AB Pol Econ

17Sep

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Economic Data

Is Alberta out of Recession?

After at least two years of poor economic performance, it is fair to examine recent economic data to ascertain and to judge whether the Alberta recession is over. (more…)

Provincial agency appointments- report on NDP’s first two years

23Aug

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Uncategorized

Provincial agency appointments- report on NDP’s first two years

Originally posted on 23 August 2017 On 4 July Bob Ascah presented preliminary findings of extensive research on over 500 Order-in-Council appointments to provincial agency boards since the NDP formed government in late May 2015. The presentation deck can be found here: Provincial Agency Presentation New appointments by the NDP are contrasted to re-appointments of positions initially filled by the previous government. (more…)

9Aug

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SAIT gender and pay equity

Originally posted 9 August 2017 In this post we examine gender pay equity at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). The government's sunshine legislation allows for more in-depth analysis by job category and salary. Each reporting entity must disclose the total compensation and other compensation for the calendar years by the following June 30th. (more…)

3Aug

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Agencies

Provincial Agency Salaries

Originally Posted 3 August 2017 Corrections made 9 August 2017 Last October AlbertaRecessionWatch.com published a listing of the top paid senior Executives in Alberta's provincial Corporation universe. As the tables demonstrated, the pay levels were dominated by individuals working in the financial services and in the energy regulatory setting. Last year, like this year, this group predominates. Since October, the Government of Alberta has made a number of changes to the pay levels of the top officials working in these agencies. (more…)

DBRS weighs in: Two Views Analysis and Opinion

16Jul

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Credit Ratings

DBRS weighs in: Two Views Analysis and Opinion

DBRS View Originally posted 16 July 2017 On 7 July, DBRS confirmed the credit rating at AA(high) with a long-term ratings trend as negative for the Province of Alberta. DBRS Report This assessment came after analyzing the provincial budget and meeting with government officials. (more…)

Flying under the Radar- Opinion and Analysis

13Jul

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ATB

Flying under the Radar- Opinion and Analysis

Alberta Treasury Branches (ATB Financial) released its financial statements on 24 May corresponding with its Annual Public Meeting in Calgary. Uncharacteristically for the media-savvy provincial agency, it did not receive any major media mentions in spite of higher than anticipated net income ($150 million) compared to the projection released in last April's provincial budget of $27 million. Still, there were several aspects in the report that bear further scrutiny. (more…)

12Jul

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Uncategorized

Fault(y) (head)Lines Opinion

In the course of one day last month, three separate news articles appeared in the Edmonton Journal (2) and The Globe and Mail, that had the capacity to mislead or mis-state certain facts about developments in Alberta's energy sector. The headline "Oil sands firms face stringent emissions caps" was published on 16 June. Written by Kelly Cryderman and Jeff Lewis, the use of the words "stringent emissions caps" seemed a stretch headline. (more…)

1Jul

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Bankruptcies

Redwater Resources

Originally posted 1 July 2017 Since our last post on the Redwater decision, the Alberta Court of Appeal, in a two-one decision, upheld the earlier judgment of Chief Justice Neil Wittman. The judgment was rendered by Justice Frans Slatter with Madam Justice Frederica Schultz concurring. Madam Justice Sheilah Martin's dissent is the first ray of hope for the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) and the Orphan Well Association (OWA) which has contested the Trustee in Bankruptcy's right to disclaim unproductive oil wells. The trustee, Grant Thornton LLP, acting on behalf of Alberta Treasury Branches (ATB Financial), sought only to claim the productive wells. The ultimate outcome in this case is central to the relationship between oil and gas producers and lenders and to the financial viability of...

3Jun

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Another Downgrade

On 26 May, U.S.-based Standard & Poor's dropped the Province of Alberta's credit rating two notches to A+. The Report [Standard-and-Poors-2017-0526-Credit-Analysis-Report] cites continuing budgetary deterioration and growing debt as the causes of the downgrade. (more…)

The Alberta Energy Regulator advertises (Again)

2Jun

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Agencies

The Alberta Energy Regulator advertises (Again)

Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) The following ad seeking candidates for the position of AESO board members appeared in the Edmonton Journal last week. While the ad is extremely general it should include the ability to read near- microscopic print! (more…)