National Observer

• As a political scientist with a public finance background, I have been studying the impact that environmental contamination can have on government finances.
• Environmental liabilities are the future costs assumed by licensed oil and gas companies to remediate the extraction site to its previous state.

Reclamation

• What’s known as the “polluter pay” principle in Alberta law requires all licensed and operational oil and gas companies to adhere to the remediation and reclamation practices of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER).
• Since 2015, financial hardship has resulted in a number of court decisions with significant ramifications for those who could ultimately be stuck with the reclamation bill — taxpayers rather than company shareholders.
• Financial security is defined as cash or letters of credit that ensure funds are available to the regulator for reclamation costs if companies go bankrupt and fail to meet their obligations.

Two key court cases

• The first court case on this issue began in May 2015 after ATB Financial, an arm of the Alberta government, pushed Redwater Resources into bankruptcy.
• Taking such action is always a last resort for a creditor, especially for a public institution like ATB.
• When the case made it to the Supreme Court of Canada, the polluter pay principal was upheld.

Unpaid municipal taxes

• Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) says that as of December 2021, $253 million in unpaid taxes had accrued.
• The RMA is particularly galled that the provincial government allowed companies to avoid municipal taxes on new wells drilled until 2025.
• Furthermore, it would only apply to 41 per cent of unpaid taxes owed by companies that are currently operating.

Smith’s royalty lobbying

• Smith’s support of the oil industry’s efforts to receive royalty payment breaks, meanwhile, is an embarrassment to the sector.
• The premier’s proposed royalty deferral program, RStar, was previously rejected by then Energy Minister Sonya Savage, who was soon moved to the Environment and Parks department.

Kearl Lake spill

Recently a toxic spill at Imperial Oil’s Kearl Lake oilsands mine has led to a House of Commons environment committee inquiry. The AER and Imperial Oil failed to notify affected First Nations or the federal government. Heartbreaking testimony from First Nations and evasive testimony from chief executives of both Imperial Oil and the AER reveal continuing indifference to the environment.

A tool of the industry

• All of these developments suggest the Alberta Energy Regulator is controlled by the industry and has lost the public’s trust, particularly First Nations.
• A powerful book, Hidden Scourge by ecologist Kevin Timoney calls for a dismantling of the regulator, given it apparently acts on behalf of the industry and not the public.

• TORONTO, April 5, 2023 /CNW/ - The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) is proud to announce its shortlists for the CJF Jackman Awards for Excellence in Journalism , honouring news organizations that embody exemplary journalism and have a profound positive impact on the communities they serve.
• Through this prestigious award, the CJF has since 1996 recognized news organizations that embrace ideals of journalistic excellence – originality, courage, independence, accuracy, social responsibility, accountability and diversity.
• "The compelling stories chosen as finalists covered subjects from across the country and beyond – social policy, sports, politics, environmental concerns and Indigenous affairs.
• The CJF Jackman Award jury members are:
  Catherine Cano, president of CanoVision and former executive with CPAC and Radio-Canada;
  Wendy Metcalfe, vice-president of content and editor-in-chief, Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

• Qatar has warned the energy crisis may go on for years, as reported by the Financial Times .
• According to the International Energy Agency , natural gas accounts for about a quarter of global electricity generation fuel.
• This does not bode well for a future "NetZero" decarbonized society where 'electrify everything' is the climate mantra, says Friends of Science Society.
• Friends of Science Society is an independent group of earth, atmospheric and solar scientists, engineers, and citizens that is celebrating its 20th year of offering climate science insights.

• CLINTEL the global climate intelligence organization has posted an open letter to COP27 leaders on common sense climate and energy policies, says Friends of Science Society.
• CLINTEL has posted an open letter to COP27 global leaders , calling for common sense climate and energy policies, and to elevate and empower African nations with conventional energy, not renewables, says Friends of Science Society.
• His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jabar of the UAE, called for " maximum energy, minimum emissions " in a keynote address, Nov. 1, 2022.
• Friends of Science Society is an independent group of earth, atmospheric and solar scientists, engineers, and citizens that is celebrating its 20th year of offering climate science insights.