Local MLAs preach fiscal responsibility but both tip-toe around Fildebrandt apartment scandal

By Mo Cranker on August 12, 2017.

mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker

With news breaking Thursday of United Conservative Party finance critic Derek Fildebrandt taking a leave of absence after it was discovered he was using his taxpayer-subsidized apartment in downtown Edmonton to make money, two local MLAs shared their thoughts on the issue.

“In general, I’ve been advocating for smaller, more limited government, to get more value for our hard-earned tax dollars,” said UCP MLA Drew Barnes. “This is just another example of what we’ve seen through the government that spending is not always targeted to benefit the taxpayer, and I hope this is a small part of one of the things that makes Albertans realize that we need to keep more money in families and communities so we can get more value.”

NDP MLA and Speaker of the Legislature Bob Wanner also sits as the chair of the Members’ Services Committee, which sets members’ allowances, constituency office allowances and members’ benefits, and establishes human resource, informatics and financial management policy for the Legislative Assembly Office. He says it is disappointing whenever a government of any size loses the trust of its people.

“It’s disappointing whenever the public’s trust can come into question,” he said. “We all, as elected officials, whatever parties we’re associated with or whatever level of government we’re associated with, we have a responsibility and have expectations of the public that everything is done right and is transparent. Everything we do needs to abide by the procedures that have been approved.”

Both Barnes and Wanner say they have never rented out property that has been paid for by taxpayers, and that this is the first they have heard of something like this happening.

“I haven’t heard of this before” Barnes said. “I try my best to be fiscally responsible when travelling and staying in hotels, because I know how hard people work for those tax dollars.”

“I have not heard about this, and did not see this coming before it happened. I think this is the first time a lot of people are hearing about an issue like this,” Wanner said. “I just don’t think I’m creative enough to think of something like this.”

Both Barnes and Wanner did not want to comment on whether they saw this as right or wrong, but both said they hope it is resolved in an appropriate manner.

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