Dr. Swann: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. There’s growing evidence that shows that past a certain point in a salary more money does not mean better results. 

In fact, a healthy, trusting, positive work environment provides the best incentive. In light of the current bonus system at Alberta Health Services and the fact that their own staff survey shows an almost toxic work environment, it’s clear that Alberta Health Services is missing the point and putting their faith in money.

Again to the Premier: will the Premier immediately put an end to a flawed bonus system?

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, in response to the same question a couple of weeks ago I said that the minister of health is reviewing the situation with Alberta Health Services. Alberta Health Services itself is looking at a new system for remunerating their senior officials that sit as vice-presidents and other management positions. Any other information the minister has with respect to the progress on the file.

The Speaker: The hon. leader.

Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that 30 per cent of the total bonuses for the 48 vice-presidents in Alberta Health Services will be determined by “adherence to values,” can the Premier explain how any system can possibly measure an individual’s adherence to values in an objective way?

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, I can’t speak to the piece of information that the hon. member just gave, but I can tell about what we did in government, and that is that we eliminated, with of course the support of our senior managers, $40 million worth of bonuses going forward, and we worked it out with those officials. As I said, the minister of health is working with the Alberta Health Services Board to deal with the issue.

The Speaker: The hon. leader.

Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, taxpayers surely have a right to know where their money is going. Will the Premier give his word that immediately on receiving this information, it will be made public to all Albertans?

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, we do have a very open and transparent system of communicating with Albertans in terms of the level of compensation for all senior officials, including those that are elected. There is a range of salaries that go into the annual reports from all of the organizations that report to the various ministries.

The Speaker: Second Official Opposition main question. The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition.

Hydroelectric Dam on the Peace River

Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The B.C. government has just announced they’re going to go ahead with a massive hydroelectric dam on the Peace River, adding to the two huge dams that are already in place. The flow to the Peace River delta has already been compromised, and all this Premier is willing to do is to seek intervenor status and offer weak platitudes about mitigating negative impacts. To the Premier: given that so much is at stake for Alberta if B.C. goes ahead with the dam, what specifically is the Premier going to do to protect Alberta’s interests?

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, we will be protecting Albertans’ interests. As I told the media yesterday, I had a conversation with Premier Campbell on Saturday morning. He apprised me that they will be proceeding with the applications. Those applications, of course, will go to adjudication, and a quasi-judicial authority will make the decisions. We will of course be delivering our position. The Northwest Territories and First Nations have some issues. There are a considerable number of questions that have to be answered.

The Speaker: The hon. leader.

Dr. Swann: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. That anticipates the next question which is, really: why has the Premier not been seeking government-to-government negotiations instead of going cap in hand merely as an intervenor in this application?

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, the fact that the Premier has called and given us advance notice of the application is a good step on his part and has also given us an opportunity to dialogue on this particular matter even further. As I said before, we will protect the interests of Albertans. There are numerous concerns. The Department of Environment, Department of Justice, and SRD will be involved, and it may include other departments in terms of delivering evidence to the quasi-judicial authority.

The Speaker: The hon. leader.

Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that the run-of-river Dunvegan dam is downstream from B.C.’s two massive dams and a key renewable resource for Alberta, what effect will B.C.’s latest development and dam have on our ability to generate our sustainable energy resource?

Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, there is no development; it’s being proposed. That is one of the questions that will be asked by the province. Again, it’s the first part of a long process. This is discussion, of course, delivering the evidence to the committee that’s going to take a number of years to deal with it and make a decision. But in the meantime we’re going to ensure that the interests of Albertans are protected.

Alberta Hansard, April 21, 2010

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