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Tarring the Oil Sands: the Evolution and Emergence of ENGO Opposition in Alberta’S Oil Sands and Social Movement Theory

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Tarring the Oil Sands: the Evolution and Emergence of ENGO Opposition in Alberta’S Oil Sands and Social Movement Theory University of Alberta Tarring the Oil Sands: The Evolution and Emergence of ENGO Opposition in Alberta’s Oil Sands and Social Movement Theory by Matthew W. Dow A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Political Science ©Matthew W. Dow Fall 2012 Edmonton, Alberta Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientiic research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission. To those I love, especially Mom and Dad ABSTRACT: The Alberta oil sands represent tremendous economic growth and prosperity for Alberta and Canada but their development does not come without cost. Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (ENGOs), specifically the Pembina Institute and Greenpeace, have brought significant attention to the environmental impacts of development. Their history and involvement in the oil sands can be divided into two phases, the first characterized by a collaborative relationship between Pembina Institute and development proponents. The second is characterized by a strategic evolution of the Pembina Institute and the emergence of Greenpeace. Resource Mobilization Theory and Political Opportunity Theory are applied and analyzed to provide an account for the evolution and emergence of ENGOs in Alberta’s oil sands. I would like to thank everyone that helped and supported me on this project. Dr. Urquhart: Thank you for all your guidance, patience, passion and humor. I do not think I could have asked for a better supervisor. I hope to see you out on the trails. The Members of the PSGSA: Thank you for all your support and wonderful times inside and outside of the academic environment. I truly cherish all the time we spent together this year and I wish you all the best in the future. Mom and Dad: Thank you for all your support over the years. I cannot imagine a better set of parents. I owe everything to the two of you and I am truly appreciative of everything that you have done for me. Kristen and Sarah: Thank you both for all your support and for being two really awesome sisters. We never fail to have a great time together and I am very proud of both of your achievements. Molly: Thank you for your support. You never fail to make me smile and I look forward to all of our adventures. Table of Contents Introduction!...............................................................................................................................1 Chapter 1: The Oil Sands, the Environment and ENGOs!........................................................7 1.3.1 Green House Gas Emissions!............................................................................11 1.3.2 Boreal Forest!.....................................................................................................13 1.3.3 Water Quality!.....................................................................................................13 1.3.4 Water Quantity !..................................................................................................15 1.3.5 Wildlife!...............................................................................................................17 1.3.6 Tailings Lakes!....................................................................................................18 1.3.7 A Note on Indigenous and Other Concerns!.......................................................19 1.4.1 Alberta’s Environmental Movement!...................................................................24 1.5.1 Phase One: Collaboration!..................................................................................26 1.5.2 Changing Tides!..................................................................................................31 1.5.3 Phase Two: Evolution and Emergence, Diversification and Internationalization!32 1.5.3.1 OSEC in Phase Two!.......................................................................................33 1.5.3.2 New Faces: Fourth-Wave ENGOs and Alberta’s Oil Sands!...........................34 1.5.4 Conflict Expansion: The Oil Sands “Tentacles”!..................................................37 Chapter 2: Evolution and Emergence in Social Movement Theory !.......................................44 2.1.1 Collective Action!................................................................................................46 2.1.2 Grievance!..........................................................................................................48 2.1.3 Incentives!..........................................................................................................49 2.2.1 Strain Theories!..................................................................................................51 2.2.2 Resource Mobilization Theory!...........................................................................53 2.2.2.1 Defining Resources!........................................................................................54 2.2.2.2 Strategic Evolution!..........................................................................................55 2.2.2.3 Mobilization and Emergence!..........................................................................58 2.2.3 Political Opportunity Theory !..............................................................................60 2.2.3.1 Defining Opportunities!....................................................................................61 2.2.3.2 Political Opportunities as Subjective Interpretations!......................................63 2.2.3.3 Strategic Evolution!..........................................................................................65 2.2.3.4 Mobilization and Emergence of Confrontational Organizations!.....................69 2.2.4 A Note on New Social Movement Theory!..........................................................70 Chapter 3: The Strategic Evolution of the Pembina Institute!..................................................73 3.1.1 Do Resources Matter to the Pembina Institute?!................................................74 3.1.2 Resources and the Evolution of the Pembina Institutes Strategy !.....................75 3.2.1 Political Opportunities and the Pembina Institutes Strategic Evolution!.............93 3.2.2 Accounting for Subjective Interpretations!........................................................100 Chapter 4: The Emergence of Greenpeace!.........................................................................104 4.1.1 Do Resources Matter to Greenpeace?!............................................................105 4.1.2 Resources and the Emergence of Greenpeace!..............................................106 4.2.1 Political Opportunities and the Emergence of Greenpeace!.............................111 4.2.2 Accounting for Subjective Interpretations!........................................................115 Conclusion!............................................................................................................................119 Bibliography !.........................................................................................................................125 Appendix A: Interviews!.........................................................................................................141 Acronyms AEMP – Alberta Environmental Monitoring Panel AEN - Alberta Environment Network AGTH – All Against the Haul AWMF – Athabasca Watershed Management Framework BLCFN – Beaver Lake Cree First Nations CAPP – Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers CBT – Collective Behavior Theory CEAA – Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency CEMA – Cumulative Effects Management Association EBF – Ecological Base Flow EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment ENGO – Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations EU – European Union GCOS – Great Canadian Oil Sands GHG – Green House Gases GOA – Government of Alberta GOC – Government of Canada KXL – Keystone XL LUF – Land Use Framework MSC – Multi-Stakeholder Committee MST – Mass Society Theory NEP – National Energy Program NGP – Northern Gateway Pipeline OSEC – Oil Sands Environmental Coalition OSMSC – Oil Sands Ministerial Strategy Committee PAH – Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons PARC – Prairie Acid Rain Coalition PO – Political Opportunity POT – Political Opportunity Theory RAMP – Regional Aquatic Monitoring Program RM – Resource Mobilization RMT – Resource Mobilization Theory SAGD – Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage TSA – Tar Sands Action List of Figures Figure 1: Social Movement Strategy Categorizations List of Tables Table 1: Comparative Funding Sources for Greenpeace and the Pembina Institute Introduction Alberta’s oil sands have emerged as one of the most important public policy issues in Canada. Providing jobs and economic growth, the oil sands fuel the Albertan and Canadian economy and may provide the United States with a safe and secure source of energy for decades to come. Among one of the largest industrial projects
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