Environmental critics had been demanding the government reinstate the monitoring, questioning why it was shut down while other energy operations were deemed essential and allowed to continue.

Shutting down a broad range of Alberta's environmental monitoring over pandemic fears wasn't necessary, says the head of a group responsible for such work.

A dozen conservation and Indigenous groups have written federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson asking him to force the Alberta government to reinstate environmental monitoring in the province's oilpatch.

New forecasts show dramatically lower expectations for 2020 capital spending in the oil and gas sector both nationally and in Alberta, the province that produces 65 per cent of the country's natural gas and 82 per cent of its oil.

This is not how you pursue "ethical oil," said Mikisew Cree First Nation Chief Archie Waquan.

Seven environmental and Indigenous groups are asking the Alberta government to restart monitoring in the province's oilpatch as soon as possible.

Sonya Savage says that a review of the system has shown that at times it takes too long for Alberta's energy regulator to make decisions on whether to allow an oil and gas project to proceed.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney should step in to reverse a decision by the province's energy regulator to suspend most environmental monitoring in the oilpatch, says the province's Opposition leader.

The Alberta government is changing coal policies to make it easier to develop open-pit mines in one of the province's most sensitive areas.

Two energy companies whose deal over aging assets in Alberta failed to win approval from the province's energy regulator over environmental concerns say they will try again.