(Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW staff

July 26-27, 2023

Minister Schulz to attend national meeting of Canada’s environment ministers

Jul 26, 2023 | 10:45 AM

Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, Rebecca Schulz, will attend a national meeting with provincial and territorial ministers to discuss pressing environmental issues facing the country.

That according to officials with the Alberta government who say Minister Schulz will travel to Huntsville, Ont., to attend the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) meetings on July 26 and 27 with her counterparts from across the country.

In addition to strengthening relationships with other provinces and territories, Minister Schulz is anticipated to participate in discussions on a variety of topics, including reducing waste, advancing the plastics circular economy, strengthening resilience and adaptation, and reducing the impacts of a changing climate.

“This is a key meeting and a chance for elected representatives from all levels of government to meet to address environmental challenges facing the entire country. The only way to make real progress cutting emissions and protecting our environment is for all levels of government to work together, as equals,” says Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas.

Plastic waste

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Government officials say Alberta is transitioning to a new recycling system that encourages companies to recycle more materials and produce less waste. The new system is expected to shift responsibility for collecting, sorting, processing and recycling to the producer and away from taxpayers.

Alberta says it does not support Canada’s designation of plastic manufactured items as toxic and is challenging the federal government’s legislation in court.

Officials say Minister Schulz will reiterate her call for the federal government to reverse its ban on the plastic-free, fully compostable bags used by Calgary Co-Op. To showcase this example of Alberta innovation, the government says Minister Schulz will distribute free samples of the Calgary Co-Op bags to all provinces, territories and Environment and Climate Change Canada officials during the meeting.

Emissions reduction

Government officials say Alberta’s Energy Development and Emissions Reduction Plan aspires to carbon neutrality by 2050. The government claims it charts the course for cutting emissions, attracting investment and growing the economy, and includes ongoing and new actions that build from what the province says are successful policies to date.

Minister Schulz is anticipated to update attendees on the status of this work.

Clean electricity regulation

The government says Alberta is rapidly cutting emissions from its electricity grid and leads the country in renewable energy investments. However, dispatchable generation like natural gas is said to be critical for energy reliability, security and affordability in the province. The Alberta government says it has stated that any clean electricity regulations must include a carve-out for provinces like Alberta, which rely on natural gas-fired generation.

Minister Schulz is expected to reiterate Alberta’s position and highlight the significant costs a poorly thought-out clean electricity regulation could end up costing Albertans and Canadians.

Oil and gas production cut

Alberta’s government says it is opposed to federal government plans to implement a production cut on oil and gas producers.

In a recent meeting with Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, Minister Schulz requested that the federal government share all available data, analysis, cost estimates, risk assessments, job loss forecasts and socioeconomic impact studies.

Provincial officials say Minister Schulz will again call upon the federal government to produce that information immediately.