Edmonton – The annual Premier’s K-Days breakfast was overshadowed Thursday morning by questions about the arrest of MLA Mike Allen.
Premier Alison Redford addressed the media for the first time about Allen’s arrest at the annual breakfast.
“I was shocked and disappointed to see the conduct. It’s not at all the standard of conduct that I expect from anyone in our caucus,” says Redford.
Allen tendered his resignation from the Conservative Caucus after being arrested Monday night in St. Paul, Minnesota following an operation in which St. Paul police looked for individuals “trying to engage in the act of prostitution.”
The TwinCities.com media outlet in St. Paul writes: “Michael Trent Allen was one of 13 men nabbed during the operation, police reports show. The 51-year-old from Fort McMurray, Alberta, was booked into the Ramsey County jail on suspicion of engaging in prostitution, a gross misdemeanor.
Allen was released from a county jail Tuesday morning. He’s since returned to Alberta.
Premier Redford says the issue of prostitution is one she takes very seriously.
“When I was justice minister, we started doing work with respect to sexual exploitation of women and human trafficking. This is an issue that is very close to my heart,” says Redford.
A U.S. prosecutor says a decision should be made by the end of the week on whether to formally charge the Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA.
St. Paul attorney Sara Grewing says her office is reviewing Allen’s file for a possible gross misdemeanour charge of solicitation of prostitution. She says a conviction typically carries a 90-day jail term and a $1,000 fine, but a first-time offender could get a much lighter sentence.
“I will say we need to let the justice system take its proper steps whether that’s in Canada or the United States,” says Redford.
Allen was representing Alberta on official business in St. Paul, scheduled to talk trade and energy with U.S. Legislators. He was listed as an attendee at the Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Legislative Conference in St. Paul.
Premier Redford says Allen has reimbursed the government with the appropriate expenses he claimed during the trip.
The Alberta MLA released a letter in regards to the situation. In it, he calls the “legal incident” he was involved in “a mistake for which there are no excuses.” He says he accepts full responsibility for the “deeply embarrassing moment,” and asks for forgiveness.
“I apologize to my family, my friends, my constituents, my colleagues, my staff and to all Albertans for the embarrassment I have caused in failing to live up to the standards expected of me and the standards I expect of myself,” Allen writes.
Asked whether or not Allen should step down as MLA for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo, Premier Redford says he’ll have to make the decision.
“I understand he has said he will go back to his community, to his constituents, and have that discussion,” says Redford. “He is an individual who will take responsibility for his actions. He will live with the consequences of his decisions.”
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