When does protecting the environment and sustaining ecosystems outweigh the potential economic benefits of an oilsands project in Canada? According to the federal government, not when there is the possibility of expanding the output of Shell's Jackpi
When does protecting the environment and sustaining ecosystems outweigh the potential economic benefits of an oilsands project in Canada?
According to the federal government, not when there is the possibility of expanding the output of Shell's Jackpine oilsands mining project along the Muskeg River, near Fort McMurray, despite the government's own admission that the expansion "will likely cause significant adverse environmental impacts."
Federal Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq referred to Conservative cabinet in her statement approving the expansion, saying cabinet "decided that the significant adverse environmental effects that the designated project is likely to cause are justified in the circumstances."
Despite having its own misgivings about the environmental impacts of the expansion, a joint review panel, appointed by the federal environment ministry, also approved of the project.
"The panel finds that the project would likely have significant adverse environmental effects on wetlands, traditional plant potential areas, wetland-reliant species at risk, migratory birds that are wetland-reliant or species at risk, and biodiversity," read a statement released by the panel. "There is also a lack of proposed mitigation measures that have been proven to be effective."
The panel agreed with aboriginal and environmental groups' arguments that the project would destroy thousands of hectares of wetlands, and added, "It is clear that critical issues about oilsands development are increasingly not project specific.
"Many of the concerns and issues related to this proposal have to do with the pace of development of the mineable oilsands (as a whole) and the capacity of the regional environment to absorb these developments."
On Dec. 9, in the Fort McMurray Today, Eriel Déranger, an Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) spokesperson said, "This decision shows the government can have all the evidence in front of them and acknowledge environmental damage, and ignore it in the name of economic development."
Déranger added, "This project has simply clarified the fact that these projects lack the proper checks and balances of real responsible development."
For its part, Shell has not yet made a final decision whether to move forward with the expansion.
The company has stated, "Shell is committed to full engagement with the ACFN and other aboriginal communities and stakeholders.
"We have been doing that for the last 15 years and have held 600 engagements with ACFN in the last six years. We see all of them as an important neighbour and want to continue a dialogue."
At this point, there is still a need for carbon-based energy, such as bitumen extracted from Canada's oilsands deposits.
However, the methods, pace and scope of extraction should be better aligned with environmental health and social sustainability, as opposed to strictly economic gains, which, through its statements, the federal government appears to be clearly putting ahead of all else.
Benefiting economically and maintaining a healthy environment are not mutually exclusive events. Both can occur simultaneously and benefit society, so long as those involved maintain open minds, work together and allow for fair compromise.
