Alberta deserves a bigger chunk of a new federal fund aimed at helping provinces cut back on pollution and greenhouse gases, Premier Ed Stelmach said Tuesday.

The $1.5-billion Eco-Trust and Clean Air Fund announced Monday will be divided among the provinces and territories on a per-capita basis.

Alberta's share would be less than half of Quebec's, though the oil-rich province produces about a third of Canada's total annual emissions of 750 million tonnes.

"If Ottawa is looking at Alberta in terms of a major emitter then of course we need more than just per capita," Stelmach said. "Because 3.3 million Albertans — that is a population much less than the city of Toronto — and yet our contribution to the overall Canadian economy is overwhelming."

'Address where the real emissions are'

John Williamson, a spokesman with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said more money should go to "those regions that have the heaviest lifting to do when it comes to reducing emissions."

"There's not a lot of sense here in terms of trying to focus money on where it is most needed, but again I think we are talking here a question of politics."

A per-capita funding formula only make sense for a program designed to reduce emissions from homes and among drivers, said Simon Knight, a spokesman with Climate Change Central, an organization that works with businesses and government in Alberta.

"You would hope that whatever formula they came up with would address where the real emissions are, especially on the industrial side."

Helping Alberta's booming oil and gas industry cut down on its emissions should be a focus for Ottawa, said Marlo Raynolds, executive director of the Alberta-based environmental think-tank Pembina Institute.

"It's not as simple as just kind of looking at per capita. It's looking at what are some of the big strategic opportunities," he said.

Total greenhouse gas emissions in Alberta increased to 234.51 megatons in 2004 from 168.17 megatons in 1990, a rise of 39.4 per cent, according to Environment Canada.

Quebec stands to get about one-quarter of the fund, or $350 million, to finance the province's recently minted green plan, which pledges to achieve reduction targets outlined in the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions.

Before any of the money will be distributed, the Conservatives will first have to get their next budget passed in Parliament.