Mel Knight, the minister of sustainable resource development, took the brunt of questions from at times animated people who turned out to the ministers tour in Olds on Wednesday afternoon.
Keith Dirksen, a member of the public who turned out for the event, asked Knight why government would be extinguishing landowner rights to water and minerals on their own properties.
Knight said that neither mineral, nor property, nor water rights would be extinguished under the Alberta Land Stewardship Act. He said although the legislation was proclaimed in October 2009, it is currently being reviewed. He said the legislation isn't about individual property rights; rather, it's about stewardship of airsheds, watersheds and the land generally.
ìThe parts of it that have caused concern will be taken care of,î he said.
Knight said many pieces of legislation often require amendments after they have been proclaimed, and this is no different.
Don Bester, representing the Alberta Surface Rights Group, said landowner groups met with government in 2006 regarding the extinguishing of landowner rights and the answer was the same then as it is now ó property rights are being threatened.
ìThey didn't listen in 2006. Why put something through that (jeopardizes) Ö landowner rights. This whole act has to be taken off the table,î he said.
Knight responded by telling the audience the legislation won't be repealed, because that would set back the process. He said the legislation doesn't have anything to do with protecting the interests of the oil companies.
Bester thought that Bill 24, the Carbon Capture and Sequestration Act, was a dangerous piece of legislation.
Knight defended the legislation, saying that four projects around the province will be pumping carbon dioxide into holes to recover oil.
ìIt's a good piece of business. It's not a scatterbrained idea,î he said.
Knight said the ALSA will have targets and thresholds, and if water or air quality deteriorates below a certain level, any development in the area would be stopped.
In an interview, Knight said about 10 amendments are being considered for the ALSA, including the lack of compensation included in the original piece of legislation. The amendments could be coming forward by the end of the month, Knight said.
Knight said the government is investing in carbon capture and sequestration because it believes in the technology and hopes to export it elsewhere to countries such as China and India. Knight said the government is working with other groups from around the world on the technology.
Knight said the government is one partner in the carbon capture and sequestration plan and will only be spending about a third ($670 million) of the $2 billion being put into the plan, and doing it over a 15-year period.
ìOver a couple of decades, when we look at the enhanced oil recovery possibilities in Alberta, we feel there's an opportunity to get about ten-fold back for the $2 billion we put into this in taxes and royalties that would accrue to the province,î he said, adding he doesn't see any problems with the technology.
Knight added that there are also proven possibilities for pumping carbon dioxide into wells to recover oil and said in certain parts of the United States, it has been used for many years.
Knight was joined on the tour by Heather Klimchuk, minister of Service Alberta, Frank Oberle, Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security and local MLA Richard Marz.
