Public Inquiry Into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns: Interim Report

By: Nigel Bankes

PDF Version: Public Inquiry Into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns: Interim Report

Matter Commented On: Allan Inquiry Interim Report, January 31, 2020

ABlawg has published a number of posts on the Allan Inquiry: The Alberta Inquiry and Freedom of Expression; Everything You Wish You Didn’t Need to Know About the Alberta Inquiry into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns; and Procedural Fairness and the Alberta Inquiry into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns.

Mr. Allan has now delivered his interim report to Minister Savage as required by his terms of reference (ToR). According to the ToR the interim report is to deal with “advice, proposals, recommendations, analyses or policy options related to the Inquiry …”.

The Inquiry website (otherwise devoid of any substantive content) has published what seems to be an open letter which reads as follows:

I’m pleased to report that I have prepared and submitted my Interim Report to the Government of Alberta in accordance with the timelines set out in the Terms of Reference for the public inquiry into anti-Alberta energy campaigns.

Work on the inquiry started in July 2019, with extensive research, consultation and analysis having followed. As part of this work, I’ve met and engaged with many people and organizations representing all facets of the Inquiry’s mandate.

The delivery of the Interim Report today marks a key milestone in the Inquiry’s work.  Government is currently reviewing the Interim Report and I await to hear from the Minister.

Sincerely,

Commissioner Steve Allan

January 31, 2020

The ToR indicates that the Minister must publish Mr Allan’s report within 90 days of receiving it from the Commissioner. The ToR say nothing about the publication of the interim report. However, since this a public inquiry (rather than, say, a private consulting engagement) it seems reasonable to expect that the Minister will publish the interim report forthwith (subject of course to any procedural protections required by the Public Inquiries Act, RSA 2000, c P-39.


This post may be cited as: Nigel Bankes, “Public Inquiry Into Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns: Interim Report” (February 4, 2020), online: ABlawg, http://ablawg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Blog_NB_AllanInquiry.pdf

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About Nigel Bankes

Nigel Bankes is emeritus professor of law at the University of Calgary. Prior to his retirement in June 2021 Nigel held the chair in natural resources law in the Faculty of Law.
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