Title: Wednesday, August 7, 1985 hs August 7, 1985 Heritage Savings Trust Fund Act 1 [Chairman: Mr. Kowalski] [10 a.m.] In the afternoon of August 20: the Hon. John Zaozirny. August 21, in the morning: MR. CHAIRMAN: Good morning, ladies and discussion of recommendations; in the afternoon gentlemen. Welcome to the ninth session of we'll be meeting with the Hon. Hugh Planche, meetings of the Standing Committee on the Minister of Economic Development. On Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Act. Thursday, August 22, as a result of a request A few administrative details before we meet made by committee members last year when we with the Hon. Lou Hyndman, Provincial were meeting, we have built in a visit to Fort Treasurer. First of all, returning with us this McMurray to view Syncrude. The schedule we year is our committee secretary, Miss Ann would follow would be to fly to Fort McMurray Conroy. In recent days she has circulated to all on the regularly scheduled Pacific Western members a black binder that has schedules and Airlines morning flight that I think departs agenda and other pertinent documentation that Edmonton Municipal Airport at 7:40, and return members of the committee might wish to from Fort McMurray that evening by the utilize. But as is always the case with so many regularly scheduled Pacific Western Airlines distinguished colleagues and eminent statesmen flight that I think originates in Fort McMurray of the province of Alberta, inevitably there are at 7:30. In the next number of days we will be changes in agenda. having the complete agenda for the overview of In the black binder you have an index and a Fort McMurray and Syncrude available to you, schedule of appearances dated July 31, and in but I would like those committee members who the last few hours there have been several still wish to follow through on that particular changes. By 2 o'clock this afternoon, Miss visit to perhaps confirm with me today. Conroy will be circulating a revised agenda to On Friday, August 23, again as a result of all committee members, and perhaps at that requests made of me last year by members of time I'll make mention of the revisions. But the select committee, there was a suggestion now I would like simply to do a quick overview that we would visit the Paddle River damsite. of the schedule of appearances we have for It so happens that the official opening of the 1985, beginning this morning with Mr. Hyndman, Paddle River dam has been scheduled for the Provincial Treasurer. Friday, August 23, so we will be making This afternoon the committee will meet at 2 arrangements to convey members to that o'clock with the Auditor General. Tomorrow particular damsite on that day. In all morning at 10 o'clock we will be meeting with likelihood, we would have an arrangement the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical whereby a small van would be available to take Research. On Monday, August 12, discussion of committee members, perhaps leaving Edmonton recommendations was scheduled, which at approximately 11:30 in the morning and originally had Mr. Marvin Moore. Marvin Moore returning to Edmonton at approximately 5 cannot attend on Monday, the 12th, so we've put o'clock in the afternoon. in "discussion of recommendations", but it On Monday, August 26, the Hon. Peter might very well be that at 2 o'clock this Lougheed, our Premier, will be appearing as a afternoon committee members might suggest witness before the committee. We've set aside that that would be a bit premature and would Tuesday, August 27, for discussion of want to have that meeting for Monday, August recommendations; Wednesday, August 28, in the 12, cancelled. morning, the Hon. Peter Trynchy; in the On Tuesday, August 13, in the morning, we afternoon, the Hon. LeRoy Fjordbotten; on have scheduled a discussion of Thursday, August 29, the Hon. Fred Bradley; recommendations; in the afternoon, the Hon. then on Wednesday, September 4, two ministers, Bill Diachuk. Mr. Moore has been rescheduled the Hon. Dick Johnston and the Hon. Don to Monday, August 19, 1985. That also required Sparrow; on Thursday, September 5, the Hon. a change because Mr. Russell was previously Larry Shaben; on Wednesday, September 11, the scheduled on that day and has now moved to Hon. Bill Payne; and on Thursday, September Tuesday, August 20, 1985. Those basically 12, the Hon. Al Adair. should be the adjustments that were made to This schedule has been compressed as the original schedule. compared to previous years, again as a direct 2 Heritage Savings Trust Fund Act August 7, 1985 result of suggestions made by committee this select committee, what they as an members. The schedule we now have is individual should do is contact a member of the approximately three weeks to one month committee and determine whether or not the shorter than it was in previous years. If all goes committee member might want to sponsor a according to plan, it would be my view that a motion or a recommendation for discussion determination of the meetings of the select before this committee. Only you will know committee -- while there may be a requirement whether or not you have been contacted by to have several more days of meetings in mid- another colleague in the Legislative Assembly, September as a result of the discussion of but when we come to the discussion of recommendations, it would be my intent, at the recommendations, that would be the conclusion of the scheduled meetings and the appropriate time to raise any motions and ones that may still be fitted into the schedule, recommendations with respect to the to write the report and present it to the discussions before us. committee by no later than perhaps mid- I would now like to welcome the Hon. Lou October to the third week of October. Hyndman, Provincial Treasurer. Mr. Hyndman, As well, I would like to welcome a new you've been appearing before the standing member to the Standing Committee on the committee for a number of years now, and it is Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Act, the your wish whether or not you would like to hon. Member for Spirit River-Fairview, Mr. Jim present us with an overview or proceed Gurnett. This is your first opportunity to immediately to questions and answers with participate in discussions of this particular respect to the annual report. committee. Welcome, Mr. Gurnett. In recent weeks, the Provincial Treasurer has MR. HYNDMAN: Thanks very much, Mr. followed through on the requirements made of Chairman. Members of the committee, I do him by statutes of our Legislature, and on July have a few introductory comments. I certainly 19, 1985, made available to all Members of the welcome the opportunity to appear here and to Legislative Assembly and to the public of review the ninth year of operations of the Alberta the 1984-85 annual report of the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, an Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund. As per exercise in which this committee is involved the rules, once that report is made available, it which is unique amongst the 11 governments of is conveyed to the Clerk of the Legislative the country. Assembly, who then circulates it to all Members May I introduce, on my left, the Deputy of the Legislative Assembly and it's thus made Provincial Treasurer for Finance and Revenue, public. Committee members have one other Allister McPherson. document that was circulated to them in recent I think it's a very timely and current occasion days, and that is a copy of the Provincial on which to be discussing the heritage fund, Treasurer's response to the report of the where it has been and where it is going, because Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage it appears that as part of a certain race going Savings Trust Fund Act. That report, of course, on in the province, there are a number of is our report that we tabled and made public on suggestions, debates, comments, and options November 1, 1984. It's a small document of being explored and presented with respect to only seven pages, and all committee members the heritage fund, which I think is not only undoubtedly have it. You have also been entirely proper but appropriate, because since circulated a transcript of the 1984 meetings of the very beginnings of the fund nine years ago, this particular committee, and that should be in every year and regularly there have been your files if indeed it's not with you here today. discussions about the evolution, philosophy, and One other item, just to bring you up to date, optional directions in which the fund should is that on June 10 of this year I circulated to all go. So these discussions today are very topical Members of the Legislative Assembly a memo and timely. advising them of the schedule of this particular The two themes which members of the committee through the months of August and committee will see are repeated again and September. In addition to that, I suggested to again in the report this year -- appropriately, I all Members of the Legislative Assembly that if believe -- are agriculture and jobs. I'd be they wanted to see a proposal advanced before pleased to elaborate on any questions with August 7, 1985 Heritage Savings Trust Fund Act 3 respect to either of those. As mentioned, the update of where we’re at and some report of the fund was made public something clarification.