Calls for urgent policy reversal on expenses and ethics
Christina Gray, Alberta New Democrat House Leader, issued the following statement in response to the removal of expense disclosures:
“Premier Smith and her UCP cabinet removed hundreds of thousands of government expense receipts from Government websites, as well as future receipt requirements, and this is unacceptable. Albertans expect and demand to see receipts whenever the Premier, her cabinet, or senior staff make expense claims that are reimbursed by public funds.
“The Premier admitted last night, at her Edmonton town hall, that her government's removal of years of receipts was a bad idea. The only reason they did it was to hide the receipts from Albertans, who pay the bills. It’s entitled and it’s the exact opposite of being open and transparent.
“The UCP government should reverse this bad policy today. The Premier can start by disclosing all of the receipts from her travel to date and set a better example.
“The Premier should also reverse her government’s inappropriate changes to Ethics Disclosures and Freedom of Information laws. Our province deserves nothing less than an ethical, transparent, and competent government. Right now, Albertans are getting the complete opposite.”