EDMONTON — The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released its annual naughty and nice list when it comes to the use of taxpayers’ dollars and this year, Premier Rachel Notley and Environment Minister Shannon Phillips share the top spot on the naughty list.
The CTF’s list puts politicians under the microscope based on their achievements and costs to taxpayers.
According to the CTF, Notley and Phillips are at the top of the naughty list for imposing a “massive carbon tax that will do virtually nothing to stop climate change.” Because of this, the CTF says the pair deserves “extra ironic lumps of coal in their stockings.”
Also making their way onto the naughty list this year are Finance Minister Joe Ceci and Wildrose MLA Angela Pitt. Former Premier Jim Prentice made the list too, “for sticking taxpayers with an unnecessary $275,00 by-election bill.”
The owners of the Calgary Flames are also on the naughty list, “for having the audacity to ask cash-strapped taxpayers to fund their sports arena.”
READ MORE: Calgary Flames announce new arena, sports complex
Topping the nice list this year is what the CTF calls “the no expenses club.” The group consists of Wildrose Leader Brian Jean, Aboriginal Relations Minister Kathleen Ganley, NDP MLA Rod Loyola and NDP MLA Jon Carson. According to the CTF, none of these people charged MLA expenses this year.
For questioning the spending of the Alberta School Boards Association when she was Edmonton Public School Board chair, Health Minister Sarah Hoffman made the nice list.
Also making the nice list is Alberta’s NDP government, for expanding the sunshine list.
“Though our provincial government is more than a little weighed down by lumps of coal this year, they earned a spot on the nice list for committing to expand the provincial sunshine list, showing high taxpayer-funded salaries for boards, agencies and commissions,” the CTF said.
READ MORE: Alberta government moves to expand sunshine list
To see the entire naughty and nice list, visit the CTF’s website.
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