Minister unruffled by negative, angry tone

Despite the negative and sometimes angry tone of participants, Jan. 11, in Olds, the lead minister for the Alberta Property Rights Task Force seemed unruffled by the sharp criticism of her government’s performance.

“People have really talked about the issues … and in a very respectful manner,” Environment and Water Minister Diana McQueen said.

“For me this is really good to come out and listen to the people.”

Many speakers slammed the government for not consulting Albertans prior to drafting bills 19, 24, 36 and 50.

“That’s people’s reality and I respect that,” McQueen said. “There’s concerns that consultations weren’t done in the manner they wanted to.”

The province was also accused of ignoring red flags on the issue of hydraulic fracturing and its impact on groundwater, but McQueen declined to be drawn into that debate.

“We’re having a discussion on how do we conserve, manage and share water, but I’m here to listen to what the issues are,” she said, noting that the province has a 60-year history of oil and gas development.

Launched Jan. 9 with the first open house in Grimshaw, the task force was scheduled to visit 10 communities in just over a week. Besides McQueen, members include Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Evan Berger as vice-chair; Justice Minister Verlyn Olson; Infrastructure Minister Jeff Johnson; Intergovernmental, International and Aboriginal Relations Minister Cal Dallas; and Sustainable Resource Development Minister Frank Oberle.

The province hired Edmonton-based public relations firm Calder Bateman to conduct the consultations, with the quoted contract price coming in at between $192,000 and $284,000, communications officer Erin Carrier told the Gazette Friday.

The contract includes facilitating the 10 sessions, travel costs, an online survey, collection and synthesis of data, writing the final report, and consultation materials, Carrier said.

“Obviously this will include the work of several different vendors.”

The task force was conceived as an opportunity for the six ministers to get direct feedback “on issues that Albertans are passionate about,” Carrier said.

“The government did feel that we needed to meet face to face to hear those concerns. Hiring an external consultant and vendors allows the government officials who are there to focus on listening rather than taking notes or facilitating,” she said.