsibility to protect the environment, biodiversity, and Indigenous Rights.

By not regulating industries and companies to higher standards to uphold the integrity of the environment and people, we all pay the price. Both the provincial and federal government have engaged in practices that reflect a lack of care for the environment with their current ‘conservative’ beliefs. Both levels of government have demonstrated their lack of care for sustainability by directly cutting funding for non-profit organizations and squeezing social programs.

Both levels of government want to fast track projects, ignoring the environment, people, and wildlife to support something ‘economic’.

Below are examples of bills to increase 'without limitation and consultation perspectives':

Red Tape Reduction Act

Bill C-5

Provincial Parks General Directive

Coal Policy

Trails Act

Bill 40 Growing Alberta’s Forest Sector Amendment Act

Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act

However, our environment through tourism, education, and research supports the economy. How is fast tracking projects, reducing assessments, reducing environment policies and laws considered economic?

Importantly the Agreement also states that Alberta “views UNDRIP as non-binding.” This raises significant questions on whether the AER will require meaningful consultation and reflect input and involvement of Indigenous peoples in project decisions. The pipeline agreement was not transparent. Where was the public consultation and Indigenous voices? Do you want species and trees displaced? There's consistent speech about concerns for climate change and natural disasters, but this agreement doesn’t reflect the same care. Public participation is limited in Alberta as reflected by the Alberta Energy Regulator and coal mining projects dismissing public hearings. Due to water concerns, a broad public coalition of ranchers, farmers, First Nations and conservationists strongly opposed the project as well as related mining developments in the Rocky Mountains by largely Australian coal interests. Recently AER failed to inform Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and Mikisew Cree Nation about the risk of a spill from Imperial Oils’ Kearl tar sands mine until millions of tonnes of toxic water leaked. The AER failed and were incompetent to do their job. Not to mention the lack of backbone from the Alberta Energy Regulator to actually hold people and companies accountable under the laws and policies in place to PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT is concerning.

We must have an impact assessment process that encourages participation, restores independent oversight, embeds climate and cumulative‑effects science, respects Indigenous Peoples and their Rights, increases transparency, and ensures strong, enforceable, and evidence-based standards.