FFWD Weekly
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News by Maureen McNamee New environmental legislation back on hold despite support Proposed legislation that would update and consolidate Alberta’s environmental polices and provide protection for sensitive areas has been put on hold – again. Alberta Environmental Protection has confirmed that the draft Natural Heritage Act (NHA) will not be re-introduced in the legislature this spring – the minister is reviewing the recommendations of an MLA committee, and a new Parks and Protected Areas Act will be brought forward when it’s ready. The news is disappointing for Dave Poulton, conservation director for the Calgary/Banff chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilder-ness Society (CPAWS), which was hoping for some long-awaited action on the issue. "We thought that it (NHA) was a huge step forward from last year’s report and we were really hoping to make some progress," he says. The previous version of the draft legislation was widely criticized for failing to provide adequate protection for sensitive environmental areas, and was subsequently referred to an MLA committee for further review and consultation. Poulton says that although he had some concerns with the report resulting from that review, it did start to reflect the position of CPAWS, the Alberta Wilderness Association, the Federation of Alberta Naturalists and the World Wildlife Fund that industrial development should not be permitted in protected areas. The news that the legislation has once again been delayed follows reports of a dispute between Environment Minister Gary Mar and Resources Minister Steve West. Poulton says he is frustrated that West has managed to hold up the entire process, despite the fact the conservation groups had worked closely with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and received their support. "We’re going to keep pushing to have a quality act and to have it implemented as soon as possible."

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