Premier Stelmach's Next Week Will Just as "Interesting" as His Last Week

Ed Stelmach has had a busy couple of weeks and next week will not see any slack in his pace with the stuff that is known to be coming up.

The next shoe that is going to fall on the Alberta government is when the Auditor General releases his report next Monday morning at 10 am. That report will deal with the tepid (to put it politely) responses accountability and record keeping for energy royalties by the Alberta government. My guess is that it will not be any kinder than the independent expert panel lead by Bill Hunter was on the Alberta government in its role as stewards and trustees of our non-renewable natural resources.

This will not be the first time Fred Dunn has brought this issue up. What makes it different this time is the Hunter Royalty Review Panel’s Report that reinforces the messages to the powers that be.

Another interesting issue that will be in the Auditor General’s Annual Report will be an update on what progress the EUB has made since the 2005 recommendation that they strengthen the controls for verifying the accuracy and completeness of oil and gas volumetric data and for enforcing measuring standards.

Big oil is complaining that the Royalty Review Panel got its numbers wrong in its analysis and the Panel says they merely used the data supplied by industry to the government…and no doubt some of those numbers come from EUB. Funny how all this stuff networks and connects together as between government and the energy sector. Nothing wrong with that as long as the information is complete, accurate, timely and verifiable…and we have to wonder if any of those tests are being met.

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Gary Mar Goes to Washinton - That is a Good Thing for Alberta.

The appointment of Gary Mar to the Alberta Washington Office is a great one. Yes there will be the cries of partisanship from the opposition but they are hollow and pale when measured beside the experience and capabilities of Gary. Kudos to Premier Stelmach for this choice.

Mar has served in a number of Alberta ministerial portfolios since he entered Alberta politics in 1993. His quick mind, quick wit and analytical capacity plus a well honed BS detector will serve him (and Alberta) well in this new position.

For a policy wonk like Gary going to Washington, the centre of the political universe of the planet has to be a treat for him too. This is going to be especially true given the enormous changes that will be happening in American politics between now and the Presidential elections of 2008.

The Alberta-US-Canada triangulation of issues and jurisdictions will benefit from Gary's education as Alberta's Minister of Intergovernmental and International Relations. Having a strong background in law will be a core talent that he brings to the new position too.

Talk about a politician's next dream job and particularly for a young guy who bleeds policy issues. Who knows Gary maybe one day you will find yourself as the Secretary General of the UN. It would be a good thing for a Canadian to be in that role some time soon.

The Pembina Institute Website Has a Royalty Tracker

The Pembina Institute has a Royalty Reform Tracker on their website. It tracks how much royalties Albertans would have earned if the Alberta Government had accepted the Review Panel Recommendations when presented.


That is unrealistic because the need time to review the review and be sure they understand all the implications of the recommendations...including the political ramifications after all.

Check out what not accepting the Review Panel recommendations is costing you in continuing forgone royalty payments. ths link is Albertans' Fair Share Minimizing Environmental Impacts of Oil Sands Development in Canada The Pembina Institute



The fact the Royalty Review Report was made public at the same time the government received it is a step towards more open democracy for sure. Usually these report go on the shelf or into the back rooms for "discussion."


So far this has been a pretty open process. We shall see how the Minister of Justice and Attorney General handles his "industry liaison role" in the "further consultation" they are engaged in. I know and trust Ron Stevens to be totally open, transparent and accountable in all his discussion with industry pending a government decision on recommendations.


Albertans will be wondering and watching.

Contact Premier Stelmach to Let Your Royalty Concerns Be Known

I have been harping about getting your views on how much rent Albertans should change for access to the oil sands and other energy reserves. The way to do that is to contact the Premier’s office by phone or email or seeing what events he is at and show up and share your thoughts.

This works! He is forthright enough to say so. Check out this story on the test for EUB restored confidence for some straight from the Premier’s mouth proof.

If this knd of information is good enough for measuring public confidence in the EUB, it ought to be good enough to tell him if you believe the oil companies or the independent review panel's analysis about what is a reasonable royalty rate for your resources.

You Can't Handle The Truth

I think this scene from "A Few Good Men" is one of the best of all time.

Any Albertan who reads the Royalty Reviw Report "wants answers" and we can "handle the truth."

We are questioning the manner of how decisions are being made.

"We use words like honour code and loyalty" reminds me governments use words like Integrity Transparency and Accountability. They better become meaningful and evident to Albertans.

This further consideration of this Royalty Review Report is a great place to start making those governance values self-evident.