Alberta premier appoints attorneys over lawsuit menace from environmental organisations

Key takeaways: 

• Eight eco organisations blame Jason Kenney for intentionally turning findings of Allan interrogation. 
• A combination of environmental organisations states Kenney falsely blamed them for spreading misinformation about Alberta’s energy industry in public records, social media posts and government websites.

Environmental groups blame Jason Kenney: 

The Alberta government has appointed a private law firm to secure Premier Jason Kenney after environmental groups warned him of a libel lawsuit.

Paul Champ, the attorney for the environmentalists, states he’s been reported that the region has retained counsel.

“Kenney’s counsel advises that they will review the matter and respond ‘substantively’ shortly,” Champ responded in an email. “We fully expect Premier Kenney will get solid advice on this matter.” Source – cbc.ca

The lawsuit warning was delivered in a letter to Kenney last month by eight groups who claim the premier independently turned the findings of a public hearing into their activities and funding origins.

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That inquiry, headed by Calgary forensic accountant Steve Allan, saw into whether environmental groups were planning to landlock Alberta oil by proclaiming misinformation about its environmental consequences.

The inquiry discovered the groups had done zero wrong and were in their freedom of speech rights. 

But the groups state that also after Allan’s report was issued, Kenney proceeded to wrongly blame them for spreading misinformation about Alberta’s energy industry in public records, social media posts and government websites.

The government’s website on the inquiry states: “The report confirms the existence of well-funded, decade-long campaigns based on misinformation that has impacted the lives and livelihoods of Albertans.” Source – cbc.ca

But in his ultimate statement, Allan stated, “I have not made any finding as to whether an organization has disseminated false or misleading information.” Source – cbc.ca