The unofficial moratorium on opposition criticism of Premier Alison Redford and her cabinet ministers that began in the wake of the massive flooding in southern Alberta late last month has come to a crashing end.
The release last week of the Auditor General's report into the Redford government's management of Alberta raises troubling questions about exactly what the PCs have been up to, says Opposition leader Danielle Smith.
“The latest Auditor General's report shows what many Albertans have known for a long time, that the PC government, their ministers and the departments that operate underneath them are simply not doing their jobs properly,” said Smith.
While the release of an AG's report is typically a time for government critics to voice concerns and criticisms, this year's report in particular raises questions about how the Tories have been handling taxpayers' money, critics say.
The AG report points to a government operating without accountability or transparency, according to the Wildrose finance and treasury board critic.
“This government's waste and mismanagement has vapourized Alberta's savings and resulted in six consecutive deficits,” said Rob Anderson.
“Now Albertans have final confirmation from the Auditor General that the government refuses to reveal the province's full and accurate financial picture. This government's first instinct is to hide the facts and evade accountability.”
NDP finance critic David Eggen asks: “The Auditor General said that the best minds in his office couldn't understand the PCs' new ways of reporting on their budget, so how are everyday families supposed to understand how our money is being spent?”
Not surprisingly, the PCs are dismissing the opposition criticism about the way they are managing taxpayers' hard-earned cash.
“We will continue to deliver the responsible change Albertans voted for,” said Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk.
If the Redford Tories are doing a fine job managing the province's finances and doing so with openness, as they claim, then Albertans have nothing to worry about.
If, on the other hand, the critics are right and taxpayers' money really is being spent without adequate accountability and transparency, then every community and every resident should be concerned.
There are many good reasons governments are not allowed to spend public money in secret – and maybe it's time Alberta government MLAs are reminded of the fact?
West Central Alberta residents work very hard to pay provincial taxes. And those same taxpayers expect and insist that the Redford government spending those tax dollars does so with transparency and accountability. Anything less simply will not do.
