EDMONTON - Oilsands environmental research got a $3-million boost Thursday that combines forces between federal and provincial governments.
Federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver inked a deal with Premier Alison Redford at the federal CanmetEnergy research centre in Devon, Alta. The funds will be used to reduce the environmental footprint of the oilsands, focusing on corrosion, water, air and tailings.
Take that, Europe.
Oliver scoffed at the European Union's proposed fuel quality directive that singles out Canadian oil as particularly dirty, making it harder to export to Europe.
Oil snobbery?
Oliver seems to think so.
"It's unscientific, it's discriminatory and it seeks to single out the oilsands in comparison to other sources of oil. There are other sources of oil coming into Europe which have the same or higher GHG emissions," he said, calling the Euromove "grandstanding" on the EU's part.
"They're taking a stand against Canada but they're not treating oil coming from countries which really have an impact," he said, noting that other countries don't have the same monitoring level and reporting as Canada.
Efforts to approach the conflict through international diplomacy are working, he said, noting that France is one of the countries that has sided with Canada.
"The oilsands are a key national strategic resource and their development must be pursued responsibly, drawing on technology and innovation," Oliver said, envisioning a world-class monitoring system.
As the third-largest proven oil reserve in the world -- 170 billion barrels proven -- the oilsands stands to pump $3.3 trillion into the Canadian economy over the next quarter-century if project currently under regulatory approval -- read major pipelines like the Keystone XL and Northern Gateway -- move forward, Oliver said.
"It's essential we continue to make progress -- the oilsands are too important to do otherwise," Oliver said.
Data collection efforts are already underway for a work group aimed at independent monitoring in an effort to start the research cycle in time for spring thaw, said Redford.
Data from that research will be publicly available on websites and the commission is expected to be appointed before summer, she said.
"I like to see these flags together because I believe today's announcement demonstrates the importance of collaboration between Alberta and Canada," Redford said. "For me, collaboration is about making Canada a global energy leader.
"...We need to be more than a preferred international supplier of energy. We're going to show the world that we can set a gold standard when it comes to developing the oilsands in a responsible and sustainable way. We have to."
So is it the foundation of the Canadian Energy Strategy that Redford has been putting out there for months?
"What's important is that there be a collaborative approach to the federal, provincial and territorial governments in response to a resource that is potentially such an immense benefit to Canada," Oliver said.
"(The federal) government respects the constitutional powers and the fact that provinces have ownership of the resources, but we have a role to play and in the context of our jurisdictional resources, we want to work with the province on a whole host of issues," he said.
Original Article
Source: toronto sun
Author: JACKIE L. LARSON
Federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver inked a deal with Premier Alison Redford at the federal CanmetEnergy research centre in Devon, Alta. The funds will be used to reduce the environmental footprint of the oilsands, focusing on corrosion, water, air and tailings.
Take that, Europe.
Oliver scoffed at the European Union's proposed fuel quality directive that singles out Canadian oil as particularly dirty, making it harder to export to Europe.
Oil snobbery?
Oliver seems to think so.
"It's unscientific, it's discriminatory and it seeks to single out the oilsands in comparison to other sources of oil. There are other sources of oil coming into Europe which have the same or higher GHG emissions," he said, calling the Euromove "grandstanding" on the EU's part.
"They're taking a stand against Canada but they're not treating oil coming from countries which really have an impact," he said, noting that other countries don't have the same monitoring level and reporting as Canada.
Efforts to approach the conflict through international diplomacy are working, he said, noting that France is one of the countries that has sided with Canada.
"The oilsands are a key national strategic resource and their development must be pursued responsibly, drawing on technology and innovation," Oliver said, envisioning a world-class monitoring system.
As the third-largest proven oil reserve in the world -- 170 billion barrels proven -- the oilsands stands to pump $3.3 trillion into the Canadian economy over the next quarter-century if project currently under regulatory approval -- read major pipelines like the Keystone XL and Northern Gateway -- move forward, Oliver said.
"It's essential we continue to make progress -- the oilsands are too important to do otherwise," Oliver said.
Data collection efforts are already underway for a work group aimed at independent monitoring in an effort to start the research cycle in time for spring thaw, said Redford.
Data from that research will be publicly available on websites and the commission is expected to be appointed before summer, she said.
"I like to see these flags together because I believe today's announcement demonstrates the importance of collaboration between Alberta and Canada," Redford said. "For me, collaboration is about making Canada a global energy leader.
"...We need to be more than a preferred international supplier of energy. We're going to show the world that we can set a gold standard when it comes to developing the oilsands in a responsible and sustainable way. We have to."
So is it the foundation of the Canadian Energy Strategy that Redford has been putting out there for months?
"What's important is that there be a collaborative approach to the federal, provincial and territorial governments in response to a resource that is potentially such an immense benefit to Canada," Oliver said.
"(The federal) government respects the constitutional powers and the fact that provinces have ownership of the resources, but we have a role to play and in the context of our jurisdictional resources, we want to work with the province on a whole host of issues," he said.
Original Article
Source: toronto sun
Author: JACKIE L. LARSON
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