Region's Wildrose MLAs hammer Tories

Mountain View and Red Deer counties' Wildrose Alliance MLAs say the provincial government's “flip-flop” on a promise to dig deeper into executive expenses is a “tragedy” and proof the Tories are running away from what a comprehensive probe might uncover.The region's three opposition MLAs slammed the Tory government last week following statements by Stephen Lockwood, chairman of Alberta Health Services (AHS), that he is opposed to wasting additional health-care dollars by hiring auditors to investigate further into the expenses of additional AHS executives.Lockwood said the AHS has already spent more than $200,000 on its most recent audit and for several freedom of information (FOIP) requests.In August, Dr. Chris Eagle, AHS president and chief executive, said a government audit would be expanded to probe expenses claimed by up to 30 former Capital Health executives from 2005 to 2009. Eagle's promise was in response to the controversy earlier this past summer when two senior health executives quit over expense claims totalling at least $346,000.“It's a tragedy,” said Joe Anglin, the Wildrose's MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre and the party's environment and utilities critic. “She (Premier Alison Redford) has promised to be more open and transparent.“If someone is not held accountable you can lose track of it,” he added. “We were told they (government) would investigate and now they aren't. By not doing what you say you were going to do it opens up and continues the process for more abuses.”On Sept. 24, Kerry Towle, the Wildrose's member for Innisfail/Sylvan Lake and the party's seniors affairs critic, said the government “flip-flop” on audits point to the Tories “failing grade” on accountability. She said the government's decision to back away from further probes is one reason why the Alberta government was recently ranked near the bottom of a list of Canadian jurisdictions for its commitment to transparency.“This is unacceptable. They need to audit all expenses. They (government) are failing to look from the top down,” said Towle. “It calls into question the issue of integrity. I'm hearing from many Albertans that they are sick and tired of wasted tax dollars.”She pointed out the Wildrose has an alternative plan for an end to excessive bonuses and severance packages handed out to public sector senior managers and executives.Wildrose Finance Critic Rob Anderson proposed on Sept. 13 a private member's bill called the Taxpayer Protection Act. It was designed to place an immediate moratorium on all public executive and managerial bonuses for any non-elected government departments, agencies or boards whenever the provincial budget is not in a cash surplus position.Bruce Rowe, the Wildrose's member for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills and the party's municipal affairs critic, accused the Tories of not wanting to find the truth in the lingering expense scandal.“They are afraid of what they are going to dig up,” said Rowe. “Albertans are entitled to know what is going on.“You never hear anything about the front-line workers. They are doing their jobs,” he said, adding the Tories are not “delivering” what Albertans expect from good government. “Alberta has the highest cost for health-care delivery in the country. We are not getting the results we expect.”