Pass legislation for royalty changes: NDP

Alberta NDP Leader Brian Mason is calling on the premier to commit to oil and gas royalty changes through legislation before the next election.

'Albertans cannot trust a party that's taken over half a million dollars in donations from energy companies in the last two years.' — Brian Mason, Alberta NDP leader

A report released last month recommends raising royalty rates and introducing new taxes charged to oil and gas companies for increased provincial revenues of as much as $2 billion a year. The report also concluded Albertans have been shortchanged by the rates for years.

Premier Ed Stelmach is expected to respond to the recommendations by the end of October.

Mason wants elected politicians to debate the issue and pass legislationbefore there's any chance of the premier calling a snap election this fall.

"I think that Albertans cannot trust a party that's taken over half a million dollars in donations from energy companies in the last two years," Mason said Thursday.

"And so I think it's important that we actually finalize the legislation which will set whatever new royalty rates the government proposes before going to the polls."

Mason said the energy industry is running a relentless campaign to persuade the premier to back away from royalty hikes. The NDP leader believes that campaign will intensify if royalty legislation is not passed before the next election.

Paul Stanway, Stelmach's spokesman, said Thursday that the premier will stick with whatever decision the government makes on the royalty report, and that it's too early to tell if legislation will be necessary.