13.04°C Vancouver

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

AlbertaMay 29, 2026

Warm temperatures raise Bow River levels, High Streamflow Advisory issued in Banff

Rapid snowpack melt caused by warm weather in Banff and surrounding mountain regions has pushed water levels higher along the Bow River, prompting the Town of Banff to issue a High Streamflow Advisory. Municipal officials said several low-lying pathways and riverbank areas have already been flooded as water levels continue to rise. According to the advisory, the Bow River could rise by an additional 30 centimetres by Friday if warm temperatures persist. The advisory applies to areas from upstream of Banff to the Ghost Reservoir. Lake Louise RCMP and Parks Canada have also issued public safety
BCMay 29, 2026

B.C. Conservatives to choose new leader Saturday as party faces post-Rustad crossroads

The B.C. Conservatives are set to announce a new party leader on Saturday in Vancouver, concluding a six-month leadership race triggered by John Rustad’s resignation following internal disputes and caucus defections. The final candidates are former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Iain Black, political commentator Caroline Elliott, former MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay, MLA Peter Milobar and entrepreneur Yuri Fulmer. The next leader will take over as Premier David Eby’s NDP government faces declining poll numbers, a development political analysts say could reshape British Columbia’s political lands
IndiaMay 29, 2026

AAP takes early lead in Punjab municipal election results

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party appeared headed for a strong showing in Punjab’s municipal elections as vote counting continued Thursday across the state. According to results available by 6 p.m. local time, the Aam Aadmi Party had won 880 wards and was leading in several others. Congress was in second place with 354 ward victories as of 5 p.m., while the Shiromani Akali Dal had secured 175 wards and the Bharatiya Janata Party had won 146 wards. Independent candidates won 245 wards. In Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s constituency of Dhuri, the Aam Aadmi Party won 20 of 21 seats, according to the
canada-enters-technical-recession-after-second-straight-quarterly-gdp-decline
CanadaMay 29, 2026

Canada enters technical recession after second straight quarterly GDP decline

Canada’s economy contracted for a second consecutive quarter, officially placing the country in a technical recession for the first time since 2020. According to new data released Friday by Statistics Canada, real gross domestic product declined at an annualized rate of 0.1 per cent during the first quarter of 2026. The economy had already posted a 1 per cent decline in the fourth quarter of 2025. Economists generally define a technical recession as two straight quarters of negative economic growth. Statistics Canada said increased gold imports and a slowdown in the oil and gas sector during
four-arrested-after-alleged-200-000-casino-fraud-scheme-in-vancouver
BCMay 28, 2026

Four arrested after alleged $200,000 casino fraud scheme in Vancouver

Four people have been arrested in Vancouver following an investigation into an alleged casino cheating scheme that police say defrauded a local casino of more than $200,000. The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia said the arrests were made May 5, one day after investigators were alerted to suspected cheating activity at a Vancouver casino. The investigation began after the Independent Gambling Control Office identified irregularities during casino play, according to a police statement. Police said two men and two women were arrested and later released pending charge a

Related News