Energy associations in Alberta are applauding the province's move to set up a single regulator for the oil and gas sector.

The province plans to set up one regulatory body that will make all decisions about land, water licences and environmental assessments. The move will streamline the application process, which currently requires companies to go through the Energy Resources Conservation Board, followed by Alberta Environment, Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Energy.

The province says the change will make the process for approvals faster, making Alberta's oil industry more competitive.

David Collyer with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers expects the new process will save money.

"Well, saving the industry money and providing clarity and policy and having a good regulatory system attracts investment, no question about that, and that drives jobs and investment in the province," he said.

Gary Leach with the Small Explorers and Producers Association said the old system caused unnecessary overlaps and delays.

"Alberta had grown somewhat uncompetitive in terms of its ability to deal with similar projects in the same time frame that we saw in other jurisdictions."

Leach said even interveners, including landowners and environmentalists, say the current system is too complicated.

No benefit to environment

However, Alberta Wilderness Association spokesperson Nigel Douglas said faster doesn't always mean better.

"I don't see any reason to think that this is going to be of any benefit to the environment or to wildlife or to Albertans generally, apart from folks who want to get in and drill for oil and gas."

Douglas cautioned that having a single regulator could result in projects being fast-tracked without the necessary reviews.

"I think Albertans want to see more than just making things easier for oil and gas development," he said.

"I think they want to see a lot more … that shows we're doing a better job of managing all of the impacts on the landscape."

The caucus of the governing Conservatives has approved the recommendations, which will be introduced in the spring sitting of the legislature.