Post-resignation MLA Alison Redford

1 post-resignation mla

1.1 continuing financial controversy

1.1.1 travel spending
1.1.2 travel scout
1.1.3 skypalace
1.1.4 personal staff
1.1.5 audit of travel expenses


1.2 attendance in legislature
1.3 standing in party , resignation
1.4 tobacco lawsuit patronage
1.5 policy advisor in afghanistan

post-resignation mla
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.

attendance in legislature

following resignation premier, redford did not return seat in legislature despite ongoing session, , missed @ least 11 sittings of legislature. according section 34 of legislative assembly act mlas permitted miss session if ill, injured, on official business, or reasons of bereavement. redford s extended absence caused speculation in press , among constituents, heightened when no official statement forthcoming interim premier or staff whereabouts or reasons not attending. speculation heightened further when redford spotted in resort town of palm springs, california during absence. noted redford served official notice speaker absence continue, though reason excuse confidential. in declaring absence speaker, redford ensured not docked pay non-attendance in legislature, rules state token deduction of $100 day levied each day missed, after first 10 consecutive days absent. redford returned legislature on may 5, 2014. in response media scrum, noted spent time off family in palm springs worked in constituency, intention complete term mla calgary-elbow. on august 6, 2014, resigned seat in legislature in order start next chapter of life. in public statement published in calgary herald , edmonton journal recognized mistakes made along way , accepted responsibility decisions. added , family continue live in alberta , plans teach resume work in international development , public policy.

standing in party , resignation

at first party speech of successor, interim premier hancock, in may 2014, redford s name not mentioned , hancock apologized actions of government during tenure. redford not in attendance , @ time had not spoken publicly since resignation. redford returned legislature , benches on may 5, 2014. redford retired politics on august 6, 2014. redford s resignation tendered in form of letter published in edmonton , calgary newspapers, day before auditor general of alberta s official report on use of government funds.

tobacco lawsuit patronage

in november 2015, cbc announced investigation independent process alberta chose legal consortium $10-billion lawsuit against tobacco industry manipulated, allowing former premier alison redford opportunity select consortium close personal , political ties . firm chosen had been ranked last of 3 , removed consideration independent review. on april 3, 2017, paul fraser, british columbia s acting ethics commissioner, concluded cbc s earlier claims unsubstantiated , alison redford did not break alberta s conflict of interest act. fraser noted, in making choice of counsel in tobacco litigation, used sensible , principled reasoning, based on cogent information received in briefing note government officials , had collected in course of active tenure minister of justice , attorney general. these findings have since highlighted harmful impact of unfounded investigative reporting cbc employees, charles rusnell , jennie russell.

policy advisor in afghanistan

in november 2017, redford took position policy advisor in kabul government of afghanistan reform ministry of mines , petroleum, has reputation corruption , mismanagement, , country develop natural resources. position developed part of partnership between afghan government , world bank. redford said priorities restoring power grid , attracting international investment.