Ms Blakeman: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. The Auditor General’s recent report drew special attention to issues regarding water, including a lack of monitoring, serious recurring instances of noncompliance, and an extreme backlog of applications for water licences. 

The bottom line: the government’s systems are weak, and this increases the risk to drinking water, the ecosystems, and finally, use by agriculture and industry. To the Minister of Environment. The minister has repeatedly responded to concerns I’ve raised about cutting monitoring staff by saying that it’s not a problem. Does the minister still stand by this claim?

Mr. Renner: Well, Mr. Speaker, I think we’re trying to compare apples and oranges in this particular instance. What the Auditor General’s report refers to is the ability of our officials to have follow-up from the point of issuing a licence to then following up. In that regard we have accepted the recommendation of the Auditor General, and we will be putting it into play so that there are closer opportunities for checks and balances from the point of licences issued to the follow-up and compliance side.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Well, given that the Department of Environment cannot transfer a water licence until its noncompliance issues are rectified and given that 75 per cent of the backlog of unprocessed water applications are not current, relating directly to compliance issues, how is the minister going to rapidly deal with the backlog of over 3,500 water applications?

Mr. Renner: Mr. Speaker, the backlog that’s referred to is a valid number. What is not clear in first reading is the fact that a number of these applications are unnecessarily open, I would suggest to you, because they haven’t been closed. If that’s confusing, I don’t blame you for not understanding. But the fact of the matter is that applicants will apply, they’ll be requested for further information or clarification, we never hear back from them, and then we have a file that’s left open.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Ms Blakeman: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. And people wonder why we have an issue around water here.

Given that this administration has demonstrated a clear inability to monitor licence holders and, therefore, cannot assess levels of noncompliance, how can the minister even consider compounding these problems by introducing a water market?

Mr. Renner: Well, Mr. Speaker, the fact that we are in the process now of reviewing our water allocation policy fits very well into the issues that were raised by the Auditor General. You have to remember that the process, that has been in place for a hundred-plus years, is one in which there was a presumption of unlimited resources of water. That presumption no longer applies. That’s the reason why we are talking about reviewing the water allocation, and part of that review of water allocation will have to be a process whereby we can verify that the licence holders are withdrawing water that is appropriate to their licence.

Gravel Extraction Management

Ms Blakeman: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of proposals for new gravel mining projects currently on the table, including yet another proposal for mining in the Red Deer River aquifers and one at Wizard Lake. There are grim long-term environmental concerns, including contamination of groundwater, which affects drinking water, and loss of habitat for fish and wildlife and the negative effects on communities regarding recreation. To the Minister of Environment: when the province can’t currently track the effect of the gravel industry on water in Alberta, why is new gravel extraction being allowed?

Mr. Renner: Well, Mr. Speaker, to suggest that gravel extraction should be unilaterally stopped throughout the province is irresponsible. We build buildings, homes, offices, pave our streets, and build our roads with gravel. What we have to do is ensure that we mine gravel in a responsible way. That is why we have a strict set of guidelines that all gravel operations must abide by.

Ms Blakeman: Back to the same minister: when will this ministry finally step up and provide a strong legislative framework to ensure municipalities have the regulations and resources necessary to fully assess the impacts of a gravel mine on their environment?

Mr. Renner: Mr. Speaker, let’s not forget: the role and responsibility of a municipality is a very valid one, and that is to deal with land use and land zoning. Until a municipality makes a decision with respect to the zoning and the land use in a particular area, then it’s not appropriate for the provincial government and my ministry to interfere. At the end of the day, once a decision has been made to proceed, it’s up to us to determine and ensure that that operation operates at minimal impact on the environment.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Ms Blakeman: Thanks. Back to the same minister: why does this ministry continue to take a this-is-not-our-problem approach to gravel mining approvals when they have such far-reaching and dramatic impacts on Alberta’s environment and on water and water quality?

Mr. Renner: Mr. Speaker, I think I answered that question the first time around. It is the responsibility of municipalities to deal with land zoning issues. Once that issue has been dealt with, it is the very clear responsibility of Alberta Environment to ensure that the operation proceeds in such a way as to minimize the impact or, if necessary, protect the environment.

Alberta Hansard, April 19, 2010

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