Harper's Shiny New Environment Minister Vows Not To Let Emissions Rules Hurt Tar Sands Development

[hatrack]

Citing the tentative economic recovery, new Environment Minister Peter Kent says the Harper government will not impose any greenhouse-gas reductions on the oil patch that discourage investment. Canada, which has committed to roughly matching U.S. efforts on fighting climate change, is watching carefully as the Obama administration rolls out new emission rules for power plants and refineries.

Mr. Kent said Canada will draw up its own emission standards for petroleum refineries – including oil sands facilities – but added there’s no schedule yet.

“Our focus for the next several years is going to continue to be on maintaining the economic recovery and we will do nothing in the short term which would unnecessarily compromise or threaten to compromise that recovery,” Mr. Kent said in an interview. “It is not our intention to discourage development of one of our great natural resources. We know it can be developed responsibly.”

The former journalist and broadcast anchor was promoted in cabinet this week to fill a vacancy left when Jim Prentice quit federal politics in late 2010.

Ed. - emphasis added.

EDIT

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/environment-minister-vows-not-to-let-emissions-rules-hamper-oil-sands-investment/article1860494/

[Nihil]

1. "We know it can be developed responsibly.”

> the Harper government will not impose any greenhouse-gas reductions on the
> oil patch that discourage investment
> ...
> Canada will draw up its own emission standards for petroleum refineries
> – including oil sands facilities – but added there’s no schedule yet.

What a wanker. "Environment Minister" my arse.

[GliderGuider]

2. Harper has a history of putting controllable lightweights into the Environment portfolio.

Anyone remember Rona Ambrose? I thought not.

His other approach is to put in faithful lieutenants like John Baird, that can be counted on to actively obstruct progress. That's what happens when your money base is the Alberta oil industry.