There were no free gifts or freebie trips in 2009 for local MLAs Ken Allred or Doug Horner, according to member’s public disclosure statements, released by the Officer of the Ethics Commissioner last week.
The same cannot be said for other MLAs, after one quarter accepted free gifts in 2009.
Freebies ranged from a helicopter tour of the oilsands from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers for Athabasca-Redwater MLA Jeff Johnson to free tickets to Lady Gaga from Edmonton Northlands for Employment Minister Thomas Lukaszuk.
Liberal opposition leader David Swann criticized Tory MLAs in the house on Tuesday, arguing such gifts come with the expectation of access to power and influence.
“When the people that create our laws are seen to accept gifts from big donors and big business, it casts a pall over our entire democratic process,” he said.
But Horner, acting as deputy premier while Premier Ed Stelmach was in India, defended those MLAs who accepted gifts last year, saying that there was no scandal.
“All MLAs are routinely invited to various functions and various events, where we have the opportunity to build relationships and we have the opportunity to interact with our stakeholders. That’s what our job is intended to do,” he said on Tuesday.
“The rules state very clearly that MLAs are allowed to accept gifts as a result of social obligations or protocol up to a limit of $400, and if it’s above that, the ethics commissioner must approve it,” Horner said.
The province officially updated its electoral boundaries last week to reflect recommendations made by the Electoral Boundaries Commission as well as input from the legislature.
Changes include the addition of four new divisions — two in Calgary, one in Edmonton and one in the Fort McMurray area, to represent Alberta’s growing population.
MLA Doug Horner saw some changes to his riding of Sturgeon-Spruce Grove-St. Albert
A report by the Electoral Boundaries Commission recommended the riding lose its northeast corner, which will be added to Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock.
Since Alberta’s electoral divisions were last changed, in 2002, Alberta’s population has increased by more than one million people.
The commission had one year to gain public feedback from across the province and to provide recommendations regarding placement of electoral boundaries and electoral division names.
