Premier defends $4.8-million office budget increase, citing end of Alberta's energy 'war room'

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says a nearly 23 per cent increase set for the premier's office budget is necessary as it assumes some financial responsibility for promoting the province's oil and gas industry. Smith says her office and executive council of government is taking on the former mandate of the controversial Canadian Energy Centre.

The centre was created in 2019 by former United Conservative premier Jason Kenney to do battle against what it considered misinformation surrounding Alberta's oil sector.

Smith's government shut the centre down last year and at the time said it would be folded into regular government operations.

The premier says her office budget was also increased last year to match some of the money the centre was set to spend before it was shut down and this year's 4.8-million-dollar increase is to fully account for the centre's annual expenditures.

Despite having her own concerns about ineffective advertising, Smith says she plans to continue the centre's work with her budget increase.

The Alberta government's new budget forecasts a 5.2-billion-dollar deficit tied largely to declining oil revenue and the trade uncertainty caused by U-S President Donald Trump's tariffs.