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Alberta looks to protect Athabasca oilsands areas, promote development
News Articles | Calgary Herald | Shaun Polczer | August 26, 2010
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The Alberta government is looking for public input as it moves to come up with a land-use policy for the Lower Athabasca watershed that includes the country’s oilsands mines.
Speaking at a news conference from Edmonton on Thursday, Sustainable Resource Minister Mel Knight said the province will be soliciting the views of people across the province throughout September with an eye to balancing environmental protection and economic growth.
Recognizing that oilsands are a primary industry for the region, Knight said the terms of reference of the “vision document” will consider options for addressing industry growth, while also looking to increase conservation areas and enhance recreation and tourism.
“These plans that we’re going o put in place and the land use framework itself is not about stopping development or industry in the province of Alberta,” he said.
Knight said Thursday’s announcement is the culmination of 18 months of discussion and more than 100 stakeholder submissions.
The Regional Advisory Council’s 17 members included representatives from agriculture, municipalities, environmental interests, energy, forestry, First Nations and Metis, he added.
In addition to an online web page containing feedback forms, consultations will be held in local communities, as well as Edmonton and Calgary.
Tagged with: alberta, oilsands, athabasca, regional advisory council
