Category Archives: Case News

Say you’re sorry Ed by Hugh MacDonald, June 27, 2007, The Edmonton Journal The Stelmach government continues to show that it is completely out of touch, not only with the citizens of this province, but with the basic principles of democracy. Landowners … Continue reading →

Defending spies by Joanne Lee, June 27, 2007, Calgary Herald With regards to your articles on the private investigators hired to spy on “potential dissidents,” please note that the hearing in Rimbey has not had a moment of violence. Our local nursery … Continue reading →

No Confidence in the EUB board members Press Release by Lavesta Area Group, June 27, 2007 The 800 landowners comprising the Lavesta Area Group are disgusted with the EUB behaviour of hiring undercover private investigators to infiltrate group communications and monitor … Continue reading →

What next? Wiretaps? by ALan Spiller, June 26, 2007, The Edmonton Journal Now Ed Stelmach, the man who promised to fix the mess Klein created, is proving he’s no different. After ignoring his own commission and 92 per cent of renters surveyed, … Continue reading →

AEUB investigators to be investigated by Edmonton Journal, June 26, 2007 Alberta’s information and privacy commissioner will investigate allegations that the Alberta Energy Utilities board hired private investigators to spy on landowners opposed to electrical lines on their property. Commissioner Frank Work … Continue reading →

This smells like Putin’s Russia by Steve Shamchuk Sr., June 26, 2007, The Edmonton Journal By hiring private investigators to spy on farmers and not allowing New Democrat MLA David Eggen to attend a public hearing on a proposed power line, the … Continue reading →

EUB spies by Beate Lohmann, June 26, 2007, Calgary Herald As a directly involved landowner, I was attending the EUB hearings in Rimbey and spies of the EUB sat beside me. They acted as though they were concerned landowners and gained my … Continue reading →

The fix is in by Kevin Niemi, June 26, 2007, The Edmonton Journal The circus that has been playing out with the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board hearings regarding the high-voltage power line from Edmonton to Calgary has brought the whole process … Continue reading →

An erosion of rights by Dorene Rew, June 26, 2007, The Edmonton Journal The media have revealed some very unsavoury and undemocratic actions by the powerful Alberta Energy and Utilities Board which seem to be at odds with the preservation of the … Continue reading →

What really happened by Jessica Ernst, June 25, 2007, The Edmonton Journal I was at the hearing, in the front row, when the so-called violence took place. I witnessed an ill and elderly couple, in or near their 80s and facing a … Continue reading →

Stalinesque spies by Richard Trombinski, June 25, 2007, Calgary Herald History gives us examples of governments that spied on their people: Stalin, and Hitler. Thank goodness the cases are rare. When (Premier Ed) Stelmach says he supports the EUB’s decision to spy … Continue reading →

Private Investigator posing as landowner was the worst, Spying on citizens casts a smothering pall of bias on any AEUB decision by Lorne Gunter, June 24, 2007, The Edmonton Journal If you have concerns about security at public forums, you hire security … Continue reading →

EUB Uproar by Paul Cowley, June 23, 2007, Red Deer Advocate “People have lost complete confidence in the EUB process.” Pine Lake’s 17-member board met Thursday and there was much anger. “People are really upset about this private investigator thing.” The group … Continue reading →

Stelmach endorses the indefensible by Greg Neiman, June 22, 2007, Red Deer Advocate One of the worst ways to preserve respect for government and rule of law that you could possibly think of, is for the government to allow itself to be … Continue reading →

Landowners intend to bring legal action against the EUB for spying on them and intruding on solicitor client privilege Press Release Lavesta Area Group, June 22, 2007

AEUB credibility on the line, Alberta Premier defends EUB spying on landowners by Jim Farrell and Jason Markusoff, June 21, 2007, The Edmonton Journal David Eggen, the NDP energy critic, said the impartiality of the regulator has been tainted by the investigators, … Continue reading →

EUB fails integrity test by spying on residents by Paula Simons, June 21, 2007, The Edmonton Journal When the story started oozing out, it sounded almost too paranoid to be true. The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, an arm of the Alberta … Continue reading →

Landowners group says spying episode puts energy board’s neutrality into question by Jim Farrell, With files from Heather Schultz, June 19, 2007, The Edmonton Journal “The entire process has been tainted by private investigators who have egregiously invaded solicitor-client privilege,” said Anglin. … Continue reading →

Is Canada the latest emerging petro tyranny by Andrew Nikiforuk, Globe and Mail, June 11, 2007 Within six months of quitting his job as Alberta’s No. 1 honcho, Ralph Klein (a.k.a. King Ralph) became a paid, senior business adviser in the oil … Continue reading →

Alberta Hansard: Not the role of Alberta Environment to advocate on behalf of the environment May 29, 2007, 7:00 PM, Legislative Assembly of Alberta Mr. Renner: Well, I would say that I would agree with the statement to the extent that … Continue reading →

Property rights Holey Land by Andrew Nikiforuk, May 21, 2007, Canadian Business Magazine After EnCana Corp. and Aquila Networks Canada, a utility firm now part of Fortis, lodged more complaints against Strom, the registrar formally charged him with breaching the Land Agents … Continue reading →

Arctic takes brunt in dirty fight over oil by Jonathan Leake, May 21, 2007, Australian Shell executives make clear that they are simply doing what oil companies are meant to do: extract oil. They say it is the job of governments to … Continue reading →

Red flags raised in report on drinking water plants by Renata D’Aliesio, May 18, 2007, Calgary Herald A government report card on the health of Alberta’s drinking water plants reveals more than two-thirds had serious problems in southern Alberta — more than … Continue reading →

Alberta water quality reports now available online by Renata D’Aliesio, May 2, 2007, Calgary Herald The government had promised to make the information publicly accessible when it unveiled its water management strategy four years ago. The Alberta drinking water website

The EUB Mocks the Judicial Process Press Release by Joe Anglin, April 24, 2007, Lavesta Area Group In this third set of repressive procedures the public has been removed from the hearing and the EUB will not allow any member of … Continue reading →

Relief cynisicm greet energy board spilt-up by Deborah Yedlin, April 18, 2007, Calgary Herald And that’s where the cynicism arises…will anything really change as a result of this initiative? The reality is more has to be done beyond creating two separate … Continue reading →

Alberta Hansard March 22, 2007 Water Management Dr. Swann: … The recent Rosenberg report, commissioned by this government, was very critical of the lack of knowledge and action on responsible water management in Alberta and identified real risks for the future, yet … Continue reading →

Investigation reports find that the Alberta EUB Breached Privacy Legislation News Release by Alberta Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, March 19, 2007

Integrity on the rocks, outgoing EUB Chairman Neil McCrank’s new job reviewing his own work by Neil Waugh, March 16, 2007, Edmonton Sun Premier Ed Stelmach finally launched his Good Ship Integrity yesterday in the form of a task force charged … Continue reading →

Jessica Ernst Box 753 Rosebud AB T0J 2T0 1-403-677-2074 Dear Editor, I saw Mr. Stelmach’s true colours when I read Jason Fekete’s articles on the Premier’s $5,000 private-access-to-him parties.  Who can afford $5,000 for a few minutes with the Premier? … Continue reading →

Jessica Ernst Box 753 Rosebud AB T0J 2T0 Dear Editor, [Published in numerous media in Alberta] Re: Premier offering private visit for $5,000; Plan to erase campaign debt draws outrage, Jason Fekete, January 11, 2007. I saw Mr. Stelmach’s true … Continue reading →

Stelmach’s debt dinners aren’t easy to swallow by Tom Olsen, January 11, 2007, Calgary Herald The honeymoon ends — now! Poor Premier Ed, he barely got a chance to enjoy it. Oh well, it can’t be helped. In the words … Continue reading →