I am starting to wonder if Alberta government representatives think before they speak or even think at all. Having backed off and only partially implemented the recommendation in the “Our Fair Share” report, John Knapp the assistant deputy minister of environment seems to be trying to justify Alberta’s failure to participate in an European-designed carbon credit trading scheme. As is noted by the Canadian Press Alberta officials said their government remains content with its internal plan to reduce its greenhouse emissions.

John Knapp acknowledged an international market for greenhouse gas credits would have advantages for companies stating that:

“If you’re in a much broader marketplace, potentially you have much broader access to a much broader area to trade from.”

The advantage and logic for not participating? According to Knapp restricting Alberta’s carbon market to provincial boundaries will keep its credits relatively expensive, further encouraging companies to reduce their emissions as joining the international carbon market will flood the province with cheap credits at a few dollars a tonne as opposed to the $15 a tonne in the Alberta internal market.

Are we to believe that the same government that failed to implement the recommended royalty rates because of the threats and fear created by the oil companies will force these same companies to pay outrageous rates for carbon credits? Careful Knapp, next thing you know the companies will be threatening to invest in Saskatchewan if they offer cheaper carbon credits.