Alberta co-chair of climate change advisory group regrets likening oilsands to 'Mordor'

Alberta's Opposition WildrosePartyis criticizing the NDP governmentfor appointing someone to an advisory groupwho once compared the oilsandsto "Mordor."

Mordorisa dark, scorched land ofsufferingin the fictional world of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.

On Wednesday, the province announced the members ofan 18-member advisory groupto implement Alberta's climate-change plan.

Thegroup's mandate is toprovide advice on waysto ensure that initiatives created as part ofthe government's climate-change plan, announced last year, are effective and widely supported.

One of the co-chairs of the group,TzeporahBerman, an adjunctprofessor of environmental studies at York University in Toronto, has vocally criticized the oilsands in the past.

In a press release, the Wildrose said it is a concernthat an influential co-chair of thepanel "is openly at war with the energy industry."

In a recentinterview with Climate Home, an international news source focused on climate change,Berman stated that with the oilsands,"when you're there it feels a bit like Mordor. As far as the eye can see [are]mines and huge open pits that are being pumped out into areas the size of lakes.

"If you spendmore than a couple hours walking around in the tarsands, your eyes start to run and your skin starts to hurt," she said later in the same interview.

Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said in the party's news release it wasdisappointing to see the appointment of an advisory group co-chair"who is vocally opposed and has made a career off of opposing our oilsands industry."

Wildroseenergy criticLeela Aheershared Jean's disappointment, citing Berman's opposition to pipelines in the past.

"To see that this NDP government have appointed an individual from Ontario whoopenly opposesKeystone XL, Northern Gateway, Kinder Morgan and Energy East is deeply disappointing," Aheer said."Hardworking Albertans and their families deserve better."

'They are climate deniers'

Berman, a former co-director ofGreenpeace'sclimate and policyunit, was also one of the lead organizers for theClayoquotSound protests in 1993over clearcutlogging on Vancouver island. The protests amounted toone of the biggest acts of civil disobedience in Canadian history.

They are the words and tone from my past campaigning and don't reflect the opportunity I have today.- TzeporahBerman

Berman posted on Facebook a lengthy response to the Wildrose criticisms.

"I regret the recent comments I made to a climate reporter on a recent trip to London," she said.

"They are the words and tone from my past campaigning and don't reflect the opportunity I have today to be part of helping advise on the critical questions on how Alberta will operate under a [greenhouse gas]limit, innovate, better protect its environment and determine the infrastructure needs of its future production," she wrote.

EnvironmentMinister ShannonPhillips defended the appointment while throwing a jab towardthe opposition.

"After years of failure, the Opposition still thinks that denying science, ignoring climate change and insulting people is somehow going to accomplish something," Phillips said in a statement provided to CBC News.

"They are climate deniers who shouted people with good ideas out of the room. Our government takes a different approach we are listening."

Not just environmentalists on panel

One of the otherco-chairsof theadvisory grouphas direct links to the oil industry. Dave Collyer, a former president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, wasselected.

Collyersaid he welcomes the opportunity to represent industry in the group.

"Alberta'soilsandsoperators look forward to participating in this group to give the government the best possible advice to address keyoilsandsissues and opportunities," he said in a release.

The final co-chair isMelody Lepine, director of industry and government relations for the Mikisew Cree Nation. Lepineran unsuccessfully for the NDP in last fall's federalelection in the Fort McMurray-ColdLake riding.

Shannon Phillips, Alberta'sminister of environment, said the group will help the government address "central issues" facingtheoilsands.

Thoseinclude advice on how to implementgreenhouse-gas emission limits, where to invest in innovation, and developing processes to address "local and regional environmental issues."

The three co-chairs will be supported by 15 other memberson the panel.The group iscomposed of members from industry, environmental agencies and Indigenous communities.

'I believe we can reach a unified vision on Alberta's climate change objectives for the oilsands.'Advisory group co-chair MelodyLepine

The members will convene for the first time in the coming weeks. The groupis expected to deliver its first advice within six months.

Lepine said shelooksforward to co-chairing the group andensuring "Indigenous knowledge and values are meaningfully included."

She added,"I believe we can reach a unified vision on Alberta's climate change objectives for the oilsands."