Alberta’s Environment and Protected Areas has welcomed a new face to its ranks. Patrick McDonald, a Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) veteran, has been appointed as the assistant Deputy Minister of air, climate, and clean technology.
McDonald spent a decade lobbying for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) before being nominated for this crucial role in shaping our province’s climate policy.
CAPP is Canada’s biggest industry lobby organization; its members produce more than 75 percent of the country’s oil and gas.
Now, one of Big Oil’s key spokespeople is leading the province’s climate policy team.
Stephen Legault, senior manager of Alberta energy transition at Environmental Defence, believes it’s a fishy appointment.
Legault told the National Observer, “… what we really need is somebody embedded at the center of the decision-making structure who is looking out for the best interest of all Albertans, not just the oil and gas companies.”
Legault referred to the role of an assistant deputy minister as “pretty damn important” in terms of pushing back against their “political masters.”
An Ideological Alignment
In an interview with the National Observer, a political scientist at Acadia University, Alex Marland, said civil servants like McDonald aren’t the only ones in the decision-making loop.
However, he noted McDonald’s hiring “reflects that this individual has the trust of the governing party and, specifically, of the Premier’s office.”
“Even though a senior member of the public service is effectively non-partisan, the reality is they have to have the confidence of the government, so it reflects some sense that they have an awareness of priorities aligning,” Marlan added.
In Alberta, hiring an oil industry lobbyist for a critical climate policy position says a lot about how Danielle Smith’s government thinks, as she is a former business lobbyist promoting oil and gas.
Under her regime, ideological alignment is more important than impartial, fact-based thinking and insight when appointing people to critical policy-guiding positions.
It’s why Dr. Gary Davidson, a controversial ER doctor from Red Deer who continually challenged the province’s COVID numbers, was secretly tapped to head up a $2 million task force to examine pandemic data and response.
Does that sound like the best way to respond to a fourth coronavirus wave?
As for Patrick McDonald, who has a chemical engineering degree from the Royal Military College of Canada, it’s far too early to judge his appointment.
McDonald probably still needs to decorate his corner office with pictures of pump jacks set against the Alberta Rockies.
Should McDonald get the benefit of the doubt?
Pretty Comfy
Let’s face it: On paper, McDonald’s relationship with CAPP and Big Oil feels a little too cozy with the current government for comfort.
His history on important issues doesn’t illustrate much concern about real climate solutions.
In 2017, McDonald’s was on record calling for government flexibility in cutting methane emissions.
“If the methane emissions are higher … we’re supportive of a flexible approach to regulation that allows the adjustment of pieces to reach those goals,” McDonald told the Canadian Press.
Humm … those don’t sound like the words of a climate champion.
In 2023, when McDonald was still working for the oil lobby, CAPP held 91 meetings with government officials, according to a recent report by Environmental Defense.
With the iconic Jasper townsite going up in smoke, the last thing we need in this critical government position is someone who helped Big Oil’s spin machine promote greenwashing efforts around schemes like carbon capture and storage (CCUS).
We don’t need another Albertan delaying emission reduction targets. Danielle Smith is already doing a great job at that!
