EDMONTON – Premier Alison Redford was grilled by the opposition about her $45,000 trip to Nelson Mandela’s funeral on the first day of the spring sitting.
The premier apologized and announced she was putting measures in place to make sure these types of expenses don’t happen again.
“I clearly stood up in front of Albertans, said I screwed up, and did take responsibility,” she said during Question Period Tuesday.
Redford was also asked to repay the money.
“It was clearly a personal trip,” said Wildrose leader Danielle Smith.
“Other premiers were able to go for less than $1,000. There’s absolutely no justification for spending $45,000 of taxpayer dollars on this single trip.”
“I think she should pay it back to restore her credibility,” said Smith.
On Tuesday afternoon, Redford said she would be paying back some of the expenses incurred on five trips – approximately $3,200 – but that the trip to South Africa would not be one of them.
“I’m the premier of Alberta, but I’m also the mother to a daughter who I love to spend time with,” said Redford, clearly emotional.
“There are times where I have to do business that takes me away from home, and you know that.”
“On a few occasions, when I know that my schedule will be demanding, I have encouraged Sarah to bring along a friend so that she has company,” said Redford.
“Upon reflection, taxpayers should not have to pay any of the costs that are associated with my daughter’s friend’s travel.”
Redford explained that she will reimburse taxpayers for the four instances her office found where a friend of her daughter’s flew on the government plane.
She also confirmed she used the government plane for a trip to Vancouver where she attended her uncle’s funeral, and also conducted government business. Redford said she will also repay the costs of that trip.
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“I don’t know what she was doing in Vancouver that weekend,” said Smith. “I would hope that she was meeting with Premier Christy Clark and other government officials, but at this point, I really don’t have any idea.”
“There wasn’t anything on the public itinerary, and it will be up to her to demonstrate that she was actually there for government business and not personal. If she was there for personal business, she should pay that back too.”
On Feb. 28, Redford’s office confirmed the premier, her daughter and two bodyguards used a government plane to fly back from a holiday in Palm Springs to attend a memorial service for former premier Ralph Klein.
The total cost of the trip was $9,200.
READ MORE: Redford facing more accusations of extravagant travel
On Tuesday, Redford asked the Auditor General to look into whether travel expenses are being charged in a proper manner.
“To find the more effective means to travel, I am asking you find greater cost efficiencies in government business travel by securing preferred providers for air travel, hotel accommodation, and car rental through a competitive RFP process,” Redford outlined in a letter to Finance Minister Doug Horner. (Read the full letter below)
“The providers will need to be able to support both the domestic and international business travel needs of the Government of Alberta.”
The premier is also putting a stop to out-of-province flights on government planes until the Auditor General finishes his report.
In her letter to Merwan Saher, Redford asked that the government’s Air Transportation Service (ATS) use be reviewed “with a view to increased efficiency and economy of the service.”
“The use of the ATS has become a topic of discussion in the recent weeks and it is important that the government and Albertans have confidence that the operation of the planes is cost effective and provide value,” she wrote. (Read the full letter below)
“In particular, I would like your office to determine the economy and utility of the ATS planes when booked to and out of province destinations.
“Pending your decision, I have directed the President of the Treasury Board to suspend out-of-province travel on the ATS planes,” she wrote.
“She’s entitled as the premier to travel, and she’s entitled to take staff with her,” said NDP leader Brian Mason. “The question is whether or not it’s important public business or not, and the second question is how lavishly does she live on the public dime?”
“What we’re concerned about is that the premier seems to live rather lavishly and at the same time she’s expecting Albertans to tighten their belts: to take lesser pensions, to have their wages frozen, to have important social programs cut in the budget, and so on,” said Mason.
“It’s very hypocritical.”
Premier Redford’s letter to Doug Horner – March 4, 2014
Premier Redford’s letter to the Auditor General, March 4, 2014
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