Question Period Note: Oil Sands Monitoring Program

Oil Sands Monitoring Program

• The Government of Canada, in partnership with the Government of Alberta, is committed to environmental monitoring of the oil sands region of Alberta, through the Oil Sands Monitoring Program.

• Through the collective commitment of participating governments, Indigenous communities, and industry, funds from the Oil Sands Monitoring Program enable environmental monitoring to improve the description of the state of the environment and enhance the understanding of the cumulative effects related to oil sands development.

• The governance structure of the Oil Sands Monitoring Program includes representatives from Indigenous communities, industry, and both federal and provincial governments.

• Key findings and results from the Oil Sands Monitoring Program inform regional resource-management decisions and are an objective source of scientific interpretation of credible environmental data.

o Since February 2012, the governments of Alberta and Canada have worked in partnership to implement an environmental monitoring program for the oil sands region. In December 2017 both governments renewed their commitment to work together with Indigenous communities in the region by signing the Alberta-Canada Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Respecting Environmental Monitoring in the Oil Sands Region.

o The MOU establishes the foundation for an adaptive and inclusive approach to program implementation ensuring that the program is responsive to emerging priorities, information, knowledge, and input from key stakeholders and Indigenous peoples in the region.

o The Oil Sands Monitoring Program is designed to enhance the understanding of the state of the environment and cumulative environmental effects as a result of oil sands development in the region though monitoring and publically reporting on the status and trends of air, water, land and biodiversity. Its vision is to integrate Indigenous knowledge and wisdom with western science to design, interpret, assess report and govern the program.

o Canada and Alberta, working collectively with Indigenous communities and industry, have provided leadership to strengthen program delivery, and ensure that necessary monitoring and scientific activities meet program commitments and objectives.

o The oil sands industry provides up to $50 million in funding support for the program under the Oil Sands Environmental Regulation (Alberta Regulation 226/2013). Key findings and results from the program inform regional resource management decisions and importantly, are considered as an objective source of scientific interpretation of credible environmental data.

Question Period notes as provided by the Department to the Minister’s Office