A look at some of Rachel Notley’s handpicked advisers

EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has made a handful of key appointments in recent days as her government takes power and attempts to deliver on its election promises. Here’s a look at who she has tabbed to handle some of the more sensitive files:

David Dodge — Infrastructure and capital plan adviser

Dodge was a deputy minister of finance and deputy minister of health at the federal level while the Liberals were in power, but he is best known as a former governor of the Bank of Canada.

He headed the national bank from 2001 until 2009. Dodge has a PhD in economics from Princeton and has taught at Queen’s University, the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University.

He says he believes governments should borrow to pay for roads, schools, hospitals and other buildings — but only under the right circumstances.

“Borrowing for infrastructure development that will lead to greater economic development, where there is an identifiable return on that investment, is absolutely appropriate.”

Andrew Leach — Chairman of the climate change strategy advisory panel

Leach was the Enbridge Professor of Energy Policy at the University of Alberta. He holds a PhD from Queen’s University and has published widely in both academic journals and popular media.

He also spent a year with Environment Canada’s strategic policy branch as a visiting scholar.

READ MORE: Alberta government is increasing CO2 reduction targets 

Leach is respected for his penetrating, detailed and even-handed analysis of the impacts of various policy options, as well as their political implications.

From an October 2013 posting on his blog Rescuing the Frog: “If you want a policy that will actually reduce emissions, it has to be implemented and kept in place by people who face elections every four years or less. You might not like it, but that’s a reality.”

Dave Mowat — Chairman for the royalty review advisory panel

Mowat has been the president and CEO of ATB Financial, Alberta’s Crown-owned bank, since 2007.

READ MORE: Alberta government appoints chairman of energy royalties review panel 

Prior to that, he was the CEO of Vancity, a Vancouver-based credit union with more than $16 billion in assets that fiercely promotes its community values.

He serves on a number of boards including MasterCard Canada and Alberta Blue Cross.

He will stay on with ATB while working on the panel.

“As one of four-million-plus owners of Alberta’s natural resources and bringing my understanding of just how important this industry is to Alberta, I want the best possible system for all of us.”