Pembina Institute defends city hall contracts

The Pembina Institute is defending its consulting contracts with the City of Calgary after criticism from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

The federation said onThursday that it was in appropriate for the citytohire the environmental think tank andadvocacy group to prepare reports.

Ed Whittingham, the executive director of the Pembina Institute, said on Friday his organization's advocacy work is separate from its consultancy work.

Whittingham saidthe institutewas hired because of its technical expertise to help the city with its strategyon greenhouse gas emissions.

"When we're hired by, whether it's an energy company or a government, a federal or provincial government or a municipality, it's because we've got the expertise to produce deliverables for our clients and that's what we focus on."

The plan put together by Pembina for the city was debated publicly, added Whittingham.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi is defending the use of the Pembina Institute, sayingcontracting out such work to experts saves money for taxpayers because it saves the city form hiring more workers.