Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development

HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES OTTAWA, CANADA K1A 0A6

Comité permanent de l'environnement et du développement durable

For immediate release

Ottawa, May 07, 2009 - Media representatives please be advised that the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development will be in Alberta, 11-13 May 2009, for the purposes of studying oil sands and water resources. The Committee will be visiting Fort McMurray and Fort Chipewyan and holding formal hearings in Edmonton and Calgary.

The Committee has undertaken this study to better understand the situation surrounding the effects of oil sands development on water resources and the role the federal government can play in reducing risks as development evolves. It will be hearing from a wide variety of stakeholders including Aboriginal peoples, industry representatives, academics and non-governmental organisations. The study is focussing on the following themes: water quality and quantity, technology, the impact of climate change, Aboriginal issues (health), governance and strategic environmental assessment.

The visit to Fort McMurray and Fort Chipewyan will take place 11 May 2009. The formal hearings in Edmonton will take place 12 May 2009, starting at 8:00 a.m. in the Quartz Ballroom of the Matrix Hotel, 10640-100th Avenue. The meetings in Calgary will take place 13 May 2009, starting at 8:00 a.m., in Plaza Rooms 4 and 5 of the Coast Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre Calgary, 1316-33 Street NE.

For witness list, please see notices of meeting at: /CommitteeBusiness/CommitteeMeetings.aspx?Cmte=ENVI&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=2.