The Province is looking to establish an Alberta-wide comprehensive environmental monitoring system.
On March 13, the Province announced it named a group of experts to provide advice to that end. The group is required to report back to the government by June 30.
ìOur goal is to build a world-class, science-monitoring system,î said Diana McQueen, minister of Environment and Water. ìThis team of scientific, regulatory and academic experts will review governance and funding options and provide recommendations to the government so that we continue making progress.î
The group will work to develop an implementation plan based on previous recommendations from the Alberta Environmental Monitoring Panel. The goal will be to establish a transparent system to carry out environmental monitoring, evaluation and reporting functions and providing a stable revenue stream to support those goals.
ìAlthough the government set aside $11 million in Budget 2012 for monitoring, the estimated cost for a cumulative effects monitoring system is significantly higher,î said McQueen. ìThe working group will consider what structures need to be in place to ensure a dedicated revenue stream and they will look at the number of organizations that currently play a role in environmental monitoring and consider the best ways to integrate and further this work.î
Howard Tennant, the former president and vice-chancellor of the University of Lethbridge and co-chair of the Alberta Environmental Monitoring Panel, will be leading the six-member group.
ìI am pleased to say we are taking solid steps towards implementation of the new environmental monitoring system for the province,î said Tennant. ìThis next step is to ensure the system has proper governance and sustainable funding in place.î
The working group will also identify the roles of the various parties in the system, including government agencies, current monitoring partners, stakeholders and First Nations.
