New policy and open letter redefine Liberal approach

Calgary – Energy critic Dave Taylor has released an open letter to the energy sector and a new oil and gas policy.

Both the letter and the policy were developed after Taylor and Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann spent months consulting with stakeholders in the energy sector. The letter includes five principles:

One. That the health of the Alberta economy is inextricably tied to the health of the energy industry;

Two. That the Alberta Liberals view the energy industry as a positive force in Alberta;

Three. That the energy industry requires certainty, sustainability, consistency and effectiveness in regulation and policy;

Four. That energy policy and royalty rates should be determined in consultation with the industry, be based in fact, and be competitive;

Five. That a responsible government and the Alberta energy industry will work together to ensure good stewardship of the environment.

The new energy policy elaborates on these principles, including a process that would help an Alberta Liberal administration and the energy sector turn those principles into reality by working together. The process would recognize the need for stability in the energy sector, the need for genuine consultation with all involved parties at every stage of policy development, and the need to balance a healthy energy sector while taking action to protect Alberta’s environment.

“Our caucus worked hard to come up with a set of principles that reflects Alberta’s economic reality,” Taylor says. “Our energy sector is vital to Alberta’s economy, and will be for the foreseeable future, and our environment must be protected as we develop our energy resources. The best way for a responsible government to protect the interests of all its citizens is to partner with the energy industry to tackle the various challenges and opportunities together.”

“Many Albertans already understand my commitment to the environment, but few know that my father was a prominent player in the energy sector and that I had a job at a gas plant as a young man,” Swann adds. “My own life experiences, combined with what we learned during these consultations, show me that Dave’s new policy is the right direction.”

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Attached:
- Swann and Taylor’s open letter to the energy sector
- Executive summary of the new Alberta Liberal oil and gas policy

For more information contact:

albertaliberalcaucus
1-866-633-4214

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