AB Pol Econ

19Jan

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Credit Ratings, Economic Data, Energy, Financial Institutions, Intergovernmental, Opinion/Research

Danielle Smith’s Pretext

Updated 20 January 2025. This is an opinion/prediction piece Economic and political winds favourable for Smith Danielle Smith has enjoyed a highly favourable economic backdrop in her first 27 months of her premiership. Oil prices have ranged from a monthly average price of $U.S. 69.95 in November 2024 to a monthly high average price of $85.64 in April 2024 (Cushing, OK WTI Spot Price FOB). This favourable oil price environment has assisted Smith greatly on the fiscal side. In preparing for the May 2023 election, the province’s books were in surplus by a whopping $11.6-billion and the fiscal 2024-25 fiscal year surplus is estimated to be $4.6-billion. The surplus could go much higher with the weakness in the CAD. From October 2022 to December 2024, Alberta’s labour force grew from 2,5...

13Jan

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Agencies, Investment, Opinion/Research

On the Road to AIMCo’s Politicization

Reprinted from The Parkland Institute with permission. On the Road to AIMCo’s Politicization - Parkland Institute Jan 12, 2025 Bob Ascah The Alberta government’s abrupt dismissal of AIMCo’s board and CEO has raised alarms about political interference and the erosion of the corporation’s independence. The subsequent appointment of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper as AIMCo’s chair underscores concerns that the organization is being reshaped to serve partisan interests rather than focusing on its responsibilities to Albertans. Against this backdrop, understanding AIMCo’s evolution, governance challenges, and its politicization becomes more critical than ever. The Establishment of the Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) Prior to the establishment of AIMCo, the...

Pinocchios Aplenty: Fact Checking Alberta’s Coal Industry Modernization Initiative

10Jan

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Energy, Environment, Investment, Opinion/Research, Politics

Pinocchios Aplenty: Fact Checking Alberta’s Coal Industry Modernization Initiative

Contributor Dr. Ian Urquhart is Professor Emeritus of Political Science from the University of Alberta. In memory of Kris Unger. Kris was passionate about preserving Alberta’s landscapes, most especially perhaps the Eastern Slopes and the Rockies. I hope his spirit approves of the following Introduction Disingenuous. That’s how The Globe and Mail’s Emma Graney characterized Energy Minister Brian Jean at the news conference announcing the government’s vague Coal Industry Modernization Initiative. Deceptive and brazen also would be fitting adjectives. In their 30-minute news conference Mr. Jean and Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz failed miserably to communicate accurate information to the public about many vital aspects of exploiting coal in Alberta. One of the few une...

28Dec

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Agencies, Financial Institutions, Opinion/Research, Politics

Canada’s Chief Actuary reports on CPP withdrawal

On Friday 20 December, Canada’s Chief Actuary Assia Billig released a report on the withdrawal formula under section 113(2) the Canada Pension Plan Act. Billig emphasized that “throughout this process my office has acted with independence and impartiality. These two factors are foundational elements to my role as the Chief Actuary.” Background The report was requested by a committee of officials representing ministers of finance as a result of the 23 September announcement of the Smith government they would begin an engagement process based on the Lifeworks (consulting actuary) report’s interpretation of section 113(2) (see below). As part of the $7-million pension roll-out, Premier Smith has claimed that Albertans won’t be asked to decide a referendum question without a number. ...

18Dec

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Agencies, Financial Institutions, Government Finances, Investment, Politics

Why AIMCo needs more scrutiny and transparency- Part 3

Introduction In Parts 1 and 2 of this series I examined the weaknesses in AIMCo’s reporting on its investments. With the recent news about the firing of AIMCo’s board, CEO, the CEO’s chief of staff, the Chief Legal Officer, and the head of human resources, it is incumbent for the government to clearly demonstrate that it has no intention of bringing AIMCo more closely under the direction of politicians. One measure the government could adopt is to appoint representatives of the major pension plans to the AIMCo board. That representation would mean those sitting on the board would have some “skin in the game;” that is their clients’ interests would be better aligned with AIMCo’s interest. The recent appointment of Alberta’s deputy finance minister gives some say in AIMCo’s operations as...

Alberta Government finally decides to shake up AIMCo- is more politicization on the agenda?

11Nov

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Financial Institutions, Government Finances, Intergovernmental, Opinion/Research, Politics

Alberta Government finally decides to shake up AIMCo- is more politicization on the agenda?

Updated 11 November 2024 On Thursday 7 November, the President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance Nate Horner finally said “enough is enough” for the status quo at the Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo). The Minister cited “significant increases in operating costs, management fees and staffing without a corresponding increase to return on investment” including rising staff salary and benefit costs. Horner properly asked the question” why are we paying remarkably high salaries when the organization was not delivering higher returns?” Also identified were rising staffing costs alongside rising external fees. The whole concept of AIMCo was to bring in house expertise and thereby drive down external fees. Horner also removed the 10-member board (this URL was s...

Why AIMCo needs more scrutiny and transparency Part 2

6Nov

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Agencies, Bankruptcies, Fiscal History, Government Finances, Investment, Politics

Why AIMCo needs more scrutiny and transparency Part 2

Updated 6 November 2024 Note to readers: On 6 November the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund (AHSTF) will be holding its annual public meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Rocky Mountain Room, 2nd Floor of the Queen Elizabeth II Building in Edmonton. The annual public meeting is open to members of the public either in person or via social media including Facebook. I attended the last two meetings in person and have been able to raise important questions of policy. In the 2022 meeting (transcript here), I was the only member of the public present in person. In 2023, I was pleased that there were nine members of the public raising uncomfortable questions which generally were deflected by officials of Alberta Treasury Board and Finance (TBF) and senior Al...

29Oct

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Agencies, Demographics, Government Finances, Investment

Presentation to AB Resistance on proposed Alberta Pension Plan

On Saturday 26 October I spoke to a policy conference put on by AB Resistance. I presented to the group on the proposed APP and, in particular, the dangers of politicization of investment. Below is a PDF of my presentation. Related Posts https://abpolecon.ca/2024/04/07/the-frustrations-of-a-foipp-applicant-the-case-of-the-app-part-2/ https://abpolecon.ca/2024/03/24/frustrations-of-a-foipp-applicant-the-case-of-the-alberta-pension-plan/ https://abpolecon.ca/2023/09/24/an-alberta-pension-plan-app-your-plan-their-choice/

28Oct

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Education, Politics

Opening of the Fall Sitting- Conversation with Graham Thomson

Last Thursday morning I had the opportunity to speak with Graham Thomson, a 30-year veteran of covering the Alberta Legislature to discuss the fall sitting which commences on 28 October. In addition to his coverage of the "Leg" as a public affairs columnist for the Edmonton Journal, he writes a column for Alberta Views and his analysis of Alberta politics is found in the The Tyee and Toronto Star. In this 30-minute discussion, Thomson emphasized that the upcoming session was basically about the UCP's leadership review which is occurring on 1-2 November 2024 in Red Deer. On Friday 25 October, Joseph Schow, UCP House Leader and Minister of Tourism and Sport briefed the media on the upcoming session. “Alberta’s government is heading back to the legislature with a laser-focus o...

27Oct

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Energy, Environment, Health, Politics

Grassy, not Shaun, of the Dead

Updated 28 October 2024 This post is contributed by Ian Urquhart who taught political science at the University of Alberta for over thirty years. He is the author of Costly Fix: Power, Politics and the Nature of the Tar Sands. You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it. - Margaret Thatcher Zombies. The Undead. They’re in neighbourhoods everywhere now – part of the ghoul fun of Halloween. Most will be dragged back to their crypts in a few weeks. Not the Grassy Mountain coal project. This zombie still will be lurching through the corridors of provincial power and the Crowsnest Pass at least until well into 2025. Grassy Mountain’s First Death Sentence Many will recall Benga Mining’s Grassy Mountain venture. Benga proposed ...