The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday, March 14, edition that Ottawa is keeping its stance on key provisions of last fall's energy deal with Alberta, despite pressure to make further environmental compromises to boost Canadian oil and gas market access. The Globe's Adam Radwanski writes that in November, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson firmly addressed questions regarding Alberta's commitment to a stricter industrial carbon price and the necessity of a major oil-sands carbon capture investment for a new oil pipeline. He said: "Look, the MOU is a comprehensive document. It's not a pick and choose." The position may alarm some in the fossil-fuel sector while offering relief to environmental groups critical of Ottawa's climate concessions in the memorandum of understanding. Compromises included dropping the cap on oil-and-gas emissions, suspending electricity regulations, softening methane rules for carbon pricing and reconsidering the ban on large oil tankers off British Columbia's northern coast. Mr. Hodgson's acknowledgment that talks may extend beyond the MOU's April 1 deadline highlights Ottawa's ongoing challenge with imposing strong conditions on oil and gas sector expansion.