Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 27th Legislature Second Session Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Wednesday, January 27, 2010 2 p.m. Transcript No. 27-2-6 Legislative Assembly of Alberta The 27th Legislature Second Session Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Forsyth, Heather, Calgary-Fish Creek (WA), Chair Elniski, Doug, Edmonton-Calder (PC), Deputy Chair Blakeman, Laurie, Edmonton-Centre (AL) Campbell, Robin, West Yellowhead (PC) DeLong, Alana, Calgary-Bow (PC) Denis, Jonathan, Calgary-Egmont (PC) Johnston, Art, Calgary-Hays (PC) Kang, Darshan S., Calgary-McCall (AL) MacDonald, Hugh, Edmonton-Gold Bar (AL) Sandhu, Peter, Edmonton-Manning (PC)* * substitution for Jonathan Denis Department of Finance and Enterprise Participants Hon. Ted Morton Minister Rod Babineau Manager, Portfolio Analysis Aaron Brown Director, Portfolio Management Rod Matheson Assistant Deputy Minister, Treasury and Risk Management Tim Wiles Deputy Minister Alberta Investment Management Corporation Participants Leo de Bever Chief Investment Officer Douglas Stratton Director, Fund Management Group Auditor General’s Office Participants Fred Dunn Auditor General Merwan Saher Assistant Auditor General, Audit Division Betty LaFave Principal Support Staff W.J. David McNeil Clerk Louise J. Kamuchik Clerk Assistant/Director of House Services Micheline S. Gravel Clerk of Journals/Table Research Robert H. Reynolds, QC Senior Parliamentary Counsel Shannon Dean Senior Parliamentary Counsel Corinne Dacyshyn Committee Clerk Erin Norton Committee Clerk Jody Rempel Committee Clerk Karen Sawchuk Committee Clerk Rhonda Sorensen Manager of Communications Services Melanie Friesacher Communications Consultant Tracey Sales Communications Consultant Philip Massolin Committee Research Co-ordinator Stephanie LeBlanc Legal Research Officer Diana Staley Research Officer Rachel Stein Research Officer Liz Sim Managing Editor of Alberta Hansard Transcript produced by Alberta Hansard January 27, 2010 Heritage Savings Trust Fund HS-85 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 27, 2010 other committees, and I’d like to just maybe address that today if we Title: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 HS could here. [Mr. Elniski in the chair] There are two options before us. One is understanding that orders of committees are appointed for the duration of the Legislature, so The Deputy Chair: I see by the clock that it’s 2 o’clock, so we’ll the committee can pass a general motion permitting teleconferencing call the meeting to order, and I’ll welcome everyone to the meeting that would last for the Legislature. This does not preclude the today. Before we proceed, I’d just like to note that our committee committee from passing a motion at some point in time indicating chair, Heather Forsyth, has joined us today by teleconference. that that’s not okay. Or at the end of the meeting today the commit- tee could consider whether a teleconference is inappropriate for the Mrs. Forsyth: Hi, Doug. Thanks. next meeting, and then we could do this every meeting. So I would entertain either one of those motions, and it would have to be of The Deputy Chair: Hi, Heather. She has agreed that I’ll be course passed unanimously. chairing today’s meeting. For the record Alana DeLong is also on My recommendation to open it up for discussion, if there is any, the phone with us today. Alana, are you out there? would be that we have two options: one is to pass a motion for the duration of the Legislature; two is to repeal and discuss this issue at Ms DeLong: I’m here, too. every meeting. Any questions or comments from anyone? Mr. MacDonald. The Deputy Chair: Wonderful. Mr. Peter Sandhu is here as an official substitute for Mr. Jonathan Mr. MacDonald: Yes. I don’t see a problem with this, and I think Denis. Thank you very much, Mr. Sandhu. it’s about time that not only this committee but all committees lived So I would go around the table and ask all of the committee by section 6 of the Legislative Assembly Act. Certainly, it should members and everyone to introduce themselves for the record, be a routine part of the business at each meeting to allow members starting at my right. to participate via teleconferencing. Section 6 is silent on whether we could have a global motion to stretch out for the duration of this term Mr. Johnston: Good afternoon. Art Johnston, Calgary-Hays. of the Legislative Assembly, so it should be just a routine matter of ensuring that section 6 of the Legislative Assembly Act is adhered Mr. Campbell: Robin Campbell, West Yellowhead. to. Mr. MacDonald: Hugh MacDonald, Edmonton-Gold Bar. The Deputy Chair: Okay. Parliamentary Counsel has indicated that we’re okay with respect to the passing of a global motion, so if we Mr. Babineau: Rod Babineau, Alberta Finance and Enterprise. would like to do that, I would entertain that motion. Mr. Brown: Aaron Brown, Alberta Finance and Enterprise. Mr. Campbell: You’re talking about a global motion just for this committee? Mr. Stratton: Doug Stratton, AIMCo. The Deputy Chair: Yes. Mr. Matheson: Rod Matheson with Alberta Finance and Enterprise. Mr. Campbell: Okay. I don’t have any problem with that. Mr. Dunn: Fred Dunn, Auditor General. The Deputy Chair: Okay. So would you like to make a motion to Mr. Saher: Merwan Saher, Assistant Auditor General. that effect? Ms LaFave: Betty LaFave, office of the Auditor General. Mr. Campbell: I’ll make a motion to that effect, sure. Ms Sales: Tracey Sales, communications services with the Legisla- The Deputy Chair: We have some suggested wording here if you’d tive Assembly Office. like to use it, and it would be: Moved by Robin Campbell that for the duration of the 27th Ms Dean: Shannon Dean, Senior Parliamentary Counsel. Legislature the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund permit committee members to participate in meetings by Mr. Sandhu: Good afternoon. Peter Sandhu, MLA, Edmonton- telephone. All in favour of the motion? Everybody on the phone? Wonderful. Manning. That motion would then be carried. Thank you all very much for that. I appreciate that. Mrs. Dacyshyn: Corinne Dacyshyn, committee clerk. I see that some additional guests have arrived in the room, so if we could break with tradition for a moment and have the fine gentlemen The Deputy Chair: I’m Doug Elniski, the MLA for Edmonton- at the far end introduce themselves, please, starting with Leo. Calder, and I’ll be chairing the meeting today. Before we proceed any further, there’s a little bit of housekeeping Dr. de Bever: I’m Leo de Bever, CEO of AIMCo. that we need to deal with. As you may all be aware, section 6 of the Legislative Assembly Act relates to teleconferencing at committee Dr. Morton: Ted Morton, Minister of Finance and Enterprise and meetings. This committee has always allowed participation by MLA for Foothills-Rocky View. telephone by implied consent, meaning that I don’t think anybody has ever really said no, but the process has never actually been Mr. Wiles: Tim Wiles, Deputy Minister of Finance and Enterprise. formally approved. It has raised a potential quorum issue in some HS-86 Heritage Savings Trust Fund January 27, 2010 The Deputy Chair: Excellent. Thank you very much. September’s meeting in Calgary, which I understand had a good Moving on to the next item. The agenda has been circulated to turnout. The strategy also includes continuing to improve the access everyone. Are there any additions or changes to propose? Hearing and depth of information available to Albertans by using some of the none, I would accept the motion that the agenda be accepted. Mr. new communications technology that’s becoming available every Campbell. Seconded by Mr. Johnston. All in favour? Okay. The year. motion is carried. [interjection] Oh, we don’t need seconders in The remainder of the business plan deals with information on committee. That’s good to know. income and expense for the fund, which I’ve noted will be filled in The minutes have also been circulated. Are there any changes or with the budget. Overall the business plan helps to ensure that the additions to the minutes? Once again, a motion? Mr. Campbell. All fund is well managed for the benefit of Albertans. I would urge you in favour? Thank you very much. to approve the plan as presented. Business item 5 today is the 2010-2013 Alberta heritage savings I’d be very pleased to take any questions now. It wouldn’t trust fund business plan. The draft business plan was posted on the surprise members to know that I might defer to the gentlemen on my committee website, but the fund’s business plan must be approved left and right to provide detailed answers to your questions. by the standing committee. It would be my pleasure at this point in 2:10 time to turn the meeting over to the Hon. Ted Morton, minister of finance. We welcome you to the first heritage savings trust fund The Deputy Chair: Thank you very much, Minister. Just before we move to questions for you, I’d like to acknowledge the arrival of Ms meeting, Mr. Minister, and I turn the proceedings over to you. Blakeman, the MLA for Edmonton-Centre. Dr. Morton: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Likewise, I’m pleased to be Ms Blakeman: My apologies for being late, particularly in light of here with the committee to present an overview of the heritage our guests here. I always like to welcome people to the fabulous fund’s 2010-2013 business plan. As the new finance minister I constituency of Edmonton-Centre. welcome this opportunity to sit down with the committee. It will be the first of many times, I’m sure.