Alberta merges ministries for innovation and science and advanced education

Science and technology in Alberta has been given far greater prominence within the new government structure announced by incoming premier Ed Stelmach. The day before his December 13th inauguration, Stelmach announced five priorities for his government and a restructuring of the provincial bureaucracy which includes a merger of Alberta Innovation and Science (AIS) and the Ministry of Advanced Education.

AIS DM, Bob Fessenden, will serve as the DM of the new Ministry of Advanced Education and Technology (AET), which will rank third in order of Cabinet precedence behind the Premier's office and Treasury Board. The minister of the new ministry is Doug Horner, formerly minister of Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.

"This is a major upward shift that augurs well for us," says Ian Thomas, AIS's director of innovation policy and planning. "It's a logical fit. We're happy to move and merge with the advanced education ministry."

Fessenden's appointment as DM of AET is considered a coup for the S&T community. His S&T roots go back to 1982 when he moved from the private sector to the Alberta Research Council, holding a number of increasingly senior positions and becoming VP research operations in 1994. He was instrumental in the creation of the Alberta Science and Research Authority and became its president in 1995.

After several years in which he served as DM for economic development and sustainable resource development, Fessenden returned to the S&T fold as DM of AIS.

AIS is responsible for the bulk of research funding in the province and handles the funding of matching funds for projects supported by the Canada Foundation for Innovation and government-funded agencies such as iCORE, Alberta Ingenuity and the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. Advanced Education deals with grants to universities and colleges.

"Recognizing the important role post-secondary education plays in Alberta's transition to a technology-rich economy, the responsibility of Advanced Education and Innovation and Science will be combined in a new Advanced Education and Technology ministry," states a government press release.

The reorganization under Stelmach is intended to deliver on the government's five priorities: government integrity and transparency, managing growth pressures, improving quality of life, building a stronger Alberta and providing safe and secure communities.

R$