EDMONTON – Expense claims for all Alberta cabinet ministers, dating back to the last election, have been tabled in the Legislature library and will be posted online in its online catalogue.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) posted the expenses online Wednesday. To view the ministers’ expense claims, click here.
Under the government’s new expense disclosure policy, travel and expenses will be made available online every two months.
The province says this practice shows the government and the Premier are delivering on their commitment to an open and transparent government.
“Our proactive disclosure of our ministerial expenses back to the election, following the release of the Premier’s expenses earlier this fall, proves our commitment to accountability starts at the top,” said Don Scott, Associate Minister of Accountability, Transparency and Transformation, in a written news release.
The CTF is optimistic.
“The government’s new proactive expense disclosure policy makes Alberta a leader in this field and an example for other jurisdictions to follow,” said CTF Alberta Director, Derek Fildebrandt, in a written statement.
The CTF said when it filed Freedom of Information (FOIP) requests for the travel and expense information, the government initially denied it access on the grounds that it would release the information publicly within 60 days. The CTF added, with the deadline at midnight on December 4, it did receive some of the requested information.
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“So, we know this isn’t going to be an issue going forward. We’re going to see all of these expenses online within a couple months of them being filed.”
Still, the CTF had requested expense information for many ministers for the past few years. It says the government has released ministerial expenses dating back to the last election, but it hasn’t yet provided expenses for dates before then.
“The information released is a positive first step,” added Fildebrandt, “but it’s disappointing that they continue to withhold minister’s expenses for the time before the last election. Albertans have a right to see how politicians spent their money and the past shouldn’t be covered up. That’s precisely why we filed the FOIP request.”
Scott says the province’s expense policy is the strongest in the country.
“We have put in place the toughest expense rules anywhere in Canada, and continue to deliver on a key promise made by Premier Redford. Albertans deserve no less.”
The first two months of reporting under the new policy will be available in mid-December. The expense disclosure policy applies to cabinet ministers and their senior staff, as well as senior officials across government and all agencies, boards and commissions.
“Albertans told us clearly they expected a more transparent government and I am proud that we’re continuing to deliver the change they voted for,” said Manmeet Bhullar, Minister of Service Alberta.
While the CTF is pleased with the direction the government is taking by releasing these expenses, it feels more transparency is needed.
The CTF says the government pledged in writing to release all the expenses requested by the CTF and, under the FOIP Act’s Section 29, is legally required to do so.
Fildebrandt says the CTF will continue to fight to force the release of the information requested by the CTF for expenses before the election by appealing to the Information Commissioner.
CTF continues to review all the expense and travel claims released by the province.
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