Inquiry into alleged foreign influence on Alberta’s oil and gas industry has spent $905,000 to date

EDMONTON A public inquiry into allegations that foreign-funded actors are conspiring to besmirch the reputation of Alberta’s oil and gas industry has spent more than $900,000 in its first four months, government records show.

Alberta’s database of sole-sourced contracts shows since July 15, the government has paid law firm Dentons Canada $905,000 for work on the Public Inquiry into Funding of Anti-alberta Energy Campaigns.

Commissioner Steve Allan, a Calgary accountant tasked with overseeing the $2.5-million inquiry, said on Friday the year-long exercise is still in its initial research phase. Money so far has been spent hiring lawyers and accountants to review documents — most of which are publicly available — and interview dozens of people.

The funds also pay his salary and that of a part-time executive director.

“We’re making good progress,” Allan said. “We’re learning a lot. We’ve had a lot of conversations with a lot of people on every side of this issue.”

The commission has interviewed environmentalists, he said, along with Vivian Krause, an independent researcher who said she has uncovered evidence that foreign organizations are conspiring to land-lock Alberta’s oil and gas.

“We’re encouraged by where we’re going and hoping that we can do something that’s very constructive,” Allan said.

LAWYERS AND ACCOUNTANTS

Allan is tasked with investigating whether foreign organizations that intend to harm Alberta’s oil and gas industry have provided money to any Canadian organizations publishing “misleading or false information” about the industry. He’s also supposed to identify if any of those Canadian organizations receives provincial or federal government funding or has charitable status.

The inquiry’s terms of reference say Allan should file a preliminary report and findings to the Alberta justice minister by Jan. 31, 2020, and a final report with recommendations by July 2, 2020. His budget is not to exceed $2.5 million.

Although Allan was to provide a copy of his proposed budget to government, the energy minister’s chief of staff did not provide that document when asked Friday afternoon. She did not answer a question about whether Allan has leeway to exceed his budget.

“Mr. Allan continues his work on the inquiry,” Andrea Smotra said in an email. “We await his findings with interest.”

Critics have said the inquiry raises the spectre of infringing on civil liberties by potentially compelling witnesses to testify at hearings, which leave them targets for harassment.

Environmental icon and Stand. earth international program director Tzeporah Berman has said it amounts to a Nixonian “witch hunt.”

But Allan said Friday he hasn’t yet decided if public hearings are necessary. The inquiry has “flexibility” in its approach, he said. Any such hearings would be after he submits an interim report in January, he said.

“This is not a public hearing in the form of a hearing to find fault in something,” he said. “It’s more of a public policy kind of hearing — an investigative kind of hearing.”