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Albertans deserve transparency on controversial public inquiry

Tarsands by kris krüg via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

press release

Albertans deserve transparency on controversial public inquiry: Ecojustice

March 11, 2020

CALGARY — Ecojustice is urging the province to end the secrecy around its “Public Inquiry into Anti-Albertan Energy Campaigns.”

In a letter issued on March 2, Ecojustice lawyer Barry Robinson requested Steve Allan, the commissioner in charge of the inquiry, provide further information about the process.

You can view the full letter here.

Robinson is also representing Ecojustice in a judicial review of the controversial inquiry. A hearing in that case is scheduled for April 21 and 22.

Earlier today, Robinson issued the following statement in regards to the public inquiry process:

“The Kenney government’s secretive approach to its public inquiry is bad for democracy and, ultimately, bad for Albertans.

“An inquiry held in secret cannot be called a ‘public’ inquiry. Legitimate public inquiries apprise, inform, and educate the government and the public in an open and transparent manner. The current process in Alberta does not meet these standards.

“To date, Inquiry commissioner Steve Allan has not produced a public record of submissions to the inquiry. He’s failed to identify the more than 100 people he claims to have met with on this matter. And Mr. Allan has not publicly released his interim report on the process, which was provided to the government on January 31.

“As we have said from the beginning, the public inquiry is nothing more than a politically-motivated attempt to silence Canadians concerned about climate change. Ecojustice urges Mr. Allan to respond to our requests for more transparency around the inquiry, and look forward to the opportunity to challenge this unfair and illegitimate process in court.”

About

Ecojustice goes to court and uses the power of the law to defend nature, combat climate change, and fight for a healthy environment. Its strategic, innovative public interest lawsuits lead to legal precedents that deliver lasting solutions to Canada’s most urgent environmental problems. As Canada’s largest environmental law charity, Ecojustice operates offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and Halifax.