Last week, Alberta’s lieutenant governor approved a recommendation from Doug Schweitzer, minister of justice and solicitor general, to appoint Byron Nelson to a 3-year term on the Fatality Review Board.
This board reviews specific deaths that occur during incarceration or apprehension, in mental health facilities, under provincial guardianship, and in several other instances that fall under the Fatality Inquiries Act.
Nelson is a trial lawyer and commercial litigator with Inns Law in Calgary. Nelson was also a PC candidate for Calgary–Bow in the 2015 provincial election, but lost to Deborah Drever. He ran for the leadership of the PC party in 2017—the same leadership race that Jason Kenney ran in—coming in last place. In 2018, he ran for the UCP nomination in the same riding, but lost to Demetrios Nicolaides, the current minister of advanced education.
According to Order in Council 139/2011, members of the Fatality Review Board receive $325 for every period 4 hours and less and $650 for every period between 4 and 8 hours that they spend in board duties, if they’re a lawyer member. Public members receive $275 and $550, respectively. Board members are also entitled to travel and subsistence expenses. However, last week’s announcement said that this remuneration is “subject to review”.
