Deciding Factor: The mandate to protect public interest tests the resolve of regulators

2/6/2010

 
Published in Alberta Oil Magazine, February, 2010
By Cindy Chiasson, Executive Director, Environmental Law Centre
 
Give yourself a few minutes’ break to indulge in a little imagination. Picture yourself as a member of one of the most influential regulators in Alberta: the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB). Envision yourself seated at the front of a hearing room, listening to evidence from industry and landowners on proposed oil and gas projects. You have power. There is potential for you to affect the direction of Alberta’s future.
 
Now bring this picture into a bit tighter focus. Add to it the need for you to hear and weigh this evidence in order to meet the duty the provincial government has given the ERCB – to decide whether proposed projects are in the public interest. How hard can that be?
 
You may be surprised to discover that making decisions in the public interest is harder than it appears. Research has shown that the public interest can be defined in many ways. Academic theories have defined it as any interest common to all members of society, the interests of the majority, a balancing of competing interests, a determination based on the “best” ethics or science, shared values held by most of society, or any decision arrived at by following an appropriate process. There are also those who suggest that the public interest is meaningless as a concept because it cannot be defined.
 
In most jurisdictions where the public interest must be considered, government has put guiding principles in legislation to assist decision-makers. Many commentators agree that there is no one expert, person or organization that can bring forward the full range of views and values that are relevant to assessing the public interest. As a result, an important part of making public interest determinations is to hear from a wide range of interests.
 
As an administrative tribunal, the ERCB receives all of its powers and authority, as well as the limits of its decision-making, from legislation created by the provincial government. The Energy Resources Conservation Act created the ERCB as Alberta’s energy regulator. That bill gave the ERCB the duty, when holding hearings on proposed projects, to decide whether those are in the public interest, taking into consideration social, environmental and economic effects. Based on that limited direction, which is long on goals and short on details of how to achieve them, it is up to the ERCB to determine the public interest.
 
Now step back into your imagination. Given the limited direction and broad discretion the ERCB has, as a board member are you hearing all the voices, viewpoints and values you need to help you decide whether the proposed projects are in the public interest? The primary goal of corporations is to make money for their shareholders. Can industry operators fully and fairly provide all the evidence required to help you decide on the public interest? Does economic benefit automatically ensure social well-being and environmental protection? Landowners near proposed energy developments have a wide range of concerns including possible effects on their property values, health and businesses, particularly where agricultural operations are involved. Are their concerns and the evidence they may provide extensive enough to help you determine whether a project is in the public interest, or are their concerns mainly personal in nature and not necessarily representative of Albertans as a whole?

ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTRE:

The Environmental Law Centre (ELC) has been seeking strong and effective environmental laws since it was founded in 1982. The ELC is dedicated to providing credible, comprehensive and objective legal information regarding natural resources, energy and environmental law, policy and regulation in Alberta. The ELC’s mission is to educate and champion for strong laws and rights so all Albertans can enjoy clean water, clean air and a healthy environment. Our vision is a society where laws secure an environment that sustains current and future generations.
 
As a charity, the Environmental Law Centre depends on your financial support. Help us to continue to educate and champion for strong environmental laws, through tools such as our blog and all of our other resources, so that all Albertans can enjoy a healthy environment. Your support makes a difference.
Donate online today