Stelmach Argues With Heckler As Alta Premier Releases Tory Environment Platform

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

EDMONTON – Ed Stelmach argued for several minutes with a heckler today as the Alberta premier released the Tory party’s environment plan, which includes modest rebates for buying green appliances.

If re-elected March 3, Stelmach is promising a $100 tax credit for Albertans who purchase energy-efficient furnaces, washers, lighting or solar hot-water heating systems.

But a lone environmentalist challenged the premier at the podium and described Alberta’s plan to reduce greenhouse gases as inadequate because emissions will increase until 2020.

The premier countered that adopting the Kyoto accord would cost Alberta 335,000 jobs and increase electrical and heating costs by “100 or 200 times.”

Stelmach could not clearly explain where he got the numbers.

The Progressive Conservatives also released a plan to spend $600 million to create a park system in the river valley that runs through Edmonton and surrounding communities.