(Dreamstime)

By Canadian Press

POLITICS

Alberta’s ‘War Room’ retooled under premier’s office

Jun 12, 2024 | 4:38 PM

Alberta’s energy “war room” is being retooled and brought in-house directly under Premier Danielle Smith’s office.

Energy Ministry Brian Jean said Wednesday the Canadian Energy Centre is an important advocate for Canada and Alberta’s long-term position as a safe, clean, and responsible energy supplier.

After careful consideration the government will integrate the centre’s mandate into intergovernmental relations, Jean said.

In Alberta’s cabinet, the premier handles the intergovernmental relations portfolio.

The centre was dogged by controversy almost from the moment it was launched in 2019.

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It was criticized for using someone else’s trademarked logo and for having staff members refer to themselves as reporters instead of public employees.

Nagwan Al-Guneid, the NDP’s Opposition energy critic, characterized the change as a massive waste of public funds.

She said that money could have gone to fund the province’s carbon tax on large emitters, which could have been funnelled into more technology to reduce emissions.

“There have been no measurable benefits to Albertans or Alberta’s energy sector from this failed experiment,” Al-Guneid said in a statement.

“Albertans deserve to know exactly how many taxpayer dollars the UCP government wasted in the creation of this partisan war room,” she added.

Al-Guneid said New Democrats will ask the province’s auditor general to investigate.