International Trade Offices (November 23)
Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First, without a competitive job interview process the Premier dispatched her main political rival to Hong Kong.
Then the Premier nominated her envoy to Washington with a similarly closed and opaque process. This leaves us wondering about the Premier’s promise to review the province’s international strategy. To the Minister of Intergovernmental, International and Aboriginal Relations: what was the point of your department’s review of our international strategy last year when the new Premier has unilaterally disregarded its findings?
Mr. Dallas: Thanks to the hon. member for the question. Mr. Speaker, in fact we did not review all of the operations of our international offices last year, and we are, as the Premier has indicated, conducting such a review now. We’re looking very carefully at our trade relationships, the locations of our offices, how those offices are resourced, and how we need to position to get the maximum benefit for Albertans.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. Chase: Thank you. Given the Premier’s promise of transparency and accountability, will the minister defend taxpayers’ dollars and commit to making international offices accountable for their expenses, which currently they are not?
Mr. Dallas: Mr. Speaker, all of the expenses of the ministry are accountable and transparent, and we’re responsible for all of those. I’m not sure where the member is coming from on this.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I previously asked the hon. minister to table the evaluation of money for risk in those offices. Given that many international offices have little to account for, will the minister provide to Albertans a detailed breakdown of their accomplishments, especially for trade, agriculture, and tourism?
This is the second time I’ve asked.
Mr. Dallas: Mr. Speaker, I’m not entirely sure that’s correct. However, we do report on an annual basis on the operations. But I have and the Premier has committed, too, that as part of this strategic review we’ll carefully contemplate the outcome measurements that we’re looking for, and we’ll report on those measurements.
Alberta Hansard, November 23, 2011