| Alberta Election Shows Rising Environmental Concerns | 18 March 08 |
 Despite concerns over rapid oil sands development Albertans re-elected the PCs for the 11th consecutive majority government since 1971 on March 3, 2008.Progressive Conservative leader Ed Stelmach made it clear he does not want to slow oil sands development. Booming oil sands development is driving growth of the Alberta economy, resulting in health care shortages, crowded schools, lack of affordable housing, aging infrastructure, and concerns environmental with massive oil sands developments. A pre-election poll released by Cambridge Strategies Inc indicated ecologically responsible and sustainable development are more important to Albertans than expanding growth or accelerating oil sands production. The poll suggested Albertan's top concerns are greenhouse gas emissions, wildlife habitat and water usage. In a separate questionnaire sent to election candidates by Pembina Institute showed candidates from all five main political parties believe the government should control and slow growth in oil sands development. Stelmach is under pressure from a joint industry-government group to freeze lease sales in the Athabasca oil sands region until 2011. At that time the government is expected to introduce new measures to protect air, water and soil quality. View The Oil Sands Survey: Albertan's Values Regarding Oil Sands Development, Cambridge Strategies (PDF) View January 28, 2008 Globe and Mail article (PDF) View Oil Sands Watch Polling Alberta's Politicians on Oil Sands: Results of the Alberta 2008 Election All-Candidate Oil Sands Survey (PDF) View March 3, 2008 CBC article View March 4, 2008 Platts article View January 25, 2008 CanWest News article View February 26, 2008 Canadian Press article Sources: Policy Channel, Globe and Mail, Oil Sands Watch, CBC |
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