EDMONTON – When it comes to our province’s environmental reputation on an international stage, there are challenges, according to the premier. But the government is hoping a new bill introduced Monday will change perceptions.

The idea behind the Redford government’s Bill 31, or Protecting Alberta’s Environment Act, is to create a new arms-length agency which will offer real-time monitoring of air, land, and water.

“It’s the only place in North America where this has ever been done,” said Premier Alison Redford. “People will be able to go on websites when this is done, look at a point on a map and see exactly what’s going on at that point in time.”

Alberta’s NDP argues there’s still more work that needs to be done.

“It’s not enough to talk about, ‘we’re going to try and correct our reputation,'” said party leader Brian Mason, “without getting to the route of why our reputation internationally has suffered so much, which is the negligence of this government.

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“They’ve eliminated oversight of oil sands projects by the department of environment all together.”

One industry group welcomes the bill, though, and would like to see its implementation accelerated.

“We think it’s important to get sound science and get that transparently placed in front of the public,” said David Pryce, with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. “And from our perspective, help establish the social license that we think is important to proceed with development of the oil sands.”

The province is hoping to have the monitoring agency running by early next year.

With files from Vinesh Pratap, Global News