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Phillips wouldn’t say if her government will increase the carbon levy.

“We’re looking at our options right now,” she said.

But she said the NDP will deliver a long-awaited energy efficiency program as part of the strategy.

“We’re still waiting — and fairly soon we won’t be waiting any more,” said the minister from Lethbridge-West. “We are moving. We made a commitment in the platform and we’re moving forward on fleshing out some of those options right now.”

“It doesn’t matter what the economic circumstances are, we still need to be mindful of how our actions have an impact on the Alberta economy,” she said.

Phillips committed to a “very fulsome consultation process” despite the looming deadline.

Energy Minister Margaret McCuaig-Boyd said she is meeting Phillips this week to discuss the strategy, but the timing is in her colleague’s hands.

Brian Jean, leader of the Wildrose official Opposition, expressed concern the environment minister might be rushing too fast to meet the deadline.

“I don’t know how she expects to get all this done within a month,” he said. “Without consulting properly all the stakeholders, you could end up with a disaster.”

Jean said he didn’t think implementing tough new rules for emitters was the right thing to do during a recession.

“Now is not the right time for risky ideas to be rushed through without consultation,” he added.

Liberal Leader David Swann said he is “tempted to be excited” about Phillips’ new strategy.