Today, the Alberta Party released its Environment & Energy Policy. The first thing I noticed about it is just that- it's Environment AND Energy, together, finally!  When I was travelling around the province as the Acting Leader, I heard Albertans say, over and over again, that they are tired of being caught in the FOR/AGAINST argument: if you are FOR the environment you must be AGAINST the energy industry or if you are FOR the energy industry you must be AGAINST the environment. 

The many, many Albertans whose livelihoods depend on the oil and gas industry have immediate, pratical and personal reasons for being FOR the energy industry. I met a lot of them in Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Hinton, Edson and Grand Cache. When people talk about "shutting down the oilsands", they feel, justifiably threatened and angry. It hits home. At that same time, they are concerned about the quality of the air, the water and the land. They enjoy the natural beauty of this province just as much as anyone else and they are concerned about preserving it for future generations. They don't want to have to choose between these two; they want BOTH and they want someone to step forward with a vision of how that can be achieved.

This policy reflects and respects that deep desire.

It is a mature policy- it makes sense and it is full of concrete, responsible ideas. It takes a 360 degree scan of the many, interlocking parts in the energy/environment puzzle and puts forward clear ideas of how government, industry, munipalities and the people of Alberta can work together so we can be BOTH an energy leader AND an environmental leader for the world. This vision makes me feel proud to be an Albertan and excited about the future.

It's a long document, but here are a few of the pieces that jumped out at me:

- the role that we can ALL play in reducing GHG and energy consumption in our own homes. I'm renovating my attic in my 1913, so this resonated with me.

- respecting the energy industry's need for predictability and working collaboratively with them to ensure that high environmental standards are set and met.

- the strong focus on water preservation, conservation, monitoring and intelligent landuse planning.

- the clear statement that water is is a public good, not for sale.

- the support for municipalities to create healthier, more resilent communities (grey water use, bike paths, homes and public buildings reducing energy use)

- expanding the business opportunities and economic potential for Albertans in a myriad of ways by leveraging the incredible resources we have to explore new avenues (new training, new industries, keeping the economic value in the province, supporting innovation, incenting improvements)

This a document that says: We can do this! We can be so much more!

It also says, clearly: Let's not waste another minute avoiding the challenge in front of us...let's see if for the gift it truly is and build something great.

Finally, I'm so very proud of the work that has gone into this document. It is not a document crafted by political insiders or policy wonks focused on scoring points, pointing fingers or securing big donations. It was hand-built by regular Albertans, with love and care for this province. The foundation was poured by thousands of Albertans who participated in Big Listens. The walls were roughed in by the members and the finishing work was created by a committee of volunteers who generously offered their expertise and knowledge. It was truly built by the people, from the ground up and now it is offered to you--- for feedback, for comment, for insight, for additions. We believe that things can always be improved, so we continually open ourselves and our processes up to others. So, you (yes, YOU!) can influence where this policy goes from here. You don't need to be an Alberta Party member, you just need to be an Albertan who cares about making this a better province.

Here's the link.