Richard & Liz Bergeron

Calgary’s Real Estate Specialists

Richard's Cell: 403-819-2331 | Liz's Cell: 403-875-8470

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EDMONTON – Alberta opposition parties are calling on the minister of finance to step down and requesting for a public inquiry into the entire government’s travel spending.

The requests came the same day Alberta’s Auditor General, Merwan Saher, publicly released a report on government travel and other expenses which concluded that Alison Redford and her office used public resources inappropriately while she was premier.

Read More: Redford’s misuse of travel spending caused by ‘aura of power': auditor general

The Wildrose has demanded Minister of Finance and president of Treasury Board Doug Horner resign, citing it was Horner’s responsibility to protect taxpayer’s dollars.

The auditor general report identified that it’s the responsibility of the Department of Treasury Board and Finance to approve flight requests from the premier’s office.

Wildrose MLA Kerry Towle says the Progressive Conservatives have tried to put all of the blame on Redford, but there are plenty of examples in the report that show planes were used inappropriately used by other MLAs.

The report provided details of Redford using government aircraft for trips that allegedly only involved partisan business, and incidents when she travelled on government aircraft with her and her daughter’s friends.

The report also identified two occassions when Redford’s daughter travelled on the aircraft without her.

Read More: Redford resignation: Premier directs justice minister to call for RCMP investigation into Redford’s flights

Alberta’s NDP is calling for a public inquiry. The party says the report implicates other ministers for inappropriate travel expenses.

The Alberta Liberals are also calling for Horner’s resignation, and would like to see the auditor general inspect other ministers’ travel expenses.

Premier Dave Hancock released a statement Thursday morning which read:

“Governments are entrusted to put the interests of the people they serve ahead of their own and to use public resources for public purposes only. That trust has been broken.”

Justice Minister Jonathan Denis said the RCMP will look into the report.

“As Attorney General, I have a duty to uphold the laws of Alberta and ensure everyone is treated fairly and equitably. I have instructed Tim Grant, Deputy Minister, Justice and Solicitor General, to forward the report and its attachments to the RCMP,” explained Denis.

“Any investigation that the RCMP does will be fully independent of my office and, as such, I will have no further comment on the matter.”

The RCMP has confirmed it’s received the referral from the justice minister, but is not sure if it will investigate.

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EDMONTON – Alberta’s newest Progressive Conservative members will sit in the legislature as far away as possible from their old Wildrose colleagues.

A seating chart shows that Kerry Towle and Ian Donovan are to sit in the back row on the government side of the house.

Because there are so many PC members, some of the governing party’s backbenchers sit on the opposition side of the house. If Towle and Donovan had been put there, they would have been just a few feet away from their old boss Danielle Smith.

READ MORE: Wildrose MLAs leave party to join PCs 

Towle and Donovan crossed the floor on Monday, saying they like what Premier Jim Prentice has to offer and that the Wildrose party has organizational and leadership problems.

Tory backbenchers Doug Griffiths and Pearl Calahasen have been moved to the opposition side of the house to make room for the newcomers.

New seating plan in the Alberta Legislature chamber, Nov. 25, 2014

Credit: http://www.assembly.ab.ca/
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CALGARY- Friends and family gathered to remember well-known Calgary-based political strategist Rod Love at a memorial service in the southwest Saturday.

The service was held at the Calgary Golf and Country Club.

Attending the ceremony was premier Jim Prentice, opposition leader Danielle Smith and former Ontario premier Mike Harris.

Love died on Sunday at the age of 61. He had been battling pancreatic cancer.

Love served more than 30 years as a political consultant and was chief of staff in all three levels of government.

He is perhaps best known for serving as Chief of Staff for former premier Ralph Klein.

Love is survived by his wife Charlene, son James, and daughters Katie and Haley.

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