Nestled in Alberta’s boreal forest, the McClelland Lake Wetland Complex is a unique ecosystem characterized by expansive peat-forming wetlands, patterned fens, and sinkhole lakes. This area serves as a crucial stopover and breeding ground for migratory birds, including the endangered Whooping Crane, and holds significant cultural value for local Indigenous communities. Additionally, the wetlands act as a substantial carbon sink, storing between 8 to 35 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, and play a vital role in mitigating wildfire risks by maintaining moisture-rich landscapes.
Unfortunately, the McClelland Lake Wetland Complex is overlapped by Suncor Energy’s Fort Hills oil sands mine. Suncor plans to mine approximately half of the wetlands to extract an estimated one billion barrels of bitumen. While Suncor asserts that its operational plan will preserve the ecological function of the remaining wetlands, experts have identified serious risks and uncertainties with the plan’s effectiveness. Given that mining activities in the wetlands will commence as early as 2031, with preliminary operations starting sooner, there is an urgent need to address these concerns.
In early 2025, Suncor applied to the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) to renew its permits to operate the mine for another decade. Ecojustice enlisted two experts to assess Suncor’s permit renewal application. Environmental toxicologist Mandy Olsgard found significant gaps in monitoring and mitigation plans, revealing that Suncor failed to properly assess the project’s environmental impact—violating requirements of the AER. Worse, observational data confirms ongoing environmental harm and permit violations.
Wildfire expert Dr. Sophie Wilkinson uncovered another alarming oversight: Suncor was ignoring the risk of catastrophic peat fires. Unlike forest fires, peat fires burn longer, release toxic smoke, and are nearly impossible to extinguish—threatening nearby communities and even urban centers like Edmonton. Yet, an assessment of how Suncor will contribute to this critical risk by mining the McClelland Lake Wetland Complex and removing this key wildfire barrier is absent from Suncor’s application.
Through a Statement of Concern, Ecojustice submitted these expert reports to the AER. Although the Statement of Concern is no longer pending, Ecojustice urges the AER to reject the application or impose strict conditions on how Suncor operates the Fort Hills mine over the next decade, especially as it expands into fragile ecosystems like McClelland Lake. With wildfires growing more severe, preserving McClelland Lake Wetland Complex is not just about conservation—it’s about public safety.
Fire expert Dr. Sophie Wilkinson uncovered another alarming oversight: Suncor’s plan ignores the risk of catastrophic peat fires. Unlike forest fires, peat fires burn longer, release toxic smoke, and are nearly impossible to extinguish—threatening nearby communities and even urban centers. Yet, this critical risk is absent from Suncor’s application.
Through a Statement of Concern, Ecojustice is pushing for stronger protections for the remaining wetlands. With wildfires growing more severe, preserving McClelland Lake is not just about conservation—it’s about public safety.
