The man who headed up a panel recommending management possibilities of a world-class environmental monitoring program for the province believes there is a conflict of interest when the Alberta government is also the overseer of the program.

The new federal-provincial system will debut in the oilsands region before fanning out across the province.

The panel led by Howard Tennant submitted its report as to who should manage data from the monitoring sites to the Redford government in June.

Tennant points out the provincial government owns the oil; sells the drilling or mining rights to oil and gas; takes a share of profits or royalties; regulates the industry but is also  responsible for the province’s environment.

The former president of the University of Lethbridge tells the Calgary Herald:  “If that’s not a conflict of interest, I’ve never heard of what a conflict of interest would be.”

The Redford government says it plans to release the report either later this month or early next month.