EDMONTON, AB (September 15, 2016): Premier Rachel Notley should fire Tzeporah Berman as co-chair to the Oil Sands Advisory Group and repudiate her claims on national radio today that Alberta doesn’t need new pipelines, the Wildrose Official Opposition said today.
In an interview on CBC’s The Current, Berman said we “have capacity” within the current pipeline system to reach the NDP government’s new emissions cap and said it’s “just not true anymore” that Alberta needs new pipeline development to have economic success.
“Premier Notley’s chief advisor on oilsands development shouldn’t be going on national radio and discrediting the work of our most important industry. Not only are Ms. Berman’s opinions damaging to the reputation of our province and energy sector, but they are also factually incorrect,” Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said. “The Premier needs to immediately and publicly correct the statements made by Ms. Berman and replace her on the Oil Sands Advisory Group with somebody who at least believes in the economics and science behind pipeline development.”
In an interview earlier this summer, Berman called Alberta’s oilsands industry toxic, compared Fort McMurray to Mordor and also has a long history campaigning against pipelines.
With projects like Energy East facing hurdles after radical activists shut down National Energy Board hearings, Wildrose Shadow Energy Minister Leela Aheer said it’s critical that Premier Notley send a message that these type of inaccurate comments will not be tolerated.
“The fact is, over a hundred thousand workers in Canada’s energy sector have seen their jobs vanish in the past year alone, with a lack of construction on new pipelines to tidewater being a contributing factor,” Aheer said. “Ms. Berman has built an entire career being at war with the oilsands. It is clear she is not moderating her positions.”