New climate change regulations expected by end of June

Alberta's new climate change regulations will be setbefore the current regulations expire at the end of June, the province's new environment minister announced Tuesday.

"This government will take leadership on the issue of climate change and make sure Alberta is part of crafting solutions with stakeholders, other provinces and the federal government," Shannon Phillips said in a written statement.

The oft-delayed strategy has been under review for three years. Former Alberta premier Jim Prentice extended the deadline for six months just before the regulations were set to expire at the end of December 2014.

In March, Prentice placed responsibility for the climate change framework on Diana McQueen, then the minister of municipal affairs,

Prentice and the governing Progressive Conservatives were defeated in the May 5 election by the Alberta NDP, who oftencriticized the Tories for delaying the framework.

The four regulations are the Specified Gas Emitters Regulation, Specified Gas Reporting Regulation, Administrative Penalty Regulation and the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund Administration Regulation.

Phillips said there will be a "broad" consultation in the coming months. The first steps in the process are an energy efficiency strategy and a renewable energy strategy.