Former Bank of Canada governor hired for fiscal advice in Alberta

Former bank of Canada governor David Dodge has his work cut out for him this summer.

On Friday, Premier Rachel Notley defended the decision to hire Dodge who she described as one of the "best financial minds" in the country, to oversee her government's capital plan — basically what should be built and when.  

"I think it's in the best interests of Albertans to get the best minds on these challenges and these projects," she said.  

Dodge was governor of the Bank of Canada for seven years beginning in 2001 and is currently a senior advisor at the law firm Bennett Jones LLP in Ottawa.

He called the appointment an honour, saying he's keen to come to Alberta to work on the issues. 

Dodge will focus on three areas:

• the overall size of the capital plan, the availability of labour and the potential impacts of inflation
• striking the right balance between delivering services to Albertans and building infrastructure for growing population. 
• how to finance the capital plan given the current economic climate.

Notley and Infrastructure Minister Brian Mason were both quick to criticize successive Tory governments that failed to keep pace with infrastructure demands and a growing population.

Mason said the government will "evaluate priorities based on facts rather than on political convenience." 

One of the PC's infrastructure plans will not be shelved, however — the promise to build new schools across Alberta 

Before the Tories were voted out of office, former premier Jim Prentice promised 230 school projects in the next 10 years for Alberta.

"We're not interested in running around willy nilly undoing things that have been done before," said Notley.

Dodge's report is expected at the end of the summer and will be part of Alberta's capital plan, which Notley said will be released with the budget this fall.

The overall cost of the report is pegged at about $100,000.