EDMONTON — Alberta’s New Democrat Opposition and a prominent First Nations leader are calling for a review of the province’s energy regulator to be held in public, with public input.

Opposition Environment critic Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse says the current review, led by a longtime conservative activist and oilpatch executive, is too secretive.

Calahoo Stonehouse says the review of one of the most important agencies in Alberta has been handed over in a sole-source contract to a friend of the government, with no information as to its mandate or who it will meet with.

She’s calling for a revamped regulator with new leadership, particularly in light of repeated releases of wastewater from oilsands operations.

Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation says his people have lost faith in the regulator and the federal government should step in to replace it.

The regulator did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the review.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2023.

The Canadian Press