Clayton hasn’t decided if FOI investigation will be made public

Alberta’s information and privacy commissioner hasn’t decided whether the investigation into Premier Rachel Notley’s former chief of staff will be made public.

It’s too early in the process to determine that, said commissioner spokesman Scott Sibbald Wednesday.

Commissioner Jill Clayton’s investigation into John Heaney will include an oral hearing and examine the role he played in a freedom of information request made by the Opposition in 2016.

According to internal emails, Heaney recommended changes to what would be released under the freedom of information request.

It comes in the wake of an investigation into 800,000 deleted government emails.

Deputy government house leader Danielle Larivee said Heaney — who has since left Notley ’s office — was acting appropriately.

“We were confident that what happened was within normal operating procedure,” she said Wednesday, adding the government will support a public investigation if that’s what the commissioner decides.

“We don’t tell the commissioner how to do her job.”

NDP DOLES OUT COAL TRANSITION FUNDING

The Alberta government announced Thursday that 12 proj- ects in 17 communities will receive cash from the coal community transition fund.

About $5 million will go to areas ranging from the Battle River region in eastern Alberta to Leduc County.

The chosen projects include work in agribusiness, high-tech industries and tourism development, said a government news release.

The fund targets communities affected by the coal phase-out.

The government previously announced the coal workforce transition program, which includes $40 million to supplement income for workers.