Skip to Main content

19.63°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Feb 17, 2023 7:38 PM - The Canadian Press

Alberta appoints oilpatch veterans to advise government on province's energy future

Share On

alberta-appoints-oilpatch-veterans-to-advise-government-on-provinces-energy-future

The panel will be chaired by David Yager, a longtime writer on the oilpatch. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Premier Danielle Smith will turn to a panel of five oilpatch veterans to advise her government on the future of Alberta's energy industry.

The panel will be chaired by David Yager, a longtime writer on the oilpatch.

Yager was also a former political candidate for the Wildrose Party, one of the groups that came together to form the United Conservative Party that Smith now leads.

The other members of the panel include Hal Kvisle, who sits on the board of Cenovus Energy and has run several other energy companies.

Bob Curran is a former director of the Alberta Energy Regulator.

Carey Arnett is president of Arnett and Burgess Pipeliners and Phil Hodge is the president of Pine Cliff Energy.

The panel is to meet with government ministries and industry stakeholders, although Smith makes no mention of public consultation or outside experts.

Smith says the panel is to advise the government on how Alberta can meet the world's future energy needs and a final report is to be completed by June 30.

Latest news

AlbertaSep 22, 2026

Alberta Government Suspends Fuel Tax Until Year-End

The Alberta government is suspending the province’s fuel tax for the rest of the year. Premier Danielle Smith made the announcement Tuesday while addressing business leaders in Calgary. Smith said the average price of Western Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was $90.54 per barrel last month, triggering a full suspension of the 13-cent-per-litre provincial fuel tax for the quarter beginning October 1. The province had previously suspended its fuel relief program during the last quarter. However, Smith said Albertans had told the government they would prefer to receive the savings directly at th

b-c-premier-david-eby-calls-early-provincial-election

B.C. Premier David Eby Calls Early Provincial Election

B.C. Premier David Eby has formally called a provincial election after meeting with Lieutenant Governor Wendy Cocchia and requesting the dissolution of the legislature. The election is being held two years ahead of schedule. The next provincial election had originally been set for October 21, 2028. The announcement also cancels the Abbotsford-Mission byelection scheduled for September 26, as the riding will now be contested as part of the provincewide general election. The seat had been vacated by B.C. Conservative MLA Rian Gaspar to allow former party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay to run in the

B.C. MLA Brent Chapman Leaves Conservatives, Joins OneBC Party

Party-switching intensifies in B.C. as Surrey South MLA Brent Chapman leaves the B.C. Conservatives and joins the OneBC Party. Chapman, who is the husband of former B.C. Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay, had been facing continued pressure within the party over controversial social media comments from his past. In a statement, Chapman said he had been a loyal party member for the past 15 years, but recent internal divisions, publicly exposed disagreements and what he described as a decline in the party’s principles had made it difficult for him to remain with the B.C. Conservatives. On

b-c-premier-david-eby-meets-lieutenant-governor-wendy-cocchia

B.C. Premier David Eby Meets Lieutenant Governor Wendy Cocchia

B.C. Premier David Eby has met with Lieutenant Governor Wendy Cocchia. Eby is scheduled to hold a press conference at 12:15 p.m. at Government House in Victoria, where he is expected to formally announce a provincial election. The election is being called with about two years remaining in the current term of the B.C. NDP government. Eby had indicated that he was considering an early election amid recent turmoil within the opposition Conservative Party, a change in leadership and the NDP government's narrow one-seat majority in the legislature. According to Elections B.C.'s anticipated electio

CanadaSep 22, 2026

Canada’s NDP Opposes Federal Plan to Allow Private Investment in Major Airports

Canada’s federal NDP is opposing the federal government’s plan to allow private investment in the country’s airports. NDP Leader Avi Lewis has described the Carney government’s proposal as privatization, arguing that calling it anything else is misleading to the public. Speaking outside the House of Commons alongside party members and labour union leaders, Lewis warned that handing over the operations of Canada’s four largest airports in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver to private investors could lead to higher passenger fees. Lewis said the plan amounts to privatization beca

Related News

Alberta Government Suspends Fuel Tax Until Year-End

Alberta Government Suspends Fuel Tax Until Year-End

The Alberta government is suspending the province’s fuel tax for the rest of the year. Premier Danielle Smith made the announcement Tuesday while addressing business leaders in Calgary. Smith said the average price of Western Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was $90.54 per barrel last month, triggering a full suspension of the 13-cent-per-litre provincial fuel tax for the quarter beginning October 1. The province had previously suspended its fuel relief program during the last quarter. However, Smith said Albertans had told the government they would prefer to receive the savings directly at th

15-Year-Old Arrested in Lethbridge Sexual Assault Investigation

15-Year-Old Arrested in Lethbridge Sexual Assault Investigation

Lethbridge police have arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection with a sexual assault and incidents of indecent acts targeting women and girls near a green strip in the city. Police said the incident occurred on Sept. 16 near the 1500 block of Lakeview Drive along the Coalbanks Trail, where a 41-year-old woman who was out walking was sexually assaulted. The investigation found that the accused had allegedly committed indecent acts in the same area in August, including in front of girls, one of whom was an eight-year-old child. Police arrested the suspect in the same area on Sept. 17. His ident

Alberta premier rejects UCP president’s claim government is muting pro-Canada referendum ads

Alberta premier rejects UCP president’s claim government is muting pro-Canada referendum ads

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is rejecting a claim by United Conservative Party president Rob Smith that her government is keeping its messaging neutral on the question of whether Alberta should remain in Canada. The premier said Monday that she has been clear about her position and that the provincial government’s $4-million advertising campaign promotes Alberta remaining a sovereign province within a united Canada. Smith has repeatedly said she plans to vote for Alberta to remain in Canada. The issue centres on Question 10 in Alberta’s Oct. 19 referendum. Voters will be asked whether Al

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital