Alberta politicians and oil producers are fighting back at a resolution passed by U.S. mayors calling for a boycott of fuel from Alberta's oilsands.
At their annual meeting in Florida, the American mayors passed a resolution that urges major American cities to ban the use of fuel from the oilsands in municipal vehicles.
The mayors claim that producing oil from the oilsands emits three times as much carbon dioxide into the environment as conventional oil production.
Calgary's mayor responded to the resolution by inviting the mayors to visit Alberta and learn more about the province's oil industry.
"When you have an important group such as this one passing a resolution saying do not use Alberta oil from the oilsands, I think it's important to us that we wake up and say this is an early warning and a signal," Dave Bronconnier told CTV Calgary's Kevin Green.
Alberta Finance Minister Iris Evans was angered by the news of the resolution, and said it is the result of a lack of understanding of how Alberta produces oil.
"It offends me deeply to hear people say dirty oil," Evans said.
However, Pierre Alvarez of the Canadian Association of Oil Producers, said such a resolution would be almost impossible to enforce because a litre of fuel cannot be traced back to the oil from which it was produced.
Alvarez said his organization needs to do a better job of educating people about the environmental impact of oil production.
"We've been great at talking about the economic issues," said Alvarez. "I think maybe we need to spend a little more time talking about the environmental issues."
The Alberta government estimates that the oilsands will generate about $123 billion in tax revenue between 2000 and 2020. The federal government will get 41 per cent, or $51 billion, of that money, while the province will get 36 per cent, or $44 billion.
However, Alvarez said the resolution won't have an economic impact.
The Sierra Club of Canada disagrees. The organization believes the controversy surrounding the oilsands will only grow.
"I wouldn't be surprised, particularly with an American election coming up later this year, if this became more of an issue," said the Sierra Club's Grady Semmens.
Oilsands production is expected to triple over the next seven years, which means that emissions will grow as well. However, Alberta's energy minister is expected to announce new carbon capture and storage technology that will help curb emissions.
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach said that the province was first to issue levies on emissions.
"We're doing cumulative environmental impact assessments both in the oilsands and also in the industrial heartland," Stelmach told The Canadian Press. "We're the only jurisdiction in Canada to put forward a land-use framework and also our water-for-life strategy is well ahead of many jurisdictions in North America."
According to The Canadian Press, Alberta has lowered emissions per barrel of oil by 45 per cent and has collected $40 million from companies that failed to meet emission targets.
However, the province has had to launch a publicity campaign to stem the tide of bad publicity that international environmental groups have given its oil industry.
With a report from CTV Calgary's Kevin Green and files from The Canadian Press.
