While the University of Lethbridge finds itself in hot water for making illegal donations to the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, Olds College has been very careful not to make donations to any political party, says a college official.
"We actually have a written policy that governs that. It is policy A-24,î said Jordan Cleland, vice-president of advancement at Olds College.
The policy, which was approved by the college's board of governors in 2005, states that Olds College will not use any of its financial resources to pay for activities such as fundraising events for any political party or candidate for public office. Moreover, Olds College employees can attend those fundraising events as long as they pay for the tickets themselves or find a sponsor to pay the cost for them.
"We are fully compliant with that policy,î said Cleland.
In recent years, Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Richard Marz has rented the college's Alumni Centre to hold various functions.
"Anybody can pay the full freight and rent the Alumni Centre, whether it is private groups or other public groups,î said Cleland.
"Anybody has access, if that facility is available, but they have to pay.î
The college has also not hosted a PC premier's dinner, he said.
"We are very deliberate and careful about not doing that.î
Should Alberta's Chief Electoral Officer Brian Fjeldheim investigate all post-secondary institutions in Alberta, as Wildrose deputy leader Paul Hinman asked him in a letter, Cleland is convinced that Fjeldheim will find nothing wrong at Olds College.
Prohibitions against post-secondary institutions making contributions to political parties were added to Alberta's Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act in 2004.
