Advisory panel report on Alberta’s energy future isn’t being made public

Alberta's government received expert advice on a plan which could see incentives for oil companies if they clean up their old oil wells, but the report won't be released publicly.

Alberta’s government has received a report from an advisory panel that was tasked with developing a long-term vision for Alberta’s energy future.

That announcement of the panel and its report was public, but its findings are being kept under wraps.

The report is being classified as advice to the premier, which makes it immune to a freedom of information request.

Premier Danielle Smith didn’t commit to releasing the full report publicly but said we could see some of it after her energy minister combs through its findings.

“Sometimes when you put out a report without having that extra layer of scrutiny, people can think you’re going to act on all the recommendations, and it can be that some of them can be good advice, and some of them may be advice we can’t act on,” Smith told reporters.

Smith asked for the report in February, and it was completed June 30.

The report included a section on a proposed program once called RStar, and then the Alberta Liability Management Incentive Program.

RStar is a plan which offers oil companies royalty breaks or other incentives to clean up their old oil wells, which is something they are already legally obligated to do.