Skip to content

Commentary: War room questions abound

MVT stock Dan Singleton mug
Dan Singleton is an editor with The Albertan. File photo

The Kenney government’s decision to temporarily reduce funding to the Canada Energy Centre (CEC) – the so-called war room – is a good move at a time when Alberta is facing severe COVID-19 pandemic challenges.

Whether scaling back funding for the CEC from the equivalent of $30 million a year to less than $3 million will lead to a softening of tension between the oil and gas industry and the environmental movement is anyone’s guess.

What is known is that at this time of crisis, public money and government effort should and must be focused on the health and wellbeing of residents.

Formed shortly after the UCP took power, the CEC was created, according to the government, to counter attacks on the oil and gas industry. Critics say it is nothing less than a taxpayer-funded propaganda arm of the UCP.

Since coming into operation, the CEC has been plagued by numerous missteps, prompting many calls for its demise.

In announcing the cutback in funding, the government says the CEC plans to maintain a “reduced budget for a period of three months or until regular operations can recommence.”

Minister of Energy Sonya Savage said the CEC will “continue to be required to promote and defend Canadian energy” and that the government does not believe “we should surrender the global energy market” to Canada’s energy opponents.

The official opposition is calling for the CEC to be scrapped.

“Jason Kenney laid off more than 20,000 hard-working Albertans who support students with complex needs,” said Irfan Sabir, NDP critic for Energy. “Educational assistants and school bus drivers should have kept their jobs, and the war room budget should be reduced to zero, permanently.”

The oil and gas industry is a vital economic driver in this region, both in terms of direct and indirect employment and in terms of taxation for area municipalities.

Whether increasing CEC funding back to its previous level will help or hinder that important industry once the COVID-19 crisis has ended remains an open question.

Dan Singleton an editor with The Albertan.


Dan Singleton

About the Author: Dan Singleton

Read more



Comments

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks