Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Parks Jason Nixon says a federal government arbitrary rejection of the Teck Frontier oil sands mine project at the 11th hour for political reasons “would send a chilling signal to international investors.”
Frontier is a proposed truck-and-shovel oil sands mine located between Fort McMurray and Fort Chipewyan in northeast Alberta.
The federal government is due to decide by Feb. 28 whether to approve Teck Resources proposed Frontier Project.
“I want to be crystal clear. Albertans are proud people. We have never viewed our relationship with the federal government as one based on charity, and we’re not about to start now,” said Nixon in a statement. “Albertans want jobs, not an ‘aid package’ from Ottawa.
“Teck is not a political gift – it deserves to be approved on its merits. If the federal government takes seriously its commitment to science-driven, evidence-based decision-making, then it will accept the recommendation of the regulatory agencies and approve it. In our view, the federal cabinet’s pending decision on the independent joint review panel’s recommendation to approve Teck Frontier is in no way linked to Alberta’s ask regarding an equalization rebate (or other unrelated requests).
“The project has undergone a rigorous 10-year review, including a recommendation for approval from the independent federal regulator. Teck has played by the rules endorsed by Ottawa – including by the current federal government.”
Nixon said the Frontier project will directly employ up to 7,000 workers during construction and up to 2,500 workers during operation. An estimated $70 billion in taxes will be collected over the life of the mine, along with billions of dollars of economic activity that will ultimately spread throughout all of Alberta and Canada, he said.
“All of the 14 directly affected First Nations have reached agreements with the company, and Frontier will provide large numbers of jobs for Indigenous Canadians. They recognize that responsible resource development can serve as a path to prosperity,” said Nixon.
“Teck has committed to leading environmental standards for emissions, water and reclamation. The Teck Frontier project will have emissions of approximately one-half of the oilsands industry average, and lower carbon intensity than half of the oil currently refined in the United States. The company has also recently committed to going net zero by 2050.
“We do not view a decision on Frontier as something to be traded away or politicized. For us this issue goes beyond politics – Albertans want approval plain and simple. Prime Minister Trudeau has emphasized his desire to work with Alberta and to preserve national unity. It’s time he backed up his words with action. Albertans are watching closely.”
Frontier will consist of surface mining operations, a processing plant, tailings management facilities, water management facilities, and associated infrastructure and support facilities. Teck says it is committed to developing Frontier responsibly, incorporating best practices for environmental protection, tailings management, water use and managing greenhouse gases.
Mario Toneguzzi is a business reporter in Calgary.
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