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“This is a higher level group that will discuss broader issues around business development and I don’t see this as a forum to get into the minutiae of climate change strategies,” Notley said of the new panel.

She added that policy recommendations on coal-fired generation would go through the climate change panel rather than the panel announced Wednesday.

“The energy industry has long been a significant driver of the Alberta and Canadian economies. We know a competitive natural resources industry will keep Canada prosperous,” Suncor’s Williams said in a statement.

“I look forward to working with this panel to support the government in enabling growth and diversification of the economy for the benefit of all Albertans,” he said.

Notley said the mandate of her committee is not materially different from the advisory panels established by previous provincial governments.

Former premier Ed Stelmach created a similar panel while oil prices hovered at multi-year lows in 2009. His panel included former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge, former deputy prime minister Anne McLellan and GE Canada president Elyse Allan, who is also on Notley’s panel.

Unlike previous advisory committees, Notley’s panel will include union representation in Siobhan Vipond, who is acting president of the Alberta Federation of Labour and who will act as vice-chair alongside Suncor’s Williams.

Asked whether this panel will be successful in helping Alberta diversify its economy, Doucet said, “there’s no jurisdiction around the globe that has been as successful as they’ve wanted to be in terms of diversification because it’s very, very hard to do.”

“I certainly believe that Alberta’s economy can become more diversified. We are more diverse than we were two decades ago. We see that in professional services; we see that in technology,” he said.

Financial Post

gmorgan@nationalpost.com

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