December 11, 2018 (Edmonton) – “Today’s announcement by Rachel Notley’s NDP about pursuing an expression of interest in the development of a new Alberta refinery is yet another example of this government’s indecision and reactivity,” said Alberta Party Leader Stephen Mandel.

“We already have a made in Alberta plan ready to deploy. Phase 2 and 3 expansions of the North West Refinery have the necessary regulatory approvals, are construction ready, and incorporate carbon capture – helping to reduce the environmental impact of upgrading our resources.

“It’s naïve to believe that with the increasingly restrictive regulatory burden the Province and Federal Government have created that this can be done quickly. Expansion of North West Refinery could be online within five years, where the Notley NDP plan announced today would take at least a decade to see a refinery come online.

“If the government felt this was the solution, they should have acted at the start of their term three and a half years ago, instead of relying strictly on one pipeline project as a solution.

“We call on the Notley NDP to throw full support behind a project that already has regulatory approval, and leverage the existing BRIK partnership program to spur investment instead of dithering and starting from scratch,” concluded Mandel.

The Alberta Party is committed to Alberta, and to the values of prosperity, fiscal and social responsibility, environmental sustainability, accountable government, and strong communities.

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