Alberta Wilderness Association		 MEDIA RELEASE

March 26, 1999

SUBJECT: Environmental Law Centre Reviews Proposed Natural Heritage Act "Bill 15 Could Allow Nearly Any Kind of Environmental Destruction"

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The Environmental Law Centre (ELC), a non-profit research group located in Edmonton, released its review of Alberta's proposed Natural Heritage Act, Bill 15, this week.  The ELC review states "Bill 15 could allow nearly any kind of environmental destruction" in Alberta's protected areas. 

The Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) and many other conservation groups and some industry representatives have already expressed grave concerns about Bill 15.  Dianne Pachal, AWA's Conservation Manager, says, "the Environmental Law Centre review shows Bill 15 is even more disastrous than we thought it was.  Besides entrenching industrial use in so-called protected areas legislation, it will allow the Minister to permit virtually every kind of inappropriate and environmentally destructive activity.  This clearly is an anti-park bill."  The AWA is calling for the proposed Natural Heritage Act to be shelved until such time that strong protected areas legislation can be developed.

BACKGROUND
The full text (Adobe Acrobat format) of the ELC review can be found on their home page at http://www.elc.ab.ca/reform/bill15.pdf.   The following is an excerpt from the review regarding Bill 15 and the use of Section 10 Permits:
"It is important to note that what might be permitted could cause substantial impact on the environment including wildlife habitat and other biodiversity values. And what is most remarkable about this section is that it allows permits to be issued even though they might be contrary to the Act. This means that Bill 15 could allow nearly any kind of environmental
destruction. It doesnāt matter what the Act says about the category of protection, permitted or prohibited uses and so on. Bill 15 is written so that permits trump them all. All that is required is a Ministerās regulation that allows activities to be permitted. So, the Minister has the right, in
effect, to override any protective measures in the Act by allowing a use or activity by permit . . .  the permit could be a useful tool to get around so-called prohibitions on development.
Last week, the Alberta Wilderness Association, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and Federation of Alberta Naturalists filed a complaint with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation in Montreal.  The complaint alleges that Bill 15 is a weakening of environmental laws and contravenes the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation.  The Alberta government has been ignoring public feedback on the proposed Natural Heritage Act.
According to Alberta Environmental Protection's own web site, that feedback was overwhelmingly critical of legislation allowing industrial use in parks. If passed, Bill 15 will entrench, in law, oil and gas activities, clear-cut logging and mining in existing parks and 'protected areas'.  Dianne Pachal, AWA's conservation manager, says the public has spoken loudly:  "Albertans don't want to see logging or mining in their parks!"

Late-breaking news:  During a news conference and question period today, Environmental Protection Minister Ty Lund said he was considering amending the proposed legislation based on at least three of the recommendations in the ELC review; however, the Minister refused to state what they were. Conservation groups are concerned that this is just another ministerial ploy to try to gain acceptance for the severely flawed Bill 15.   The groups believe that the Minister may only make cosmetic changes and that the fundamental problem of entrenching industrial uses in the legislation will still remain.
 

Background: Proposed Protected Areas Legislation

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For further information contact:

Elena Cecchetto (780) 988-5487
Foothills Forest Campaign Coordinator
Alberta Wilderness Association (Edmonton)

Diane Pachal (403) 283-2025
Conservation Director
Alberta Wilderness Association (Calgary)
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