EDMONTON – Environmental lawyers are calling for an investigation by Alberta's ethics commissioner into David Yager, a board member of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) and an adviser to Premier Danielle Smith, over potential conflicts of interest. This inquiry is centered on concerns regarding Yager's dual roles and his previous consulting work with oil and gas companies.
Susanne Calabrese, a lawyer representing Ecojustice, emphasized that Yager’s background as a consultant for various oil and gas firms poses significant ethical questions following his engagement to develop a government strategy aimed at managing the province’s inactive oil wells. The strategy, which was released in April, proposes nearly two dozen recommendations intended to address the pressing issue of approximately 80,000 inactive wells scattered across Alberta.
The recommendations outlined in the strategy advocate for the formation of new companies that would assume responsibility for these inactive wells, leveraging profits generated from their operations to fund the cleanup efforts. However, critics, including Calabrese, argue that the focus of the recommendations appears to be more aligned with the interests of sustaining oil companies rather than prioritizing the urgent need for expedited cleanup processes.
Given Yager's consulting history with the oil sector, Calabrese, along with a landowner who is impacted by the inactive wells, has formally approached the ethics commissioner. They are seeking clarification on whether Yager’s recommendations could unjustly benefit the companies he previously advised and whether his actions conflict with his obligations as a member of the Alberta Energy Regulator board.
The office of Energy Minister Brian Jean stated that the Alberta government engaged Yager for his extensive experience within the oil sector and his insights on related industry matters. Despite the requests for comment, Yager has not yet responded to inquiries regarding his role and the accusations leveled against him.
This situation underscores an ongoing debate regarding the management of inactive oil wells in Alberta and the integrity of regulatory bodies involved in overseeing environmental practices related to the oil and gas sector. As the community and environmental advocates continue to highlight issues of potential impropriety, the outcome of the investigation may have significant implications for the province's approach to energy regulation and environmental stewardship.
