4th investigation launched into power line

A fourthinvestigation has been launched into plans to build a controversial, 500-kilovolt power linebetween Edmonton and Calgary.

The province's auditor general has agreed to look into conflict-of-interest allegations by the Alberta NDP connected to the AltaLink project. On Friday, NDP Leader Brian Mason said the conflict revolves around the wife of a senior Alberta Energy official, who works for AltaLink.

Jason Chance, a spokesman for Alberta Energy, said the employee revealed his wife's position with AltaLink years ago.

"The Department of Energy has done its due diligence to make sure there is no conflict of interest," he said.

Lee Clark, a spokesman with AltaLink, saidthe company has also done nothing wrong.

"To suggest that there has been any sort ofinside activity here just doesn't hold up when you look at the facts."

Three other investigations

The provincial privacy commissioner, the ombudsman and a retired justice acting on behalf of the energy minister are already investigatinghearings on the project before theAlberta Energy and Utilities Board.

Those investigations came after the arm's-length energy regulator admitted to hiring "security personnel" to oversee central Alberta landowners opposed to the project.

In April, board staff said they were physically threatened in three incidents at a public hearing into the project. Afterward, the board decided to accept only written submissions and close the courtroom in the central Alberta town of Rimbey.

Landowners were moved into a nearby recreation centre to watch the proceedings on TV.

Last month, board spokesman Davis Sheremata admitted the energy regulator had hired security officers to keep an eye on the landowners watching the hearings in the recreation centre.

The landowners claim the security officers were spying on them.