EDMONTON – More than $1.3 million is being paid out in severance to the people who formerly worked for the premier’s office, and whose positions were terminated when Alison Redford resigned.
The termination payments include severance, 16 per cent in lieu of benefits and vacation balance payout for nine former staff members.
Premier’s Office Termination Payments
“These are contracts that were signed under the previous premier and I have limited ability to speak to their contractual arrangements,” said Craig Loewen, director of communications for Premier Dave Hancock, in an email on Friday.
“We have contractual obligations related to departing senior staff and we must meet these obligations.”
The numbers, released by the government, show that six people received severance payments of more than $100,000 when vacation payouts are included.
The top four are Redford’s former chief of staff, Farouk Adatia, who was paid more than $400,000; Lee Richardson, a principal secretary (who was paid $264,000); Darren Cunningham, her former director of operations (who was paid more than $137,000); and Communications Director Stefan Baranski (who was paid more than $136,000).
“These are jobs that tend to carry less security than most and contracts tend to reflect that,” explained Loewen.
“Most political contracts reflect the fact that employment prospects for anyone leaving political jobs are limited due to restrictions associated with the required six-month cooling-off period. The question of appropriate compensation for politically engaged senior staff is a difficult one. We have to strike the right balance between what it takes to attract top talent while being responsible stewards of taxpayers’ dollars.”
Wildrose Municipal Affairs Critic says the premier’s office continues to draw up “unacceptable contracts”, which allow for “these giant payouts to occur.”
“These contracts are simply outrageous,” said Jeff Wilson.
“They include everything from personal flight allowances to a severance liability of more than $1 million. Premier Hancock’s office must explain how these contract are negotiated, because it appears staffers can demand anything they want in PC wonderland. Money is no object.”
“Without some transparency, we’re sure to see another round of contracts just like these,” Wilson added.
Loewen said the severance information would typically be published through the salary disclosure list – or sunshine list – which is updated twice a year. However, he said the premier’s office felt it was important to release it now.
“Our office felt that it was important to have this information made available to you sooner to meet our responsibility for transparency and accountability during this transition period.”
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) previously predicted that severance for Redford’s former staff would be about $1 million.
“These are huge, rich payouts that you don’t see in the private sector unless you’re a high level banker, and these guys are not high level bankers,” said Derek Fildebrandt on March 21.
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