Climate Summits

CALGARY - Energy ministers meeting in picturesque Kananaskis, Alta., next week won't be ejoying a typical relaxing mountain getaway.

University of Alberta professor Andrew Leach says it will be an incredible challenge as the federal and provincial politicians try to come up with a coherent national energy strategy.

He says a unified policy would help boost the value Canada gets for its resources, but it will be tough for every province to get what it wants.

John Bennett, executive director of the environmental group Sierra Club Canada, says the whole thrust of the Kananaskis meeting is flawed.

He says it's focused on expanding Canada's oil export markets, when it should be centred on reducing the country's reliance on fossil fuels that cause climate change.... Read more »

A coalition of environment groups says the large corporate sponsorship at next week's meeting of energy ministers "sends the wrong message to Canadians."

Eleven energy companies and associations are spending $180,000 to sponsor the annual conference that will be held July 16 to 19 in Kananaskis, Alberta. The sponsorship is just under a third of the approximately $600,000 price tag for the conference.

Federal, provincial and territorial ministers and their deputy ministers are holding their annual meeting to discuss, among other issues, a national energy strategy. But environment groups say the sponsorship is a clear attempt by the petroleum industry to influence people who will be making crucial decisions about Canada's energy future.... Read more »

A national environmental organization slammed corporate sponsorship of an upcoming meeting of energy ministers, funding the Alberta government and industry defended.

The Sierra Club Canada in a news release bashed the coverage of up to 30 per cent of costs tied to the July 16 to 19 conference in Kananaskis Country by “big oil,” calling money put up by energy firms and groups “a corrupting influence.”

Twelve oil and gas companies and industry organizations are together spending between $150,000 and $180,000 of the $600,000 it will cost for the annual meeting of provincial and territorial energy and mines ministers and their federal counterpart, according to the Alberta government, which is hosting the conference.

Starting Saturday, politicians will visit the Calgary Stampede, tour Alberta’s oilsands and spend time in Kananaskis discussing a proposed national energy framework, among other policy issues.... Read more »

A major summit of Canadian energy and mines ministers starting this weekend in Alberta has provoked skepticism over its list of corporate sponsors, almost exclusively from the oil and gas industry, that have offered up $180,000 for a barbecue, catering and signs for delegates at the event.

The funding consists of donations of either $30,000, $20,000 or $10,000 for gold, silver and bronze levels of sponsorship but the Alberta government said the industry stakeholders are not buying any preferential treatment at the conference in Kananaskis which is expected to examine plans for a national energy strategy.

"Sponsorship is one thing," said Jay O'Neill, the director of communications from Alberta Energy. "It's not (about) getting access on the agenda, (having a) speaking opportunity, or anything like that."... Read more »

An environmental group is slamming next week's Energy and Mines Ministers Meeting in Kananaskis.

Sierra Club Canada says they can't believe the major sponsors of the event are big oil companies.

Executive Director John Bennett says the optics are bad, and it sends the wrong message to Canadians.

Bennett says the ministers' conference has three Olympic-sounding levels of sponsorship, but the ministers won't win any medals.

Companies sponsoring the four-day get together include Shell, Encana, Nexen and the Oilsands Developers Group.

RELATED:

Industry sponsorship of ministerial conference throws gasoline on a simmering fire  Calgary Herald, July 20, 2011... Read more »