Under the leadership of ATB Financial CEO Dave Mowat, the province’s royalty review panel is getting down to business immediately. That means Beaverlodge Mayor Leona Hanson, who is one of the four members sitting on the panel, is going to have a busy fall.
Hanson says she was honoured to be asked to sit on the panel, though her decision to accept the offer was not one that was made lightly.
“I believe that any responsibility I take on, I take it on very seriously and try to put as much as I can into it for the betterment of what I’m trying to serve and the purpose that I’m there for.”
The panel also includes ARC Financial’s Chief Energy Economist Peter Tertzakian and University of Winnipeg President and Vice Chancellor Annette Trimbee.
Hanson says the interests of the Peace Country will be on her mind, but that the panel’s job first and foremost is to represent the interests of all Albertans.
“There’s multiple stakeholders involved in this discussion and we want to ensure that we’re talking to everyone as much as possible. Being in the Peace Country, I have an understanding of what takes place here, but we’ll be seeking out the information, ideas, and thoughts of many stakeholders, including industry.”
For the month of September the panel will mainly be focused on data gathering. In October the emphasis will be on hearing from industry experts from around the province.