EDMONTON – Global News has learned the provincial government will hold a second Economic Summit this Saturday in Edmonton as part of budget consultations.
A copy of the invitation reveals this summit – like the last one – is invitation only. It will be streamed online, and Albertans will be allowed to ask questions on Twitter that could end up being asked of the different panelists.
More information, including a list of speakers and panelists, was posted online Tuesday afternoon.
The first summit was held in February, just before the budget was tabled. However, it was heavily promoted in advance.
The government says every MLA has been invited to Saturday’s Economic Summit, and are permitted to bring up to two guests. Academics, leaders from the public and private sector, as well as speakers and panelists are also invited to attend. Speakers at the Oct. 5 event include Premier Alison Redford, Minister of Finance Doug Horner, Stuart Landon with the U of A’s Department of Economics, and Alberta Chamber of Commerce Chair Brad Severin. National Bank Financial’s Angus Watt will serve as a moderator. (You can read the full invitation below)
“I don’t have a lot of confidence that their consultation means anything,” admits NDP leader Brian Mason, “having gone through it a number of times myself and watched other organizations and individuals go through it as well.”
Mason says he felt the first summit was more about the province trying to push certain ideas on the crowd, rather than listening to the ideas brought forward.
“This summit is geared toward some specific questions,” says Finance Minister Doug Horner. “The original summit was more of a broad-reaching kind of thing… that’s not to say we’re going to limit the discussion.”
“It’s part of the consultation process.”
The summit will focus on saving, as well as funding infrastructure.
The province says Albertans can participate by completing the budget survey or by attending any of the minister’s open houses, which begin Oct. 9.
“We can take what we hear at the forum into the round tables around the province and into the online surveys and then flow all of that into the preparation of the budget,” Horner adds.
With files from Vassy Kapelos, Global News
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