Steve Allan, a forensic and restructuring accountant, listens to Alberta Premier Jason Kenney in Calgary on July 4, 2019. A public inquiry into allegations that foreign-funded actors are conspiring to besmirch the reputation of Alberta’s oil and gas industry has spent more than $900,000 in its first four months, government records show. Alberta’s database of sole-sourced contracts shows since July 15, the government has paid law firm Dentons Canada $905,000 for work on the Public Inquiry into Funding of Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns. Commissioner Steve Allan , a Calgary accountant tasked with overseeing the $2.5-million inquiry, said on Friday the yearlong exercise is still in its initial research phase. Money so far has been spent hiring lawyers and accountants to review documents — most of which are publicly available — and interview dozens of people. The funds also pay his salary and that of a part-time executive director. “We’re making good progress,” Allan said. “We’re learning a lot. We’ve had a lot of conversations with a lot of people on every side of this issue.” Story continues below The commission has interviewed environmentalists, he said, along with Vivian Krause, an independent researcher who said she has uncovered evidence that foreign […]
