The fight over Alberta resource development – and in particular over the future of the province's oilsands – has heated up once again with the release of a landmark court ruling.
And while the various political players for and against oilsands development battle it out in the public forum, Albertans are once again stuck watching from the sidelines and left hoping for the best.
As one of the most valuable resources owned by Albertans, the oilsands are naturally of great interest to residents, including those right here in West Central Alberta. No question, without the money generated by oilsands development, Alberta would be a much poorer jurisdiction.
In his recent landmark ruling, Court of Queen's Bench Justice Richard Marceau said Alberta government bureaucrats were wrong in trying to stop the Oil Sands Environmental Coalition from voicing concerns over development.
Federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair has taken a lead in slamming the Redford Tories over the ruling.
“It's a very damning analysis of what's been going on here (in Alberta),” Mulclair. “To have a judge come out so clearly and to say that there's an absolute breach of the fundamental rules of natural justice in the process simply reinforces the perception of a lot of Canadians in general – and a lot of Albertans in particular – that the dice have been loaded.”
In response to Mulcair's comments, Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Minister Diana McQueen said the Redford government is committed to public input when it comes to resource development.
“We have established the Alberta Energy Regulator and announced new regulations when it comes to expressing concerns about an application for development, which allows all Albertans who believe they are directly and adversely affected by an application the ability to provide a notice of concern to the regulator,” said McQueen.
“Mr. Mulcair and his provincial cousins have made a habit of putting politics ahead of facts when talking about Alberta and the oilsands,” she added.
With his political stronghold in Quebec, Thomas Mulcair has little to lose by slamming the Alberta government at every opportunity, including over this latest court ruling. He is playing to his constituents, as all politicians always do.
At the same time, is it at all surprising that the Redford Tories have tried to turn this latest court ruling into an Alberta-against-the NDP battle?
Despite the political wrangling, Albertans expect the Redford government to continue vigorously defending the province's natural resources, including the oilsands.
At the same time, those same Albertans also insist that critics of the government and its policies be treated fairly and be given a chance to have their say.
