Billions in underperformance by AIMCo, and this AM the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Committee meets to discuss the Annual Report. But the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer are a no show 🤦♀️ #ableg#handsoffmypension
For 7 years and 26 straight meetings in a row, the CEO or the CIO have shown up & taken responsibility for their stewardship of our Heritage Fund. But not today, and results aren’t good #ableg#handsoffmypension
Last calendar year, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board delivered a 12.1% return vs AIMCo's 2.5%. What does that mean? In one year, that underperformance cost Albertans $11.4 billion #AbLeg
Let’s be clear, that’s more than eight KXL-sized screw-up in one year. And yet senior AIMCo officials won’t even show up to a committee of the legislature and explain themselves. That’s not acceptable #ableg
Despite these terrible results, on a donor call with UCP insiders on May 27, Kenney said: “I’ve actually personally become increasingly bullish and supportive of the prospects of an Alberta Pension Plan."
Like most Albertans, my reaction was 🤯 #ableg
That’s right, Kenney wants to pull out of the best performing global asset manager (CPP) and hand it over to AIMCo, an org that the Institutional Investor calls “amateurish” #AbLeg
We are about to head in to the Heritage Fund meeting . 1. We got the Annual Report on Thursday. MLAs were given less than 24 hours to read it. 2. For the first time in 26 meetings, the CEO, CIO of AIMCO (or board chair) aren't showing up to the Committee. (thread) #ableg
Over the past calendar year AIMCo delivered returns of 2.5%, while the CPPIB delivered returns of 12.1%. If CPPIB had been managing Albertans’ pensions and Crown holdings (like the Heritage Fund), we would have been better off to the tune of $11.4 billion this year alone.
While AIMCo’s performance on a fiscal year basis relative to the CPPIB is slightly better, we still experienced relative losses of over $5 billion. Albertans rightly deserve to have AIMCo’s most senior officials appear and answer for the organization's poor performance.
It’s always been interesting to me that the Police Commission has been silent on their responsibilities. As has Leth East MLA Nathan Neudorf. He hasn’t said a word on this topic. His colleagues have been clear. The local MLA who should be just as concerned as I am? Not so much.
The Commission’s complicity in the whole affair has demonstrated a fundamental misunderstanding of their civilian oversight mandate. Their inaction and learned helplessness has been disappointing, at best. At worst, they contribute to a shocking abrogation of democratic norms.
In an alternate reality, UCP:
✅ Gave direct transfers to laid-off workers & easy-to-navigate, straightforward $ to business, instead of waiting for Ottawa to do it
✅ Laser-focused on testing, rapid testing, contact tracing and isolation benefits
✅paid sick leave
(Thread)
✅ Hired EAs, teachers and used community space to rethink classrooms and social distancing in Sept 2020, instead of sitting on their asses March-August and then somehow being surprised when parents &teachers were worried & outbreaks spread in Nov-Dec
✅ Eliminated the mind-numbing stupidity of the bureaucracy around the critical worker benefit, and just gave it to as many folks as possible, as soon as possible, because more money circulating in the economy makes sense both for the bottom line and everyone’s mental health
This piece by @bcshaffer and @joshdr83 is a must-read on what's happening in TX, and relevant comparisons between AB and TX's energy-only electricity market design. I have a few points to add/underline...a thread!
The similarities between our two systems, as I see it, are: 1. energy-only, deregulated electricity market, 2. No large interties with other electricity grids, 3. An energy-only market and grid that hasn't really grappled with demand-side in terms of design...
and 4. an infrastructure built for one type of extreme weather event - long periods of hot weather (TX) and long periods of cold weather (AB), but not the other way around.
The biggest difference? Sheer scale of the grid in TX compared to AB. It's TX. It's freakin huge.
We start out with a serious look in the rearview mirror. Our R value is higher than the rest of the country and our cases per 100k some of the highest in the industrialized world. So, that's the first fact check. #ableg
This is part of the govt message, I've noticed. "But we started out great!" Which is not really the point when you look at what's happened since mid-October. #Covid19AB
Yeah, modeling isn't theoretical when you do nothing. It shows the exponential growth without measures. So, if they had released what we know they must have been looking at for past two months, it would probably track pretty closely with projections. #Covid19AB#ableg
At the Heritage Fund Annual General Meeting...the UCP government just announced they’re doing a major new review of the Heritage Fund’s investment policy. First review since 2011. Finance Minister hasn’t told the public about this at all, a staffer announced it. #ableg#abpoli
Remember, the Minister has the right to direct specific investments.
Are we really to be expected to sit back and let him do this review without telling us? With the UCP’s track record so far, he expects us to trust him with this? #ableg#abpoli
Was just clarified that asset mix and overall investment policy in Heritage Fund is under major review by UCP. #ableg
Aimco used to have some climate risk disclosure and ESG criteria. Do we actually think this will be retained by a govt that denies climate change?