Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In yet another example of Alberta municipalities contravening the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act by making illegal contributions to the PC Party, the town of Hardisty voted to send as many as six people to the Battle River-Wainwright PC Association MLA fund-raising dinner.

Can the Minister of Municipal Affairs tell us how many municipalities, including those in his own constituency, are making these illegal political contributions?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mr. Griffiths: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a lot of insinuations in that member’s comments. The town of Hardisty did pass a resolution to send some, but as far as our records go, no cheque came from the municipality to our constituency association. I’d like to point out to the member as well that the Chief Electoral Officer sent a letter to every single municipality in the province just over a year ago telling them they should not send cheques, and our constituency has never accepted a cheque.

Dr. Sherman: Mr. Speaker, in my hand are the minutes of those meetings.

Given that this illegal activity has now spread to include some school boards such as Holy Spirit Catholic school, which sent their people to a $250-a-plate Premier’s dinner, can the Minister of Justice tell us if he is aware of this or other violations of the act and what he will do when he finds out about these issues?

Mr. Olson: Mr. Speaker, as I’ve said a number of times before, that’s the job of the Chief Electoral Officer. If the member has issues regarding this type of matter, he should talk to the Chief Electoral Officer.

Dr. Sherman: Mr. Speaker, yet another abrogation of responsibility from the minister.

Given that town councils and school boards are so worried about protecting their funding that they feel compelled to misuse public funds, will the Minister of Justice finally direct Elections Alberta to conduct a full investigation on how many of these illegal contributions are being made and why?

Mr. Hancock: Point of order.

The Speaker: There’s a point of order here.

Speaker’s Ruling Referring to a Legislative Officer

The Speaker: I’m not sure, hon. Leader of the Official Opposition, that any member of Executive Council can direct an officer of the Legislative Assembly.
So let’s be very careful about the words we use here.

Minister, do you wish to say something?

Political Contributions by Municipal Officials
(continued)
Mr. Olson: Well, Mr. Speaker, you took the words right out of my mouth. If this member and his friends saw me interfering like that, I’m sure I would be hearing from them. Let the Chief Electoral Officer do his job.

The Speaker: Second Official Opposition main question. The hon. Leader of the Official Opposition.

PC Party Benefit Plan Trust

Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Minister, forgive me for assuming that you are actually responsible.

Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of interest this week and questions surrounding the top-up fund for the Premier’s salary. Unfortunately, Albertans have received very few answers in this House. The Minister of Justice, who is responsible for the election finances act, has denied any knowledge of or responsibility for the Premier’s top-up fund. As Albertan taxpayers are ultimately the ones paying to top up the Premier’s salary, is the Minister of Justice able to tell us today the total value of the Premier’s trust fund?

Ms Redford: I’m sorry. I’ve been out of the House the last couple of days. You can tell from my voice that I haven’t been able to speak, but I’m sure glad to be back, Mr. Speaker.

I understand that there have been questions with respect to how the Progressive Conservative Party pays for expenses related to the leader. I will tell you that I believe it’s important for political parties to pay for partisan activity that their leader undertakes. Our party does that. I am also aware that there are other parties represented in this House that follow the same practice, Mr. Speaker. I think it’s critical that it be transparent. I think it’s critical that if there are expenses related to pure political activity that they not be paid for by either the government of Alberta or the taxpayer of Alberta, and we’re completely above board about that.

The Speaker: The hon. leader.

Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that the Premier and cabinet gave themselves a whopping pay raise just a few short years ago, can the Premier please explain why it would be necessary to top up your whopping $215,000-a-year salary, and can you please tell us how much you’re getting paid?

Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is referring to the fact that there are expenses that are purely political that should be paid for by political parties. There have certainly been other disclosures in this House from other political parties clarifying that that is also the case for other political parties. I am sure the hon. member is not suggesting that the salary that I receive to be either a minister or a Premier should be money that’s being used to pay for partisan expenses. And I would ask why, perhaps, with respect to the Official Opposition they’ve never declared anything.

The Speaker: The hon. leader.

Dr. Sherman: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I find as the Liberal leader is that the leader actually has to give the party money versus receive it from the party.

Mr. Speaker, given that Albertan taxpayers have a legal right to know how much of their public funds are used to pay the Premier, taxpayer public funds, will the Premier take some action and tell the public how much she’s getting for her expenses or her top-up salary? And for the previous Premier?

Ms Redford: Mr. Speaker, we have a financial regulatory structure in place where all parties must disclose their party expenses. We do that as part of the normal course of events. That’s part of what we deal with under the financial disclosure act, and it’s a completely transparent process.

Alberta Hansard, November 30, 2011

[direct link to this article]