Wildrose Shadow Environment Minister Todd Loewen
A commitment to the environment from our government means more than introducing expensive new carbon taxes. It means taking care of our wildlife, lakes and land.
But right now, Alberta’s tourism and local businesses will take a hit this summer because of an unevenly implemented, haphazard government plan.
For years, Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) has worked hard to build up and maintain fish stocks in certain Alberta lakes.
These fisheries draw sports fishing enthusiasts from across Alberta, and generate valuable tourism dollars for nearby communities.
The fish are kept alive in winter by an aeration process that uses a surface fountain to infuse oxygen into the water, which creates an opening in the ice.
Last winter, however, the ACA implemented a new aeration system.
The reason for needing a new system is simple: the ACA was advised that it could be liable under Section 263 of the Criminal Code in the event that anyone fell through the hole in the ice created by the old system, and they decided they couldn’t take on that liability.
The rationale behind the new system, which uses a sub-surface bubble diffuser, is likewise simple: contain the hole in the ice, limit the danger of anyone falling in and so limit liability.
The ACA had initially planned to use this past winter as a test period, trying out the new system in just a portion of its lakes.
But, according to the ACA website, Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips asked that they forego the test, and apply the untried system in all lakes they would normally have aerated with the old system.
Unfortunately for the minister – and for fishermen and local economies, not to mention the fish – the new system has serious flaws, and has now killed thousands of fish.
Strangely, two lakes aerated by Environment and Parks were allowed to use the older system. Now these lakes, and two others aerated by municipal governments and one aerated by a private group, are thriving.
At these lakes, the liability of the old system was managed the same way it is in other jurisdictions, like Saskatchewan: by promoting awareness in the area, and using appropriate signage around the hole in the ice.
The minister asked the ACA to fully implement the new system immediately, but allowed her department to assume liability for the old system on two other lakes.
Why rush ahead with an untested system on so many lakes, when the risk associated with the old system was manageable?
Why did the minister claim everything was under control each of the multiple times we asked her about it, while fish were actually dying?
The sad fact is, because of this government’s act-first-ask-later attitude, carefully stewarded fisheries in lakes across Alberta now face years of rebuilding, and tourism dollars that would have provided a much-needed boost to local economies will now be spent elsewhere.
Alberta deserves better than this NDP mismanagement.
Whether it’s responsibly managing Alberta’s natural heritage or managing our economy, Wildrose is committed to delivering the best for Alberta.
Todd Loewen is the Wildrose Shadow Environment Minister and MLA for Grande Prairie-Smoky.