CTRC decision no surprise

The Alberta government-appointed Critical Transmission Review Committee released a report recommending two controversial high-voltage lines be built between Calgary and Edmonton as soon as possible.

The report, released Feb. 13, came after several weeks of hearings, during which more than 30 groups representing landowners, electricity producers and consumers, were invited to express their opinions about the lines.

Call us cynical, but this is exactly the recommendation we expected.

Prior to Premier Alison Redford’s appointment of the Committee, the applications for the two proposed transmission projects, each with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts, were before the Alberta Utilities Commission and were set for public hearings in November and January.

Those hearings were adjourned to allow the expert review, made necessary because of the deluge of criticism focused on the government about the lines.

Concern was centred on the government’s dismissal of the decades-old needs assessment process, made possible by Bill 50, which removed the requirement for public hearings on new power lines.

The new process was done behind closed doors, effectively dismissing any dissension.

We don’t think it is right that those most affected by the construction of the lines - the landowners and consumers who will pay for the multi-billion dollar infrastructure - were left out of the process.

But we aren’t surprised.

This majority government seems to have forgotten that its represents the people. That includes everyone from the rural landowners to big business.

We hope the government knows that eventually Albertans will have their say.

We are crossing our fingers that it will be during the next election. After all, it will make our jobs interesting.