Posted: Feb 08, 2021 10:54 AM MT | Last Updated: February 8
Construction equipment is seen near Crowsnest Pass in the photo at left; Energy Minister Sonya Savage, seen at right, said Monday that details of a consultation process regarding Alberta s 1976 coal policy will be announced in the weeks ahead. (CBC, Amber Bracken/The Canadian Press)
The Alberta government says powerful public protest persuaded it to reinstate a policy that has kept open-pit coal mines out of the Rocky Mountains for almost 45 years.
“The Alberta Energy Regulator is an independent regulator that carefully assesses mining project proposals and holds public consultations on mining and energy project applications. Alberta’s regulatory process is strict, thorough and independent. Project decisions are made by subject matter experts, not politicians.”
Albertans might therefore be interested in a broader picture of their province’s energy regulator and the turmoil, scandal and name changes it has undergone over the past 15 years.
Caught spying on citizens
The AER used to be called the Energy and Utilities Board. After it was caught illegally spying on Albertans in 2007, Justice D.W. Perras described the behaviour of the regulator as “repulsive.”
Anti-Alberta environment report delayed again, may not be released until August theglobeandmail.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theglobeandmail.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.