Statement: Sherman Apology to Town of Penhold
Yesterday the Official Opposition issued a news release suggesting that a cheque for $609 from the Town of Penhold to the Innisfail PC association may have been an illegal donation.
Penhold Mayor Dennis Cooper immediately came to the defense of his community, pointing out that the $609 was not a donation, but a refund for an overpayment for the PC association’s rental of town facilities.
In other words, we messed up. The buck stops with me and I take full responsibility. This is why I phoned Mayor Cooper this morning to apologize, and I’d like to thank him for being a gentleman and accepting my apology. I requested an opportunity to meet the mayor and town council in the very near future to apologize in person; the mayor welcomed the request, and I look forward to visiting Penhold soon.
I also apologized to the local MLA, Luke Ouellette, for our mistake, and I am awaiting a call back from Linda Yargeau, President of the Innisfail-Sylvan Lake PC association. I’d like to set the record straight; Penhold town council and the Innisfail-Sylvan Lake PC association acted in good faith, neither soliciting nor receiving illegal donations.
I have spoken with my senior communications team to ensure that new processes make it impossible to repeat this kind of mistake. That being said, we will continue to hold the government accountable for encouraging an atmosphere in which illegal donations do indeed occur, as shown by our previous releases on the subject.
Again, to the people of Penhold and the board of the Innisfail-Sylvan Lake PC association, I apologize.
Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition
(780) 904-5430