UCP IN VIOLATION OF ELECTION LAW FOR TAKING FEDERAL WAGE SUBSIDY

EDMONTON - The United Conservative Party may have violated Alberta election laws after taking advantage of a loophole that made the party eligible for federal relief funds, says the NDP.

“Once again we see the UCP bending over backward to manipulate election laws for their own benefit,” said Kathleen Ganley, NDP Opposition critic for Justice. “They know what they’re doing is wrong, but that doesn’t seem to be enough to stop them.”

In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer, Glen Resler, Ganley pointed to section 16 of the Election Finances and Contribution Disclosure Act which stipulates that only residents of Alberta are permitted to make contributions to a registered political party. 

The NDP is also asserting that the federal wage subsidy should be considered a “contribution” under section 16 which is defined as “any money, real property, goods or services, or the use of real property, goods or services, provided.”

“Half a million Albertans are either unemployed or underemployed right now and small businesses are begging for the UCP government to step in and provide them with support,” said Ganley. “Taking this money to protect their own partisan staff while so many are unable to access support is a slap in the face to thousands of struggling Albertans.”