Election Survey Results & Party Platforms on Water

Election Survey Results & Party Platforms on Water

• With the April 23 election fast approaching we are sending out an overview of the positions of the five major parties in the election. We hope you will take these positions into consideration when making the choice of which party you intend to support.
• On April 4th, OWINFS circulated a 10-question election survey to all the parties, but perhaps indicative of the importance each lends to the issue, only the NDP took time to respond. The positions of other parties have been taken from their respective election platforms and/or policy documents.
• The current Alberta election cycle has seen an almost complete absence of debate on environmental issues, which unfortunately means that the very critical issue of the future of water allocation in the province and the potential for an expansion of water markets in the province has largely been absent from the election discussion.
• Whichever party forms government next week, the continued engagement of all Albertans in deciding our water future, and your participation in the ongoing review of the province’s water allocation system will be critical, and we look forward to your continued support and engagement as the review moves forward.
• In alphabetical order, here are the positions of the parties with regard specifically to the water allocation review and/or water markets (each party has additional policies regarding other water-related issues that are not included below).

Read more at 'Our Water is not For Sale'

Environment issues largely missing from election campaign

Alberta’s oilsands and their environmental legacy — perhaps the single issue that most defines the province’s economy and relationship with the world — has been largely absent from political debate since the provincial election was called, observers say.

Photograph by: Chris Schwarz, Edmonton Journal

Alberta election 2012: Environment issues largely missing from election campaign

By Trish Audette,

edmontonjournal.com

April 14, 2012

EDMONTON - Alberta’s oilsands and their environmental legacy — perhaps the single issue that most defines the province’s economy and relationship with the world — has been largely absent from political debate since the provincial election was called, observers say.

Over the last three weeks, the race for control of the legislature, seen by many as a battle between Alison Redford’s Progressive Conservatives and Danielle Smith’s Wildrose, has been occupied by public-versus-private health care questions, talk of how to balance budgets and spend surplus energy revenues, and discussion of “conscience rights” and MLA accountability. That mash-up of debates has pushed the cleanup of oilsands tailings ponds or greenhouse gas emissions off the agenda, apart from campaign promises made by NDP leader Brian Mason and Alberta Liberal leader Raj Sherman, both of whom are polling low among decided voters.

Chris Severson-Baker, managing director of the Alberta-based environmental think-tank Pembina Institute, notes the future of the province depends not just on the oilsands themselves, but the world’s perception of the oilsands.

“(The environment) hasn’t been discussed at great length, which is surprising of course because the development of the oilsands resource and (related) environmental concerns ... especially those expressed by our markets, the international community where Alberta wants to sell the oil, is a huge issue,” says Severson-Baker. “It’s such a big issue that the previous government was dealing with right up to when the election was called.”

If Severson-Baker could offer a wish-list of environmental issues for leaders to discuss before Albertans cast ballots on April 23, he said he would like to see conversations about credible strategies to combat climate change, strengthening tailings ponds cleanup laws, and enhancing the bio-diversity of the oilsands region as mining areas are reclaimed.

Alberta water the elephant in the room during provincial election campaign

Alberta water is particularly vulnerable because of oil, agriculture and a water market in the province

Provincial government has not been a 

prudent steward of Alberta water

Photo: Beacon News

Jo Ann Lawrence

April 12, 2012

Troy Media – by Doreen Barrie

If I were a candidate in the Alberta election, I would be a single-issue candidate.

The issue is one that transcends ideology, gender, ethnicity, religion, class or anything else that divides the population. The issue is water – a substance so precious that humans and other life forms cannot survive without it. Yet, this Cinderella of resources, is taken for granted and used recklessly without a thought for our future or that of generations to come.

Not many people know that:

• The amount of water we have on this planet is finite and can only be increased if an ice comet lands on Earth

• Less than one per cent of all water is fresh

• Approximately 1.5 billion people depend on ground water for drinking

• Consumption is doubling every 20 years

• Half the wetlands in the world, which act as filters and flood buffers, have been lost.

• Water injected into formations for enhanced oil recovery and fracking are lost to the environment

Water in Alberta is particularly vulnerable due to its use in the oil industry, the amount of irrigation in the province and because the Water Act has created a water market in the province.

Two pillars of the Alberta economy – oil and agriculture – are heavy users of water. There is extensive water use in the production of oil from the oilsands, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and enhanced oil recovery. However, irrigation for agriculture is the largest user of water in the province.

Alberta Election 2012 - Watershed Issues (part 3)

Danielle Smith is the leader of the Wildrose party. A key aspect to the 
Wildrose energy platform is to "encourage understanding and support 
(for the energy sector) while resisting efforts by other governments and 
authorities to hinder growth through regulation," which 
columnist Deborah Yedlin calls "poppycock."
Photograph by: Ed Kaiser, Edmonton Journal

Yesterday, we posted two video presentations by Brad Stelfox on the subject of regional development plans.  Today, we give you columnist Deborah Yedlin's take on the subject. 

Wildrose push for property rights changes would serve little purpose

By Deborah Yedlin,

Calgary Herald

April 11, 2012

It's time to talk about what has made Alberta what it is today - a wealthy province with an educated population in an enviable position of being the place where the world wants to do business.

Some of this is the result of the dumb luck of its natural resource endowment, but it also relates to the fact the natural resources are owned by the province, not the federal government, that land rights are owned by the Crown, not the individual - as is the case in south of the border - and the royalty structure encourages exploration and development.

To be sure, there was a big hiccup under former premier Ed Stelmach on the royalty structure, but one is hard pressed to hear quibbling about royalties today. The real concerns in the oilpatch these days have to do with issues such as the development of new export markets, low natural gas prices, the regulatory burden, industry's social licence to operate and access to resources.

This last point includes property rights. In the current Alberta election campaign, the Wildrose party has made the point that without protection and preservation of property rights, the economy would cease to function.

True.

But given the strength of the Alberta economy, one would be hard-pressed to suggest the existing legislation governing property rights has had a negative impact on economic growth.

As an example: Is Bill 36 perfect?

No.

But having regional development plans is absolutely critical for certainty of land access; where things arguably might need to be tweaked is the split between regulation and policy - and what better achieves the desired ends.

The point, really, is that changing existing legislation to address one perceived problem does nothing but create uncertainty; no one knows what is coming, how long it will take and what the changes might be.

Alberta Election 2012 - Watershed Issues (part 2)

Regional Planning For Alberta - The Need for a Land Use Framework

Alberta is busier than ever. The past 100 years have seen incredible exponential growth and it's only going to get busier. The economy is strong and healthy, opportunities abound, and the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well.

But with this growth comes the challenge of managing the building of our future with a sustainable and well planned vision that will ensure the continued prosperity of our province, not only for ourselves, but for our children and grandchildren.

This presentation (from Brad Stelfox) opens an important conversation about economic, social, and ecological integrity of the province we call home - Alberta.

Watch Video Here

Alberta Election 2012 - Watershed Issues

Brad Stelfox Comments on Alberta Land Use and the Need for Regional Planning

Brad's casual on-camera discussion about the big picture regarding regional land use planning for Alberta.

Brad Stelfox comments on planning future land use in Alberta, and asks Albertans to ask their candidates in the next provincial election about where they stand on this important issue.

Watch Video Here