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Nova Scotia has become the fourth Canadian province to move towards a ban on single-use plastic bags at store checkouts, but Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Thursday his government has no interest in following suit.

Kenney called Nova Scotia’s new legislation , which will introduce a ban in a year’s time to allow consumers and retailers time to adjust, a “meaningless, symbolic gesture.” Speaking to reporters at the 20th annual Global Business Forum in Banff , Kenney said the UCP government encourages recycling, but it is ultimately “up to consumers to be more responsible.”

“We’re focused on cutting red tape, not adding to it,” Kenney said. “The problem with plastics in the ocean is it’s not emanating from Alberta. It’s coming primarily from developing countries in Asia.”

Amid growing concerns for the environment, many Canadian municipalities have implemented or are considering bans on single-use plastic bags. Grocery giant Sobeys has said it will remove plastic bags from all of its stores by January 2020.

Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government has said it will launch consultations with the private sector on ways to eliminate the use of plastic bags, while Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador have already introduced legislation banning their use.

However, Kenney said such a move would actually be contrary to Alberta’s interests. The province is currently exploring ways to attract investment into the petrochemical industry. Some analysts have suggested Alberta could be a good place to build a world-scale ethane cracker , which would convert ethane into ethylene for use in plastic manufacturing.

“We’re trying to attract major capital investments,” Kenney said. “We’re talking $10-billion investments, in producing products in the poly family that help to produce plastics.

“So my focus isn’t arguing over plastic bags, but creating good quality jobs for Albertans.”

astephenson@postmedia.com

Twitter: @AmandaMsteph

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