Alberta’s new energy minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd is facing questions about her chief of staff’s previous job working for an advocacy group that lobbied against pipelines.
Graham Mitchell previously served as the interim executive director for the LeadNow Society. According to the federal lobbyist registry, the group lobbied against the Northern Gateway Pipeline.
LeadNow also requested “that the National Energy Board take into account climate science and open up hearings to the general public during the Energy East pipeline review process.”
Wildrose energy critic Leela Aheer said appointing Mitchell to be chief of staff to the Alberta energy minister sends the wrong message to the energy sector.
“It’s an interesting choice. We’re not quite sure why,” Aheer said. “We would love an explanation. It seems very contradictory to what’s needed right now for stability in the energy sector.”
McCuaig-Boyd tried deflecting questions from reporters before the legislature convened Thursday about the choice to hire Mitchell.
“My leadership is what is going to be what takes us in that direction and my staff will follow my direction in establishing market access,” she said.
McCuaig-Boyd then walked away following pointed questions from reporters which included what role she had in Mitchell’s hiring and whether she knew he was a lobbyist.
“I have to go I’m sorry, I’m going to be late,” she said.
