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If Albertans tuned in last night expecting details of Stelmach's new royalty regime, they didn't get it.
But they shouldn't have expected it, either.
The decision on what to charge oil and gas companies for the right to drill and mine for resources in Alberta can't be communicated in a made-for-tv fireside chat.
What Albertans got, however, was slick packaging, at best, and at worst, a rehash of stale Stelmach speeches.
Infrastructure spending, environmental legislation and the skilled worker shortage were all included. There was also a "stay tuned" moment when the premier spoke of a new crime strategy that will be rolled out soon.
But the biggest "stay tuned" moment was saved for the royalty issue.
Since the royalty review panel released its "Our Fair Share" report last month, there has been no shortage of debate. The report spelled out a number of areas where the government had reportedly let things slide and left billions of dollars uncollected that should have ended up in provincial coffers. Suddenly, it was an issue people could understand, form an opinion about and be willing to defend it to their neighbours, friends and co-workers.
Which brings us to today, D-Day, if you will.
This has been billed as one of the biggest decisions facing a provincial government in decades. Will the province demand more from one of its core industries? Will an industry, which has already invested billions of dollars in Alberta, accept changes to provincial rules? And will Albertans buy into whatever the government proposes?
It could be a defining moment for a new premier who is trying to raise his profile across the province and has yet to receive a mandate to govern from Albertans. Ed Stelmach has spent the last five weeks going over the recommended changes and deliberating what he thinks is right.
Today, he goes from analyst to salesman. Whatever he decides to do, he has to explain the new rules, what his expectations are for government revenues and why the changes are being made. The leaders of Alberta's opposition parties have challenged Stelmach's ability to lead the province through these changes, while also subtley sympathizing with the gravity of such a decision being placed on one person. That sympathy is expected to expire at roughly 3:01 this afternoon.
Stay tuned.
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What do you think of premier Stelmach's new
royalty regime?
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CBC hosted a forum with a panel of experts. Watch the full video now:
Part 1  (1:02:59)
Part 2 (18:34) |
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Listen to full, unedited audio of premier Stelmach's speech.
Full news conference available in 2 parts:
Part
1
(10:21)
Part
2
(12:19)
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Listen to full, unedited audio of the Auditor General's news
conference. (runs 14:26)
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Listen and watch our news coverage and extended
interviews on Alberta's royalty future.
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