Coalition For Responsible Energy (C4RE)
Concerned health, legal, and environmental groups, academics, scientists, and landowners
Welcome to Coalition For Responsible Energy, C4RE is a coalition of landowners, scientists, surface rights advocates, and Indigenous, environmental, human health and civil society organizations. The coalition formed around a shared concern about the AER’s failure to function as a credible regulator of energy development in Alberta, and its inability to meet its own stated mandate to “provide safe, orderly, and environmentally responsible energy development.” C4RE demands sweeping changes to the way the fossil fuel energy industry is regulated in Alberta to begin prioritizing the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Communities, Alberta’s ecosystems, and the public.
Why C4RE? The Alberta Energy Regulator is not upholding the laws of the land and Albertans need to expect them to!
Where? Across the province, the fossil fuel industry is neglecting more than one thousand sites that are not producing, merely causing environmental harm. Do you have a non-producing site on your land that you wish to have cleaned up? Join us to make it happen. Are you concerned about the Mature Asset Strategy? Flag Dave Yager’s potential conflicts of interest for Alberta’s ethics watchdog.
C4RE kicked off our first campaign on May 27th by filing a regulatory reconsideration of the 2025 orphan levy set at $144.5 million. We estimate the 2025 orphan levy needs to be $1.2 billion. A response from the AER is outstanding as of July 24, 2025.
The second action by C4RE members was taken on July 22, 2025. From the press release: “Ecojustice lawyers filed an investigation request with the Ethics Commissioner on behalf of Dwight Popowich, a landowner in Two Hills, Alberta. The submission requests an investigation of David Yager, Special Advisor to the Premier and Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) Board Member, for breaches of the Conflicts of Interest Act, and the Alberta Government’s Procurement of Sole-Sourcing Policy regarding his role as Chair in the creation of the province’s controversial Mature Asset Strategy.”
The orphan levy is to be calculated based on the number of orphans in or soon to be in the orphan program. The orphan program is our polluter pay, created by industry back in 1993 when the first signs of delinquency began to mount. The industry promised to pay for any delinquencies for Alberta, now they need to show us the money. Have a listen to Mark Dorin explain the importance of this issue:
The Mature Asset Strategy “was developed through months of closed-door discussions with oil and gas companies, led by Yager — an advisor to both the oil and gas sector and the Premier. Yager was paid $292,000 to lead this process through two sole source contracts — two in a series of no-bid contracts that have been given to him since 2023.” Have a listen to Dwight Popowich of the
explain:
Regarding the Orphan fund: In order to ensure Albertans are not stuck with oil and gas liability costs, the AER needs to uphold the law and demand appropriate funding of delinquent sites. Should the AER refuse, we are prepared to file a regulatory appeal. Check out our press conference live play-by-play and the news coverage on The Gravity Well Bluesky page.
Regarding the Mature Asset Strategy, here’s what the press had to say:
National Observer | Alberta landowner files conflict-of-interest complaint against Danielle Smith appointee
The Globe and Mail | Alberta landowner asks for probe into Premier’s top energy aide over potential conflict-of-interest breaches
Toronto Star | Environmental group seeks ethics investigation into Alberta Premier Smith adviser
The Orchard | Danielle Smith advisor who advocated publicly funded well cleanup faces ethics complaint
Global News | Environmental group seeks ethics investigation into adviser for Alberta Premier
Take action TODAY!
Join C4RE today and flag Dave Yager’s potential conflicts of interest for Alberta’s ethics watchdog with Ecojustice.