WATCH: Premier Jim Prentice and his cabinet have made their first major decision since being sworn in: selling the fleet of government aircraft. Tom Vernon reports.
EDMONTON – Jim Prentice got down to business one day after being sworn in as premier, announcing the controversial government planes will be sold.
On Tuesday morning, Premier Prentice said he and his cabinet decided that, although accessing Alberta’s rural remote communities is important, owning planes is not necessary.
Prentice said his cabinet voted unanimously to sell the four planes.
He added the sale will be done carefully and thoughtfully.
“We’re looking at a process of three to four months,” said Prentice. “We’ll have to on an interim basis access government aircraft.”
READ MORE: Alberta PC government has faced years of criticism for its aircraft fleet
The new premier said cabinet ministers will fly commercially within Alberta, with approval being required from the premier’s office for chartered flights requests when commercial flights aren’t available.
“Access to air travel – whether it is the government planes on the interim basis or charter longer term as a result of RFP – will be subject to the rules that they are for government business, they are for government employees,” explained Prentice.
Prentice added spouses will be permitted on flights in situations where they have been invited.
The premier and ministers will be allowed to travel business class for trips outside of the province.
There will be a transition as a request for proposal is conducted, explained Prentice.
“I have instructed officials to begin an RFP that will provide best overall value to access communities where the distance is too far to drive or commercial flights are not available.”
MacEwan University political scientist Chaldeans Mensah says selling the planes is “a very good decision.”
“This has been a major issue for the Tory party, in terms of its culture of entitlement. With the auditor general’s report coming out and a sense that this fleet has been a major source of problems for this party, getting rid of it is a very good decision by this premier.”
In August, the auditor general’s report into the travel and other expenses of former premier Alison Redford contained a slew of stunning revelations, including the use of government aircraft for partisan events and 50 incidents of Redford’s daughter flying on a government plane.
READ MORE: Redford’s misuse of travel spending caused by ‘aura of power’: auditor general
“It is to show that this is a new era for this party, and a new leader is making tough decisions to correct some of the missteps of the old regimes,” said Mensah. “I think he’s presenting himself as a new sheriff in town.”
But, will it be enough to hit the reset button on the party in the eyes of Albertans?
“This alone is not going to solve the problems facing this government. The government needs to show a record of performance. The promises made by Redford in the last election were completely overturned by some of the internal problems, so he needs to get this government back on track and implement some of those decisions. Maybe in his throne speech, set out some sort term goals and implement them before we go out to vote,” Mensah said.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is applauding the sale of the planes.
“This is a good start for Mr. Prentice as premier,” said CTF Alberta Director Derek Fildebrandt.
“This isn’t going to balance the budget or ensure the end of entitlements, but it is a good symbolic start towards cleaning up the mess.”
“Even if the air fleet made financial sense – and it didn’t – the temptation has proven too great for politicians to be trusted with it again,” Fildebrandt added. “Selling the fleet is the only way to make certain that it stops.”
The sale of the fleet will impact 27 government employees.
AUPE President Guy Smith blamed the potential layoffs on the government.
“These AUPE members’ highly specialized jobs will be affected because some members of the provincial government, both current and former, misused and abused the aircrafts.”
Albertans were quick to respond to the announcement online Tuesday.
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