Notley calls for inquiry head to resign over `ridiculousness'
The head of a $3.5-million Alberta government inquiry into the funding of environmental charities is distancing himself from the content of three reports that critics say deny climate change and embrace conspiracy theories.
Under commissioner Steve Allan, the inquiry was launched in 2019 following a campaign promise from Premier Jason Kenney to investigate “foreign-funded special interests” that he said were targeting the province's energy industry.
On Wednesday, the inquiry posted reports to its website for which it had paid a total of almost CAD$100,000, including material prepared by T.L. Nemeth, Barry Cooper and Energy In Depth, a project from the Independent Petroleum Association of America.
The report by Nemeth argues that the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will create a dystopia ruled by restrictions akin to COVID -19 lockdowns.
Inquiry spokesman Alan Boras said in a statement to media Friday the reports do not represent findings or positions taken by the inquiry, but are intended to gather a broad range of opinions.
The commissioner does not consider the science of climate change to be part of his mandate, and he does not intend to make any findings of fact respecting climate science in his final report, he said.
Boras said in an interview the existence or status of climate change isn't part of the inquiry.
“It's really about foreign funds coming into Canada to obstruct oil and gas development,” he said.
Boras confirmed the inquiry paid $6,125 to Cooper, $27,840 to Nemeth and US$50,000 to Energy In Depth to prepare their reports.
`SENDS A HORRIBLE MESSAGE': NOTLEY
NDP Opposition Leader Rachel Notley said Thursday that she was shocked that an agency funded by taxpayers' dollars supported and solicited anti-science, climate-denying “ridiculousness.”
“I think that it sends a horrible message to international investors. It undermines our energy industry,” said Notley, calling on the government to fire Allan and end the inquiry she described as an international embarrassment.
“Mr. Allan needs to be stopped from doing dumb things that hurt Albertans,” she said.
The inquiry asked 47 people or groups to participate with commentary, but only 11 of them applied and were granted standing. Those participants were sent a package of documents to review, including the three reports commissioned by the inquiry.
Martin Olszynski, University of Calgary assistant professor of environmental law participating in the inquiry, said Friday the documents were “jaw-dropping.”
He wrote Thursday that they are by and large “textbook examples of climate change denialism” that are “replete with generalizations, speculation, conjecture, and even conspiracy.”