When Albertans elect MLAs to represent them in the Legislature, they do so with the hope that those same elected officials will conduct the government's business with integrity and openness.
Unfortunately, the hope and the reality have become separated by a wide margin in Alberta in recent years, with former premier Alison Redford being a prime example of what can happen when elected officials put their own interests before those of their constituents.
In a move they say will make Alberta politicians and government officials more accountable to the public, Premier Jim Prentice and his Tory colleagues have passed the new Accountability Act.
“One of my first commitments as premier was that government would take concrete action to end entitlements and rebuild public trust,” said Prentice. “Our government has delivered, with strong legislation that will restore Albertans' confidence in the integrity and accountability of government.”
Passing final reading on Dec. 10, the new act will, among other things, provide “greater consistency in conflict-of-interest rules for election officials, senior civil servants and political staff,” he said.
It also clarifies rules around the acceptance and public discloser of non-commercial travel by MLAs.
New Democrat leader Rachel Notley says the legislation doesn't go far enough.
“After much fanfare from the PCs, this Accountability Act intentionally misses the mark on the most important ethical breaches of the PC government over the last few years,” said Notley. “It fails to inject ethics and accountability back into the government benches. By only addressing conflict of interest issues related to political staff, the government is failing to address much more serious gaps in our conflict of interest legislation.
“This government has neglected the fundamentals of transparency, fairness and accountability again and again, and with this Accountability Act we see that the new management is very much the same as the old management.”
Wildrose finance critic Rob Anderson says the government must be committed to following the new rules for them to be effective.
“If you're going to have transparency, if you're going to have accountability, things are going to all be done in public, above-board, it's important to have these things in legislation,” said Anderson. “Instead of looking for loopholes, will he do everything in his power to not allow for those loopholes?"
This new Accountability Act is a step in the right direction – if, and only if, the government is prepared to follow its own rules. If not, then it's all for naught.
Meanwhile, if Premier Prentice really wants to “restore Albertans' confidence in the integrity and accountability of government,” he should call a judicial inquiry to compel Alison Redford to answer questions under oath about what she did and did not do during her reign.
