May. 18, 2011 - Issue #813: Choose your own adventure
News Roundup
Power problems
The controversy over proposed power lines crossing the province continues as leaked documents confirm suspicions that the purpose of the lines is to export energy to the US while leaving Albertans with the bill. "The PCs swore to Albertans that massive power line projects—set to cost Albertan households hundreds of dollars per year—had nothing to do with exporting power. This cable shows the Tories have been misleading Albertans about their intentions—telling the public one thing and then promoting exports to US diplomats," says NDP opposition leader Brian Mason. "Albertans should not be on the hook for $13 billion of lines not even meant to be used by Albertans."
Electricity lines are currently proposed for Southern Alberta to upgrade the system. The Alberta government has stated that the upgrades are needed to ensure effective power supplies and Bill 50 approved the power lines as critical infrastructure for the province.
The 2003 WikiLeaks cable reveals then-energy minister Murray Smith reassuring American diplomats of the export potential. "The PCs need to come clean with Albertans about how much they will be asked to pay just so power companies can profit," Mason says. "Clearly electricity deregulation serves power companies first, and Albertans last."
The leaked documents are evidence against the Alberta government's continued insistence that the power lines were being constructed for Albertans' use.
Wildrose finance critic Rob Anderson had a motion to repeal Bill 50, the legislation responsible for the new power lines, in the legislature this past spring. "There's a reason this government skirted the needs assessment process. Any needs assessment for this overbuild would have revealed it to be an utter sham."
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