"OTTAWA, Dec. 8 /CNW/ - Development of the oil sands of northern Alberta has become an issue of growing public interest in recent years, with highly polarized views being presented by different stakeholders, including First Nations, environmentalists, industries and governments, about the merits of oil sands development in relation to its environmental and health impacts. Regardless of what any individual chooses to believe about these divergent views, the scale of investment and development in the oil sands is a major factor in Canada's economy, making the issues involved of vital importance to Canadians.

The oil sands (or tar sands) have become a focus of intense development in recent years, and production from the oil sands has raised the prospect of Canada being a substantial net exporter of petroleum products. The oil sands have become increasingly controversial because of environmental and health issues, including: overall greenhouse gas emissions (the oil sands contribute about 5% of Canada's total emissions, but are Canada's fastest growing source); major landscape disruption from surface mining; massive tailings ponds holding wastes toxic to fish and waterfowl; and major consumptive water use.

Impacts on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG): What are the trends in the oil sands industry with respect to GHG emissions and emissions intensity? What are the challenges for Alberta and Canada - in terms of meeting Canada's international commitments for reducing overall GHG emissions - that are represented in these trends?