Stelmach puppet of oil industry.

Ed Stelmach has been trying to some extent to tell Albertans that he's not Ralph Klein. Well this latest move would seem to indicate that. By appointing a Suncor executive to be the assistant deputy minister for the oilsands sustainable development secretariat, the Stelmach government is showing that the Alberta Government is in the hip pocket of the oil industry. How is this different from the previous Klein administration? The Klein government at least tried to hid the fact that they were wrapped around the proverbial oil industry finger.

So as it stands, a Suncor employee, paid by Suncor (who will be reimbursed by the government), will be responsible for formulating government policy with respect to the sustainability of the tar sands. Want to bet that while this person is in office that absolutely nothing to hinder the rapid expansion and depletion of the resource will happen. The government is letting the fox guard the hen house. It is almost certain that the public interest will take a back seat to the interests of the oil companies. Worst case, even the interests of Suncor's competitors may take a back seat, as the appointee will remain an executive with Suncor. There is a chance that the appointee may actually act in the public interest, and by public interest I mean the public, not the oil industry. I see this as unlikely. As an executive the appointee likely holds stock in at least Suncor so will unlikely make a decision that would be in the public interest, but not in the interest of Suncor or the oil industry.

This just goes to show the arrogance of the Klein Tories is well on it's way to being surpassed by the arrogance of the Stelmach Tories, and why not, they're the same people. It's been well known that the Alberta Tories will bend over backwards for the oil industry, and it would seem now that they're willing to sign over the province to the control of that industry. This is, of course, great for the Alberta Tories, as the large donations from the oil industry are guaranteed to continue to flow into party coffers. Not so good for the people of Ft. McMurray who are struggling to have their community catch up to the pace of development. Perhaps if the people who live in Ft. Mac gave the same amount of money to the Tories as the oil industry, perhaps the Tories might listen to them. Alberta Tories, the best politicians money can buy!