Protecting Alberta’s Environment Act was passed on December 11. The purpose of this legislation is to establish the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency with a mandate to:
- Obtain credible and relevant scientific data and other information regarding the condition of the environment in Alberta
- Ensure the data and other information are available and reported to the public in an open and transparent manner
- Fulfill any other purpose prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
According to Huffington Post Alberta , Environment Minister Diana McQueen says this bill is a step in the right direction – with a goal to “create an agency to better monitor and disperse information on air, water and soil quality” – while opponents are disappointed that the bill does not specifically require members appointed to the Science Advisory Panel to have scientific qualifications.
For more information, please see Protecting Alberta’s Environment Act at http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ISYS/LADDAR_files/docs/bills/bill/legislature_28/session_1/20120523_bill-031.pdf
