The Public Inquiries Act, RSA 1980, c P-29, invested the Lieutenant Governor in Council with the power to create public inquiries, when he or she deemed it expedient so to do, on any matter within the jurisdiction of the Province which was connected with its good government or public business. Aside from its function in regulating public inquiries (and their especially the commissioners), the Act is often used as a reference to describe the powers given to other government functionaries by other statutes. This issues paper addresses the Act and whether it should be reformed or replaced. The current law and recommended changes are discussed in relation to many issues, and grouped under the following nine heads: 1. Major Policy Considerations 2. Appointment and Powers (namely, the process of appointing the inquiry and the powers of the inquiry and its commissioner) 3. Coercive Powers (of commissions of inquiry) 4. Conduct of the Inquiry 5. Protection of Rights of Individuals 6. Judicial Review (of a commission of inquiry) 7. Procedural Matters 8. Immunity and Privilege: Liability to Civil Action 9. Other Statutes Conferring the Same Powers as a Public Inquiries Act Included in appendices are (the then-current) Public Inquiries Act, a selected list of Alberta Inquiries, and a list of Alberta Statutes which confer upon functionaries the powers of a commissioner under the Act.