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New federal environment minister calls oilsands ‘ethical oil’
News Articles Featured | Calgary Herald | January 06, 2011
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Canada’s new Environment Minister Peter Kent says the oilsands have been unfairly demonized as an ecologically destructive development, lauding the resource as “ethical oil” and an economic boon for the entire country.
On his second day in the federal environmental portfolio, the Toronto-area Conservative MP reiterated his predecessor’s pledge to enhance water monitoring in northern Alberta’s vast oilsands region. However, he said labels such as “dirty oil” and claims that bitumen extraction is the most destructive industrial activity on the planet are overblown.
“There has been a lot of disinformation and outright misinformation,” Kent told the Herald on Wednesday.
“There has been a demonizing of a legitimate resource,” he added. “It is ethical oil. It is regulated oil. And it’s secure oil in a world where many of the free world’s oil sources are somewhat less secure.”
Kent plans to visit Alberta early in his tenure.
Alberta Environment Minister Rob Renner is looking forward to working with his new federal counterpart, said spokeswoman Erin Carrier.
Kent replaces House leader John Baird, who held the position on an interim basis after Jim Prentice’s resignation from cabinet in November.
Environmental advocates want Kent and the Harper government to move more aggressively on climate change.
rdaliesio@calgaryherald.com
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/federal+environment+minister+calls+oilsands+ethical/4066115/story.html#ixzz1AHVOefJw
Tagged with: canada, peter kent, ethical oil
