EDMONTON, AB – The Wildrose Official Opposition is calling on PC Finance Minister Doug Horner to account for the role he played in enabling Premier Alison Redford’s flagrant abuse of government aircraft.
“As Finance Minister, Mr. Horner is responsible for ensuring planes in the government fleet are used prudently and in accordance with government policy,” Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith said. “Information publicly reported over the last 24 hours suggests he has failed to keep this trust with the people of Alberta.”
Here are seven questions Minister Horner must answer:
1. According to the Auditor General, they were told by, “multiple staff from the Department of Treasury Board and Finance that for certain flights the remaining seats available on the plane were blocked to restrict access to Premier.” Did Minister Horner know what his staff knew?
2. Does he condone the conduct of his staff?
3. The individual who books and coordinates the use of government aircraft sits in his suite of offices in the Legislature. How is it possible Minister Horner was not aware of how these flights were booked?
4. How are these flights are approved in his department and what type of paperwork is required for him to sign off on the use of government aircraft?
5. Did the Premier’s office directly interfere with the processes under the Department of Finance and Treasury Board?
6. Did Minister Horner turn a blind eye to the Premier’s abuses?
7. Or, was Minister Horner so incompetent as to not provide any oversight on the air fleet?
“Minister Horner’s office owns and books the government fleet, it is the direct responsibility of the Department of Finance and Treasury Board,” Wildrose Finance Critic Rob Anderson said. “Based on what I have heard and read over the past 24 hours, it is preposterous to suggest that he didn’t know about this egregious misuse of government aircraft. And, if that’s the case, the Finance Minister had the power to say no, but he didn’t. He has forgotten that he is responsible to the people of Alberta and must take immediate action to address his lack of accountability by answering these questions.”