Right now, the way the motion reads doesn't make any sense to me, which I think is part of what Ms. Taylor Roy.... It reads that the Minister of Energy and Minerals in Alberta owns companies. He doesn't own any of the companies. It doesn't make any sense.
Also, in reviewing the transcript for the debate at this committee—the part of it that was public—this is the wrong minister. I understand that there was concern about the pause that's been done on renewable energy development, but it's the wrong minister. He's not even the one responsible.
In fact, I have the order in council that was passed, and it's Minister Nathan Neudorf. That's the one who is responsible for the AUC, the Alberta Utilities Commission. That minister is the who is responsible.
There's an explanation. I'm going to read part of it into the record because I want to make sure that everybody understands why this needs to be struck out and why it would be much better to invite somebody else, because right now this motion just doesn't make sense.
This is from the Lieutenant Governor in Council in the Province of Alberta. Again, this is in August 2023. This was recommended by the Minister of Affordability and Utilities, Minister Nathan Neudorf. Here's the order in council, which:
(a) orders the Alberta Utilities Commission to inquire into and report to the Minister of Affordability and Utilities on the ongoing economic, orderly and efficient development and operation, in the public interest, of electricity generation in Alberta, in accordance with the terms of reference in the attached Schedule,
and
(b) determines that the Alberta Utilities Commission has the same power with respect to ordering by whom and to whom its costs and other costs of, or incidental to, the inquiry described in clause (a) are to be paid as the Commission has with respect to its hearings and other proceedings.
When the pause was announced, Minister Nathan Neudorf then instructed the AUC to conduct hearings. There's an inquiry being conducted.
There's a long preamble, but I won't read the preamble into the record so don't worry about that. It piqued my interest. That's why I'm here at a committee that I don't usually sit on.
If people want to pick a fight, then I'll read it.
It instructs the following in the terms of reference for the Alberta Utilities Commission:
[The AUC] shall inquire into the following matters for the purposes of gathering and providing information to government:
a. Considerations on development of power plants on specific types or classes of agricultural or environmental land;
b. Considerations of the impact of power plant development on Alberta's pristine viewscapes;
c. Considerations of implementing mandatory reclamation security requirements for power plants;
d. Considerations for development of power plants on lands held by the Crown in Right of Alberta;
e. Considerations of the impact the increasing growth of renewables has to both generation supply mix and electricity system reliability.
It goes on to say, “In conducting the inquiry, the AUC shall hear from interested parties.” It then says, by March 29, 2024, it must submit a report, so it's not a stop. It's just a pause.