What Does ”The Public Interest” Mean for Natural Resource Regulation in Alberta? (Part 1)

"The public interest" is the standard that guides many government authorities in their decision-making. But what does it mean to make a decision that is "in the public interest?" Jodie Hierlmeier, Staff Counsel with the Environmental Law Centre, will discuss the issues and whether the process really does end up respecting the views of the general public. Given the development of the Land-Use Framework in Alberta, this is an opportune time to re-examine how "the public interest" fits into a new planning regime for regulating the province''s natural resources. Speaker: Jodie Hierlmeier Jodie Hierlmeier is a lawyer with the Environmental Law Centre in Edmonton. She was admitted to the Alberta bar in 2003 and practiced in general litigation before joining the Environmental Law Centre in 2005. Her current focus areas at the Centre include oil and gas, contaminated land, climate change and access to justice issues. She has authored numerous publications and papers on environmental law and given presentations on topics such as surface rights and coal bed methane. Jodie Hierlmeier is a sessional instructor at the University of Alberta. Jodie will also be speaking at Lethbridge College at 7 pm on Wednesday, March 4th in the E.C. Fredericks Theatre.