Release of the Joint Canada-–Alberta Oil Sands Monitoring

February 23, 2016 – Edmonton, Alberta

The external expert peer review panel tasked with reviewing the scientific rigour of environmental monitoring in the oil sands area found that good progress has been made since the Joint Canada–Alberta Oil Sands Monitoring (JOSM) plan was established in 2012. The panel, commissioned by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency (AEMERA), delivered its final report to the organizations today.

The report provides an impartial assessment of the extent to which the implementation of JOSM has improved scientific integrity, relative to the environmental monitoring that existed prior to its implementation in 2012.

On behalf of ECCC and AEMERA, respectively, the JOSM program co-chairs, Karen Dodds, Assistant Deputy Minister, Science and Technology Branch, ECCC, and Jay Nagendran, President and Chief Executive Officer, AEMERA, accept all of the panel’s recommendations.

Both organizations are currently reviewing the report and will continue working together in providing a scientifically rigorous, comprehensive, integrated and transparent environmental monitoring program.

ECCC and AEMERA thank all the members of the panel for providing their time and expertise.

The report’s Executive Summary is available online.

Media Relations Contacts:

AEMERA Media Relations: 780-229-7254

ECCC Media Relations: 819-938-3338

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