Letter to Alberta Premier re: Single Energy Regulator

April 18, 2013

Premier Alison Redford

307 Legislature Building

10800 – 97 Avenue

Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6

Dear Premier Redford:

We are very concerned about the Alberta government’s move to a single energy regulator and the appointment of the former founding President of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), Gerry Protti, as its new chair.

The move to a single regulator means fewer eyes will assess the environmental and social impacts of energy projects; fewer people will regulate and enforce Alberta’s environmental regulations; and fewer hands will have the power to ensure that landowner and Treaty rights are adequately addressed.

The new approach appears to favour industry proponents and limit opportunities for dissenting interveners to raise valid concerns. Protti has a known history with and a bias in favour of the oil industry. The fact is, having Protti at the helm of the regulatory body undermines the credibility of the whole Alberta regulatory process and of all decisions made.

We, the undersigned, hereby demand that Gerry Protti be asked to step down from his role as chair of the Alberta Energy Regulator. The former founder of CAPP is not an appropriate choice to head the Alberta government’s Provincial energy regulator. We further request that the Alberta government conduct further consultations to ensure that the concerns of all Albertans about the single regulator model are fully and satisfactorily addressed.

Sincerely,

(original signed by:)

JanSlomp

NFU Region 7 (Alberta) Coordinator

(original signed by:)

PeterEggers

NFU Region 8 (BC/Alberta) Coordinator

cc: Hon. Ken Hughes, Alberta Minister of Energy

cc: Hon. Diana McQueen, AB Minister of Environment &Sustainable Resource Development

cc: Hon. Peter Kent, Federal Minister of the Environment

cc: Hon. Joe Oliver, Federal Minister of Natural Resources