Continuing financial controversy Alison Redford

1 continuing financial controversy

1.1 travel spending
1.2 travel scout
1.3 skypalace
1.4 personal staff
1.5 audit of travel expenses

continuing financial controversy

following redford s resignation, further allegations of fiscal mis-management came light.

travel spending

overspending on trip india revealed, tune of $11,000, when members of redford s inner circle flew on trade mission india stopped on in united kingdom before conference in switzerland. further scrutiny media , opposition parties has led re-examination of fifty government flights in members of redford s family , staff (including personal assistant , nanny) accommodated, 2 trips mountain resort of jasper, alberta. there no official reply repeated requests information both redford , interim premier dave hancock and, subsequently, no evidence substantiate claim jasper trips government business. more documents released auditor general of alberta on july 29, 2014 suggested redford s staff falsified aircraft bookings in order redford fly alone staff rather permitting other government officials or passengers access government planes.

travel scout

on june 25, 2014, cbc reported more documents had come light revealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional travel-related expenses, including $330,000 government employee michele tetreault acted trip scout, including work on excursions opposition criticized politicking @ public expense. these expenses never publicly disclosed. auditor general s report elaborated on role of trip scout, new position created shortly after 2012 election. following year tetreault s salary listed $127,827 annually. among duties advance travel locations premier expected visit, , emails released in wake of auditor general s report reveal among activities forwarding photos of hotels , suites, sussing out suitable patios , restaurants , @ least once advising on public toilets. position cancelled after redford s resignation premier , tetreault reassigned within government.

skypalace

on march 28, 2014, reported redford had ordered private penthouse herself , daughter in government building close legislature, constructed provincial government. renovations became known skypalace in press, , though contentious renovations leaked media, apparently never cancelled. total cost skypalace estimated $2.76 million.

personal staff

the cost incurred severance packages of personal support staff drew criticism. according terms of contracts engaged under, chief of staff, communications director , other senior staffers became entitled receive total of on 1 million dollars in severance benefits. additional payouts staff , executive council accounted additional 1.3 million dollars. in may 2014 revealed redford demanded personal protective security detail calgary police service, @ forecast of $1.8m on budget. predecessor, ed stelmach, protected 7 provincial sheriffs. heavily redacted documents obtained media gave no evidence rationale redford had additional security detail, provided security redford , family in calgary, canmore , banff.

audit of travel expenses

a full audit of former premier s travel , expense claims ordered auditor general on april 15, 2014 @ request of then-premier, redford herself. on august 7, 2014, auditor general tabled report, concluding premier alison redford , office had used public resources inappropriately, used public assets (aircraft) personal , partisan purposes , redford involved in plan convert public space in public building personal living space. report concluded these abuses arose due aura of power around premier redford , office , perceptions influence of office should not questioned.