NDP calls for investigation into UCP expenses

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — After the Alberta NDP raised concerns about travel expenses from the United Conservative Party, they are calling on the Auditor General to launch a formal investigation.

“It’s a hypocrisy of the highest order,” said Energy Critic Irfan Sabir on the steps of the McDougall Centre in downtown Calgary.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that over $16,000 was paid to transport Premier Jason Kenney, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Nova Scotia Premier Blaine Higgs, and former Northwest Territories Premier Bob MacLeod to Saskatchewan following a brief meeting in Calgary during the Stampede.

Also on that flight were the wives of the three visiting premiers and staffers.

Then, the NDP revealed that thousands more dollars were spent for Kenney’s principal secretary, David Knight-Legg, to take four trips to London, England and stay at five-star hotels.

This cost over $18,000 for the flights, with a total of more than $45,000 spent during the trips.

While the Premier is hiking taxes, cutting funding for schools & hospitals, disbanding firefighting teams & throwing Albertans off the senior’s drug plan while claiming the province is broke, Mr. Knight-Legg was living a life of luxury in London at Albertans' expense. #ableg pic.twitter.com/Dr2hyeHoif

— Alberta's NDP Caucus (@abndpcaucus) November 13, 2019

A letter signed by Sabir, Critic for Democracy and Ethics Heather Sweet, and Critic for Finance and Treasury Board Shannon Phillips, calls on Auditor General Doug Wylie to look into these expenses and see if any rules were broken.

“We hope the auditor general looks into this matter, so Albertans can finally get some answers from Premier Kenney and the UCP to find out how they are spending our tax dollars,” added Sabir.

Letter to the Auditor General, November 14, 2019

When it comes to Knight-Legg’s trips, the UCP first said it was a trade mission, then said it was on official war room business, relating to the UCP’s efforts to combat “misinformation” against the energy industry.

“We are not getting any answers, and Albertans deserve to know how their money is spent when they are all told to tighten their belts,” said Sabir. “But neither of these stories add up.”

When NDP leader Rachel Notley confronted Kenney about the charter flight during a committee meeting, the Premier brushed it off and said it was necessary for them to be on time for meetings with other Canadian premiers.

“I’m going to be spending more on travel expenses to get around the country. To St. John’s, Halifax, Iqaluit, Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Ottawa to strengthen those relationships and this is a promise made, and a promise kept,” Kenney said on November 7.

The NDP statement on these expenses also compares Kenney to former Premier Alison Redford, who came under heavy criticism for lavish expenses, leading her to resign in 2014.

“The only different is Redford had the decency to apologize and pay back her expenses,” Sabir added.

Sabir was also asked about the report about Steve Allan, commissioner of an inquiry looking at foreign funding provided to environmentalists, giving more than $900,000 to the law firm Dentons, where Allan’s son is a partner.

Sabir said the NDP will also launch a complaint about that specific contract.

The CBC reported that Allan chose Dentons due to an extensive relationship during his professional career, and government officials vetted the contract.