Alberta Environmental Protection Commission forms

An Environmental Protection Commission was recently formed to perform reviews and make recommendations regarding Alberta’s ability to respond to environmental incidents, according to Alberta Environment Minister Guy Boutilier.Although the suggestion of the Commission was just recently evoked, Boutilier says it will be operational immediately by reviewing best practices for responding to environmental incidents and recommending changes the province needs to make.”Alberta Environment is doing, and has been doing, everything possible to respond to this incident (toxic spill, Lake Wabamun). I want to commend the many volunteers who, along with my staff, have worked tirelessly to protect the environment,” Minister Boutilier says. “I agree with the Premier that we can always learn from these incidents how we can do better, and that’s why I’ve established this commission to review our capability to respond to these types of situations and recommend how we can improve.”Operating the Commission will be a team of world-class environmental experts and citizens, including Exxon Valdez clean up veteran Dr. Ron Goodman and University of Alberta water expert Dr. David Schindler and Lake Wabamun residents’ spokesperson Doug Goss.”As the Premier and I have said, Alberta is a landlocked province and water is critical to us, so we need to review our capability to respond to incidents that can affect our lakes and rivers when those responsible are unable to,” Boutilier adds. “That is what I’ve asked the Commission to do and we will act on their recommendations.”In addition to recommending necessary changes the Alberta government needs to take to improve its ability to respond, where industry cannot or will not, to environmental incidents, the Commission will also potential high risk incidents affecting Alberta’s water bodies and review best practices for responding to these incidents.