The Alberta government has named the members of a panel to advise it on how the oilsands can meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals.
The Oilsands Advisory Group will have representatives from industry, First Nations and environmental groups and have three co-chairs; one of whom is an anti-oilsands activist.
Tzeporah Berman, a longtime environmental activist and professor of environmental studies at York University has a history of attending anti-oil rallies across Canada.
She was a past director within Greenpeace, and a co-founder of advocacy groups “ForestEthics” and “PowerUp Canada”, where, in 1993, she was arrested and jailed for illegal blockades on Vancouver Island.
The group will also be co-chaired by David Collyer, former head of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and Melody Lepine of the Mikisew Cree First Nation.
The group will advise the government on how best to implement the 100-megatonne cap on emissions on the industry.
It will also look at technological innovation and effective ways to address regional environmental concerns.
“The advisory group will help our government address central issues on this key Alberta job creator and economic driver: how to establish and sustain Alberta’s climate leadership among energy-producing jurisdictions; how to better steward our air, land and water; and how to take advantage of current and future market opportunities while meeting the needs of indigenous and non-indigenous communities,” Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips said in a statement Wednesday.
With files from The Canadian Press