Sweetgrass and CFWE news - April 4, 2016

FLERC invests in thermal oil project

April 4, 2016.  Frog Lake Energy Resources Corp. and Pengrowth Energy Corporation have announced an agreement for the sale and leaseback of the co-generation facilities at Pengrowth’s Lindbergh thermal oil project in Cold Lake. Under the terms of the agreement, FLERC has invested $35 million and will own and leaseback the co-generation facilities. The term of the agreement is for 20 years and will provide FLERC with a long-term return as well as the opportunity to directly participate in the operation of a successful thermal oil project. “This agreement is in keeping with our goal of delivering long-term value for the benefit of the Frog Lake First Nation community,” said Joe Dion, chief executive office of Frog Lake Energy Resources Corp., in a statement. Derek Evans, president and CEO of Pengrowth, said the partnership reflected “the company’s strategy of engaging the communities where we operate.”

Wildrose recall effort defeated in Legislature

April 4, 2016. An attempt by the Wildrose to enact legislation that will allow MLAs to be recalled was defeated Monday. Wildrose MLA Mark Smith’s Bill 201, the Election Recall Act, would have increased accountability for Alberta’s politicians, says the Official Opposition. An online recall petition organized by Wildrose gathered almost 11,000 signatures. Smith said Bill 201 addressed concerns previously raised by critics of MLA recall, and would ensure that Albertans could have their voices heard by their representatives more than once in an election cycle. “No one wants to see irresponsible or unstable democracy – Bill 201 had the necessary safeguards to allow for both responsible and stable representation, and it is a poor reflection on this Legislature that today it has denied Albertans the democratic accountability they want and deserve,” said Jason Nixon, Wildrose’s shadow minister of democracy and accountability, in a statement.

Investigation under way in privacy breach in MEP

April 4, 2016. An employee with the province’s Maintenance Enforcement Program is under investigation by both Justice and Solicitor department officials and the Edmonton Police Service after a potential privacy breach of client data. Kathleen Ganley, justice minister and Solicitor General, said clients, who may be impacted will be contacted by both her department and the police as the investigation continues. “I have also directed my department to complete a thorough investigation into the operating procedures to determine how, and to what extent, government records may have been inappropriately accessed—and, importantly, what could be done to prevent this from happening again,” said Ganley, in a statement. The Maintenance Enforcement Program collects court-ordered child support, spousal and partner support, and enforces as needed. 

Firefighters respond to first wildfire of season

April 2, 2016. In the mid-afternoon on Saturday, a wildfire in the Prichuk Hill area near Slave Lake was reported by a member of the public, who called 310-FIRE. The first firefighters on scene reported that the wildfire had spread from the dead grass into the nearby trees. Firefighters managed to slow the spread and contained the burn at 28 hectares. On Monday, 16 firefighters and two pieces of heavy equipment were working on site to extinguish the wildfire. The cause of the fire is under investigation, said Wildfire Information Officer Leah Lovequist. Firefighters will be continuing controlled burns of dry grass in and around many communities in the Slave Lake Forest Area in order to remove the dangerous build-up of dry grass that becomes prominent around many communities in the spring.