Category Archives: Case News

EUB scraps security unit, Board-hired investigators spied on landowners by Jason Markusoff, September 25, 2007, The Edmonton Journal EDMONTON – In an attempt to restore its damaged credibility, the Energy and Utilities Board Monday scrapped the two-person security unit that … Continue reading →

Taxpayers Pick up Portion of $22,000 EUB Spy Bill without Explanation Press Release by Hugh MacDonald, Shadow Energy Minister, September 24, 2007 Edmonton – Alberta Liberal Shadow Minister of Energy Hugh MacDonald is again demanding a public inquiry into the EUB … Continue reading →

Do it yourself by Shirley Bray,  September 27, 2007, Calgary Herald EUB – Re: Discrediting the EUB doesn’t serve Albertans , G. W. Govier, G. J. DeSorcy, M. N. McCrank, Opinion, Sept. 22. The EUB did a fine job of discrediting the “venerable … Continue reading →

In Alberta a stunning slowdown in access to information by Charles Rusnell, September 22, 2007, The Edmonton Journal Early in his tenure, Premier Ed Stelmach repeatedly promised one of his new government’s main priorities was to be more open and transparent … Continue reading →

A close look at government secrecy by Robert Cribb, with files from Fred Vallance-Jones and Jason van Rassel, Calgary Herald, September 22, 2007 When journalists from across Canada asked government officials for 85 public records ranging from court documents to local … Continue reading →

Access requests at root of major stories by Bill Curry, September 22, 2007, The Calgary Herald Wrestling sensitive information from Canadian governments can thrust journalists and other document-seekers into epic battles that rage for years. Yet despite the red tape and … Continue reading →

Alberta among worst in responding to queries by Jason van Rassel, Calgary Herald, September 22, 2007 Government employees are withholding routine information that should be made public and Alberta’s privacy commissioner says their political masters are largely to blame for not … Continue reading →

Discrediting the EUB doesn’t serve Albertans by G. W. Govier., Former chairman (1962-1978) of the Energy Resources Conservation Board, Alberta; G. J. DeSorcy, Former chairman (1987-1993), Energy Resources Conservation Board, Alberta; and M. N. McCrank, Former chairman (1998-2007)  Alberta Energy … Continue reading →

Disgracefully undemocratic by Ryan Bissonnette, September 22, 2007, Calgary Herald Alberta – Re: “Energy agency’s use of spies went too far,” Sept. 14. Should it come as a surprise to anyone that a powerful agency of the Alberta government has … Continue reading →

The well’s in danger of running dry by Danielle Droitsch, September 21, 2007, The Calgary Herald Should a private water licence holder have the power to distribute and sell water? This is a decision facing the Alberta government with ramifications … Continue reading →

Stelmach must replace board by Rod E. McConnell, The Edmonton Journal, September 20, 2007 The privacy commissioner’s report on the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board’s spying on Albertans dramatically confirms Albertans’ impressions of this agency and the depths to which the … Continue reading →

Withdraw Bill 46 by Edwin Erickson, The Edmonton Journal, September 20, 2007 Most rural Albertans and many urbanites are aware of the biased and farcical nature of the EUB. Attachments Withdraw Bill 46 (24 kB)

Bad situation gets worse by Ron Botting, September 20, 2007, Edmonton Journal I am concerned that Bill 46 will seriously reduce the level of democratic involvement in developing future power facilities in Alberta by increasing the powers of the Alberta Utilities … Continue reading →

The hard road back to democracy by Janet Keeping for The Calgary Herald, September 20, 2007 Recent revelations of spying by the Energy and Utilities Board on people who oppose new energy facilities, such as electricity transmission lines, will come as … Continue reading →

Review panel blasts government by Jason Markusoff and Darcy Henton for the Calgary Herald; Edmonton Journal, September 19, 2007 Alberta’s government-appointed royalty review panel lashed out at the government Tuesday, saying in its report the Conservative regime is not accountable, and … Continue reading →

The brush-off Globe editorial, September 19, 2007, The Globe and Mail With a cavalier shrug, the Alberta Conservative government has opted not to penalize anyone after two reports confirmed that the province’s energy regulator spied on private citizens. … When security … Continue reading →

Big Brother is watching by David Parker, September 19, 2007, The Edmonton Journal It seems that George Orwell got it right in his classic novel 1984, but he was 23 years too early, at least in Alberta. Big Brother is indeed … Continue reading →

Heavy-handed tactics by Paul Cachia, September 19, 2007, The Edmonton Journal The EUB is using private investigators to monitor its opponents. The board paints them as violent people who must be controlled. Its solution is to bar the public from hearings … Continue reading →

Spy scandal lands in lap of new boss by Jason Markusoff with files from Tony Seskus, The Calgary Herald, The Edmonton Journal, September 19, 2007 Among the many challenges William Tilleman faces as new chairman of the embattled Alberta Energy and … Continue reading →

Knight fumbles on EUB stage by Graham Thomson, September 18, 2007, Edmonton Journal Monday was supposed to be the day the Alberta government would demonstrate leadership on the EUB spying controversy that has plagued the government since news broke in June … Continue reading →

Whitewash’ report reignites call for inquiry by Katherine Harding, September 18, 2007, Globe and Mail A report meant to be the final word on a spying scandal involving Alberta’s energy regulator has fuelled more calls from the public and opposition parties … Continue reading →

Private detective should not have joined landowners’ conference call: EUB report by Canadian Press, September 17, 2007 CALGARY (CP) – Alberta’s energy and utilities regulator has been accused for the second time in two weeks of overstepping its authority when it … Continue reading →

EUB purge, Security unit scrapped, members fired in wake of EUB spying scandal by Geoffrey Scotton, September 24, 2007, Calgary Herald The firings come in the wake of revelations the adjudicator spied on homeowners who opposed a power line project … Continue reading →

EUB delays permit for transmission line, Legal hurdles must be cleared, says regulator by Geoffrey Scotton, September 13, 2012, Calgary Herald “What this is all about today is safeguarding our right to due process. All we want is our day … Continue reading →

Energy and Utilities Board found in contravention of FOIP News Release F2007-IR-005, September 13, 2007 The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner has determined that the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) contravened the Freedom of Information and Protection of … Continue reading →

New FOIP documents confirm the EUB hired Private Investigators in past EUB proceedings by Joe Anglin, September 13, 2007, Press Release Lavesta Area Group The Lavesta Area Group wants to know how many times has EUB utilized this practice to gather … Continue reading →

Move EUB to Edmonton by Stewart Shields, September 13, 2007, The Edmonton Journal It is hard to maintain the EUB is not in the pocket of industry, when part of its yearly business is to collect funding for both the Canadian … Continue reading →

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner Investigation Report into AEUB hiring Private Investigators by Marylin Mun, Director FOIP, September 10, 2007, ReportF2007-IR-005 The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner has determined that the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) … Continue reading →

Examination of the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board Securities Measures by Justice D.W. Perras (Retired), September 7, 2007 https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/5ed1bc1b-35f5-4862-866f-9d05f2950ff2/resource/9694468a-ac36-4e3c-af98-88dff9b47710/download/perras-report-2007.pdf

AEUB spy probe to go public by jeremy loome, Legislature Bureau, September 6, 2007, Edmonton Sun Mason called it a crisis of public confidence in elected officials. “It’s of very significant concern, not just in Alberta but nationally and internationally, that a … Continue reading →

Full Criminal Investigation of the EUB requested Press Release by Joe Anglin, Lavesta Group,  August 31, 2007 Lavesta Area Group Vice-Chairman Joe Anglin today is calling for a full criminal investigation of Alberta Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) and others, … Continue reading →

Landowner won’t meet with judge by Paul Cowley, August 24, 2007, Red Deer Advocate “How can I prove to them I brought (concerns) to the justice if I don’t have a transcript of what I’ve said.”

EUB coverup shocking, Prove to be inept at spying and lying by Paula Simons, August 18, 2007, The Edmonton Journal Here’s the first rule for orchestrating a successful coverup: Don’t tell lies that can be easily disproved. Clearly, the folks at Alberta’s … Continue reading →

And then there were six! Press Release by Joe Anglin, August 17, 2007, Lavesta Area Group Now landowners have identified the names of six private investigators. … Landowners maintain the security concerns of the EUB were fabricated and exaggerated, and used … Continue reading →

Fire AEUB board by Jeremy Loome, Edmonton Sun, August 17 2007 The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board knew for two months before it became public that its investigator at a hearing had gathered private citizens’ information and given it to senior board … Continue reading →

‘Heads must roll’ by Jim Farrell, August 17, 2007, The Edmonton Journal The NDP, which obtained the documents under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act, are calling for the resignation of three of the board’s directors. Among the documents is an … Continue reading →

Alberta oil spills, blowouts double in past year by Darcy Henton, August 6, 2007, The Edmonton Journal The Energy and Utilities Board says there were 45 incidents of uncontrollable emission of oil or gas in 2006, more than double the norm … Continue reading →

Policies must be changed July 31, 2007, The Edmonton Journal That the Alberta government has been able to use the board as a buffer against their lenient and close stand with industry is well noted. … At no time should the industry … Continue reading →

Rein in the EUB by Miles Dyck, July 31, 2007, The Edmonton Journal The fact that the EUB is independent of other government departments like Alberta Environment, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Health and Wellness reflects past and present Conservative government … Continue reading →

Why is Alberta’s oilpatch referee so reviled? by Darcy Henton, July 28, 2007, The Edmonton Journal “The people of this province are getting steamrolled by the energy industry and they don’t have anyone to stand up for them.” … Environmentalist Martha Kostuch … Continue reading →

Spying doesn’t pay by Jamie Valecourt, July 9, 2007, Calgary Herald Thank you for exposing the EUB’s shameful behaviour. The EUB is under investigation because of hiring private investigators to spy on the public at a recent hearing. The investigation should not … Continue reading →

Democracy should start at home by Les Brost, July 9, 2007, The Calgary Herald Albertans are big believers in democracy. Thousands of Alberta’s young men and women answered the call to defend democracy in two world wars, the Korean conflict … Continue reading →

Ombudsman latest to investigate utility board by Jim Farrell, July 7, 2007, The Edmonton Journal

Spying by AEUB to be investigated, Premier Ed Stelmach reverses energy minister’s position that using private detectives was OK by Archie McLean and Jim Farrell, July 4, 2007, The Edmonton Journal The energy minister will oversee an investigation of the Alberta Energy and … Continue reading →

EUB must be investigated now by rick zemanek, Red Deer Advocate, July 3, 2007 The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms steadfastly defends the rights of any citizen to a free voice without fear of the democratic process being eroded by any … Continue reading →

Spying for the AEUB by Darcey Shyry, June 30, 2007, The Edmonton Journal I find it coincidentally horrifying that the secret and damaging activities currently in use by the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board are very similar to the immoral historical activities … Continue reading →

Fallout spreads from EUB’s use of private investigators by Jim Farrell, with files from Archie McLean, June 27, 2007, The Edmonton Journal The lawyers called the alleged eavesdropping an “egregious invasion of solicitor-client privilege.” … Last week, after talking on the phone … Continue reading →