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By Canadian Press

Local MLA was on panel

Notley supports Kenney’s decision to delay release of ‘fair deal’ panel report

May 21, 2020 | 4:54 PM

EDMONTON – Alberta’s Opposition leader says it’s a good idea for Premier Jason Kenney to delay releasing a report by his “fair deal” panel.

The NDP’s Rachel Notley says it would be foolish for Kenney to make the report public when Ottawa has outshone his efforts to help Albertans through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kenney created the panel last November to poll Albertans on how the province could attain more leverage and political and financial independence within Canada.

The panel held hearings and surveyed Albertans just before the pandemic hit earlier this year. Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes was a member of the panel.

Kenney says he hasn’t had time to read the report because of the COVID-19 crisis. The report was submitted on May 16 and Kenney said it wouldn’t be released until the pandemic is over.

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Ottawa and Alberta have delivered financial aid programs and tax deferrals to businesses and workers during the pandemic, including a federally funded wage subsidy for employers seeing steep drops in revenue.

Kenney has been urging the federal government to do more to support the oil and gas, aviation and tourism industries.