WEF publishes toolkit on artificial intelligence and kids – Western Standard

Acting CEO of Surmont Energy Ltd. Rick Orman has been appointed chief electoral returning officer to overseeUnited Conservative PartyPremier Jason Kenneys leadership vote.

The appointment of the former MLA, a known Kenney supporter, and active, registered lobbyist, generated criticism fromAlberta political commentator Peter McCaffrey who expressed disbelief at the brazen move.

However, Orman told theWestern Standardthatcounting the votestodetermine Kenneys political fate will be livestreamed because he insisted on this open, transparent process.

I think Ive got a pretty good reputation, the years that I was in politics, and I want to maintain that, said Orman.

But I also wanttoadd to the credibility of the process of counting the ballots in a way that is transparent to the extent that I have decided that we are going to video live to theUCPwebsite the video of the opening of the ballots.

So that everyone will be able to see the process is open, transparent, and give everybody confidence that whatever the result is it was done in a fair and forthright manner.

Orman said he set the condition for livestreaming.

Thats part of the conditions that I set down. Thats my role. I made the rules for the accounting. Thats rule Number Oneyoure going to watch it livestream on the website.

Orman replacedreturning officerSteve McLeod who resigned.

Kenney, facing anleadership review, demanded by 22 constituency associations (CA) is fighting for his political life.

There have been calls for the review to be scrapped and aleadership contestheld instead.

Despitewidespread objection,the early in-person leadership review scheduled to be held April 9 in Red Deer, was changed to a virtual meeting and a mail-in vote from April 9-May 11.

The results are expected to be announced May 18.

McCaffrey criticized Ormans appointment by the UCP executive board.

Kenneys allies literally just put someone who is actively lobbying Kenney for taxpayer money in charge of ensuringthere is a fair vote on whether Kenney remains Premier or not, tweeted McCaffrey on his personal account.

Rick and Surmont Energy (the company hes CEO of) have been holding regular lobbyist meetings with senior ministers in the UCP government, asking for Financial Benefits/Grants for their oilsands project.

I dont know Rick, so maybe hes a nice guy, but hes entirely unsuitable to fill what should be a neutral administrative role.

Rick is a former PC MLA who is friends with key Kenney insiders and allies.

He endorsed Kenney in the PC leadership race.

And,unbelievablyeven I cant believe theyre this brazenHes a registered, active lobbyist, lobbying the UCP.

Orman served as MLA for Calgary-Montrose from 1986-1993.

He was appointed acting CEO of Surmont Energy Ltd., a private in-situ oilseeds production company, in April 2021.

Why I registered as a lobbyist is we have an oilsands project that is converting bitumen to asphalt. We areworking with First Nations, the aboriginal groups. Theres a fund they can access to participate in development of this project, said Orman.

This will be the first and only project of its kind where they will actually own 50-50 of the resource.

Theres a program called the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities fund. It is just for First Nations to access. There are groups that are wanting to access that fund and participate in the Surmont project. We were out presenting to the minister of energy, the minister of environment, and the minister of Aboriginal Affairs. Thats the only lobbying Ive been doing and that was the purpose of it.

Orman agreed to take on the roleof returning officer Tuesday after McLeod resigned.

He quit and they were in a bit of a jam so they asked me if I would do it and I said I would, he said.

I see it as a service to the partyAnd my goal is to ensure that we as a party continue to be successful and have a view to winning the next election.

I sort of look at the chief electoral returning officer,my roleis the day the ballots arrive at the accounting firm Deloitte in Edmonton its to make sure that along with Deloittethateverythingfollows the rules that have been laid down by the party.

Its a fairly secure process that way that the ballots are delivered directly to Deloitte and Deloitte will be involved in opening the ballots.

He compareshisrole to that of an umpire.

Youve got to make sure everybody plays by the rules and plays inside the lines. Thats my goal. We will make sure that the process is straightforward and, as I said, follows the rules.

Thats why I decided to do it. I felt a responsibility. Im still in politics and still involved because Im a strong conservative and I want to make sure that everything that happens inside the lines.

Ive been around a long time. I may have a bias,but it plays no role in what Im doing.

Slobodian is the Senior Manitoba Columnist for the Western Standard

lslobodian@westernstandardonline.com

Here is the original post:
WEF publishes toolkit on artificial intelligence and kids - Western Standard