Alberta Wilderness Association has requested that Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson conduct a federal impact assessment of the Tent Mountain Mine Project. Under section 9 of Canada’s Impact Assessment Act, the Minister has the power to designate a project for an assessment if: Read More
Updated: September 10, 2020
The budget for the joint provincial-federal Oil Sands Monitoring Program will be reduced by around 25% this year, citing less field work due to the COVID-19 outbreak. AEN members discussed the budget reduction on a call on August 26 and are seeking clarification from the Oil Sands Monitoring Program. Read More
Updated: September 3, 2020
The Coalspur Vista mine is one of the largest thermal coal mines in Canada, and the proposed expansion could almost triple its capacity. Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson declined in December 2019 to order a federal impact assessment, but he reversed this decision on July 30 so the project will undergo a federal impact assessment. Coalspur Mines has launched a legal challenge to the Minister's decision.
EDMONTON, AB – CPAWS applauds the decision by the federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Jonathan Wilkinson, to approve the request for a federal impact assessment for a proposed thermal coal mine expansion near Hinton, Alberta. The decision shows Minister Wilkinson understands the serious need to assess adverse environmental impacts that result from outdated thermal coal mining. Read More
CALGARY – Ecojustice lawyer and climate program director Alan Andrews issued the following statement in response to Minister Wilkinson’s decision to designate Coalspur’s Vista coal mine expansion for a federal impact assessment: Read More
OTTAWA — NICHOLE DUSYK, SENIOR ANALYST, at the Pembina Institute, made the following statement in response to the publication of the Strategic Assessment of Climate Change: Read More
Canada’s new federal impact assessment legislation came into force in August 2019. It includes explicit requirements to take into account climate change considerations during assessment and decision-making phases. What does this mean? Details are still emerging, primarily in the form of draft guidance set to be finalized in the very near future. This Saturday Morning at the Law School session presents the new legislative context and comments on the details of climate change considerations available to date, including implications for review and approval of major resource projects. The presentation will also relate this material to the broader context of implementing Canada’s international climate change commitments and related domestic law and policy measures.
This event is sponsored by the Alberta Law Foundation.
Edmonton – The following letter was submitted on behalf of a joint group including the Pembina Institute, Alberta Wilderness Association, Smith’s Landing First Nation, CPAWS Northern Alberta, Mikisew Cree First Nation, Fort Chipewyan Metis Association and the Environmental Law Centre. The letter addresses the unilateral decisions to suspend oil and gas environmental monitoring and reporting and requests immediate reinstatement.
Edmonton – Alberta’s Energy Regulator released two unilateral decisions on May 20, 2020, to suspend a series of environmental monitoring activities for all oil & gas operators and in situ operators. These suspensions include monitoring tailings for migratory bird landings, programs to detect and repair methane leaks, testing of surface waters and groundwater, soil monitoring, reclamation monitoring programs, wetland monitoring, and the requirement for lab testing of waters released to the environment. Read More
