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The Alberta government has followed through on its vow to dissolve the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency and bring its duties under direct government control.

Bill 18, An Act to Ensure Independent Environmental Monitoring, was introduced in the legislature Tuesday, but questions remain about the new model’s independence.

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If passed, the legislation gives the environment minister the power to appoint the chief scientist, who will be responsible for co-ordinating environmental monitoring and ensuring “the information is scientifically credible.”

The chief scientist will report to the deputy minister, rather than the legislature as a whole.

Asked whether she considered having the chief scientist overseen instead by an all-party committee, current Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips said such a step was unnecessary.

She said environmental monitoring is a core responsibility of government and having the service under direct departmental control allows for swifter action when needed.