Alberta's Throne Speech endorses a path for the Land-use Framework, Water for Life policy and Plan for Parks. This is encouraging. Albertans need to watch how the government implements this throne speech, however. It's essential that government's heavy emphasis on industrial development support does not hollow out these initiatives.

Throne Speech February 10, 2009, Alberta Speech from the Throne, delivered by Lieutenant Governor Norman L. Kwong, on February 10.

Complete Speech | News Release and Backgrounder

Key excerpts follow...

Discussion of key land-use industries

Petroleum Industry

Alberta is blessed with world-class energy resources. These have provided broad, sustained wealth creation for Albertans, and they offer long-term energy security for Canada and North America.

The royalty changes introduced by government at the beginning of this year set the stage for a renewed partnership between industry and Albertans – the owners of our resources. It is a partnership in which both the rewards and the risks of this volatile industry are more equitably shared.

As outlined in Alberta’s first-ever Provincial Energy Strategy, opportunities for further value-added development in Alberta will be pursued in the oil, gas and petrochemicals industries.

This will include a review of Alberta’s competitiveness in the energy sector, comprising everything from the cost of materials to the efficiency and effectiveness of regulatory regimes. The goal is to ensure that Alberta continues to attract investment that diversifies the economy, creates good jobs for Albertans, and provides revenues to pay for important programs and services. The Aboriginal Consultation Policy and guidelines on Land Management and Resource Development will be reviewed this year, with input from First Nations and industry to ensure the approach to consultation is beneficial to all Albertans. One area of significant government focus is the oil sands, North America’s most promising source of energy for decades to come.

While global economic uncertainty has slowed the pace of oil sands development, there is no doubt that this abundant resource will play a key role in building long-term economic growth and energy security for Alberta and Canada.

Consumers and businesses around the world will be looking for fossil fuels for generations to come, even as the search for alternatives intensifies. Our goal must be to provide the energy the world needs, with an environmental footprint that grows lighter and lighter over time.

Your government will release and implement a comprehensive plan that will responsibly manage the economic, environmental, social and infrastructure impacts and opportunities of oil sands development.

The plan will set out strategies to optimize economic growth in the oil sands while reducing their environmental impact. It will increase coordination across all levels of government and stakeholders in developing the oil sands responsibly, and enhance accountability in the management of the oil sands. It will foster innovation in science and technology that can solve the unique challenges of oil sands development. There will continue to be an increased emphasis on planning in high growth communities in the oil sands regions.

With these improvements in mind, we must recognize that no leading source of energy today, and no source of fossil fuel, comes without some environmental consequence. Our goal must be nothing less than to partner with our customers in meeting their energy needs and honouring our mutual commitment to protect the planet for future generations.

Forestry

Our province is blessed with forests that provide social, economic and environmental benefits for Albertans: protect watersheds, provide fish and wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities, and support industries, jobs and communities.

Forest companies and the communities they serve have been hit hard by global economic uncertainty, the slowdown of the U.S. housing market and ongoing business challenges.

The Alberta government is working with the province’s forestry sector to implement recommendations from the Forest Industry Sustainability Committee’s interim report to improve global competitiveness, increase value-added opportunities, and pursue the evolving bio-industry.

Programs to promote healthier forests will include the Healthy Pine Strategy to manage the spread of the mountain pine beetle, use strategic harvesting to diversify the age of the timber, and lessen the risk of catastrophic wildfire and insect infestations.

Agriculture

Alberta’s agriculture and agri-food industries are key economic drivers of our province. However, Alberta’s livestock industry continues to deal with many challenges that threaten its sustainability.

Your government is working closely with all sectors to implement the Alberta Livestock and Meat Strategy, a long-term plan that will lay the foundation for a profitable and competitive future.

Alberta has already provided significant support to this valuable industry, more than any other jurisdiction across the country. It is important that we uphold the reputation of Alberta beef, pork, and other meat and livestock products, as the best in the world. To do this, we must meet the demands of our customers for food safety, public safety, and animal health and welfare.

Key Environmental Initiatives

The Land-use Framework

Albertans live in one of the most spectacular, diverse, beautiful and healthy natural environments in the world. Generations of Albertans have grown up with an appreciation of and respect for the environment. Our province is a place of many blessings, including landscapes that are both extremely productive and incredibly beautiful.

With the increasing demand for resources, felt from all corners of the globe, Alberta’s landscapes face increasing pressure for habitat protection, housing, recreation, jobs and economic growth. To address these pressures, Alberta is pioneering planning tools and new environmental management approaches that consider our province’s landscapes across entire regions.

The Land-use Framework will help promote environmental priorities alongside social and economic goals. Cumulative effects management, already being used in Alberta's Industrial Heartland northeast of Edmonton, will be applied next to the oil sands area in conjunction with the Land-use Framework.

Parks plan

Among Albertans’ most cherished spaces are our province’s parks and protected areas. Like the rest of the province, these areas are also impacted by a growing population and increased use.

A new Plan for Parks will be introduced this year to ensure the long-term sustainability of our natural landscapes, enhance recreational opportunities and help to improve the quality of life for Albertans. We want to ensure that Alberta's parks inspire people to discover, enjoy and value the natural world.

Water For Life, conservation and carbon capture

In 2003, Alberta’s Water for Life strategy became North America’s most comprehensive water management strategy. Five years later, this province has changed – more people, more buildings, more business, and more demands on our water resources.

The renewed Water for Life strategy addresses those changes and provides clear direction for addressing some of the water challenges facing our province. It will ensure that Alberta's precious water resources are the focus of thoughtful, long-term planning and stewardship.

Your government will redouble efforts to ensure that as we meet the needs of energy consumers here and around the world, we provide them with products that are made with environmental care.

Your government will redouble efforts to ensure that as we meet the needs of energy consumers here and around the world, we provide them with products that are made with environmental care.

We will maintain a long-term focus to invest in clean, low carbon technology, reduce emissions from industry, and support energy-wise choices for consumers.

Alberta pioneered North America’s first regulatory system to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions. Our system has already generated more than two and a half million tonnes of real reductions. But this is only a first step to regulate and reduce emissions.

We will continue to learn from our actions, adapt and grow. And we will continue to work with the federal government to support a cohesive national framework to limit greenhouse gas emissions and do our part as a responsible, sustainable North American energy leader.

This spring, the Government of Alberta will introduce legislation to facilitate the development of technologies that will help not just Alberta, but countries around the world meet the challenge of climate change.

The Carbon Capture and Storage Implementation Act will establish a $2-billion investment in carbon capture and storage. Funding for between three and five projects will be announced this year, resulting in greenhouse gas emission reductions of up to five million tonnes annually in Alberta, the equivalent of taking a third of Alberta's vehicles off the road.

Even more importantly, these initial projects will set the stage for technological developments that will make carbon capture and storage – real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions – possible in other jurisdictions, including those whose emissions are substantially larger than Alberta’s.

Albertans want to do their part to conserve and be energy efficient. Your government will develop an energy efficiency policy framework to help Albertans be wise energy consumers. A consumer rebate program will be introduced to encourage individual actions and energy-wise decisions.