WATCH ABOVE: Former premier Alison Redford will not be charged in relation to her use of government aircraft. Jayme Doll explains.
EDMONTON – The RCMP announced Friday that no charges will be laid in relation to the Auditor General’s report into the former premier’s expenses and travel.
In August 2014, the Auditor General released a report that found Redford used government aircraft for personal and partisan purposes.
On Aug. 7, the government asked the RCMP to review the report and conduct any investigations police deemed appropriate.
“The legal opinion we received recommended we refer this matter to the RCMP,” said Jessica Jacobs-Mino, press secretary for the justice minister. “We did that. We are pleased to see it is now concluded.”
READ MORE: Government asks RCMP to decide whether investigation into Redford’s flights is warranted
In July, sources told Global News Alberta Minister of Justice Jonathan Denis asked that all relevant documents be forwarded to the RCMP so that they could conduct an investigation independent of political interference, if they felt an investigation was warranted.
Redford’s staff booked seats for “false passengers” on government aircraft in order to limit flight access to the former premier, according to the Auditor General report.
READ MORE: Redford’s misuse of travel spending caused by ‘aura of power’: auditor general
The RCMP said Friday that investigators reviewed the report and conducted follow-up interviews, but has now closed the file.
“In the interest of thoroughness, the RCMP interviewed a wide range of individuals who provided us with information related to the Auditor General’s Report,” said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Marlin Degrand, Criminal Operations Officer for the RCMP in Alberta. “We thank them for their cooperation, and the file is now concluded.”
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Officers said the government and Redford had been told about the decision.
“I am grateful this is now over,” said Redford in a statement.
“I was never concerned about the outcome, as I had the benefit of knowing that my and my office’s actions were above board.
“I am thankful for all of the support and friendship shown to me over the last year and of course for my family’s support. I also want to thank the RCMP for their six months of time and very thorough work that leaves no lingering questions. Now that this is over I am looking forward to again making a contribution to the province, and country I love.”
Neither Premier Jim Prentice nor the RCMP offered further comment.
“Today’s news does not change the fact that this tired PC government has an exaggerated sense of entitlement and an inability to distinguish between public interest and personal interest,” said NDP leader Rachel Notley.
“This is about right and wrong and it’s clear the PCs don’t know the difference.
“The PCs suffer from a culture of entitlement that has outlasted leaders and has followed Premier Prentice into his office, as was evidenced with Prentice’s endorsement of Gordon Dirk’s inappropriate conduct during the October by-elections,” added Notley.
Redford resigned as premier last March as a caucus revolt brewed over her leadership style and lavish spending.
READ MORE: Alberta premier Alison Redford resigns
Just before Auditor General Merwan Saher released his report in August, she resigned her seat as a Calgary backbencher for the Progressive Conservatives, and in a letter acknowledged mistakes were made during her time in office.
“In hindsight, there were many things I would have done differently. That said, I accept responsibility for all the decisions I have made,” she wrote.
She said she would not comment further.
On Friday, Stefan Baranski, who was Redford’s one-time communications director and member of her inner circle, tweeted: “Finally sanity prevails!”
Saher outlined various misdeeds in his report, including a practice of “block booking” government aircraft to give the appearance that planes were full “so that other passengers could not ride on the same flight” with the premier and her staff.
Saher said Redford and her former chief of staff denied any knowledge of the practice, but that it was clear the idea came from her office.
Redford also used government planes to attend Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta functions, the auditor said, sometimes scheduling government-related activities for the same times.
On two occasions, she used the planes for trips that Saher found were more personal than business-related: a family funeral in Vancouver and a weekend in Jasper. Her daughter travelled on both occasions, as well as on 48 other flights – a few times with friends and a couple of times without her mother.
“There was talk at the time that it was around rules and principles rather than around broken laws,” Wildrose MLA Drew Barnes told Global News.
His full statement on the RCMP’s conclusion reads:
“I want to thank members of the RCMP for their thorough investigation regarding the partisan use of government aircraft by former Premier Alison Redford. It’s clear, without the work of an effective opposition, this information would not have been unearthed in the first place.
“While the evidence presented to the RCMP did not lead to criminal charges, the actions of the former premier and many current members of the PC government were a violation of the public’s trust. Albertans should feel empowered to keep holding all members of this PC government responsible.
“Premier Jim Prentice is on the record saying those involved would be held accountable for their actions. Now is that opportunity. Today, we call on all PC MLAs who participated in the partisan use of aircraft to payback taxpayers for their involvement.
“The only way to close the chapter in yet another PC scandal, is for Mr. Prentice to keep his promise and hold these MLAs to account.”
With files from The Canadian Press
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