NDP calls out Premier Kenney for $16,000 in flights
Posted November 7, 2019 11:48 am.
Last Updated November 7, 2019 8:39 pm.
EDMONTON (660 NEWS) – Alberta’s premier is facing criticism for the cost of flights after an event at the Calgary Stampede.
Alberta’s NDP discovered Premier Jason Kenney paid $16,000 for other premiers, their wives and staff to travel to Saskatoon following a gathering of Conservative premiers hosted by Kenney.
WATCH: Conservative Premiers meet in Calgary during Stampede
Five Canadian Premiers stopped in Calgary en route to the Council of Federation conference.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs were on that flight along with Bob McLeod, former Premier of the Northwest Territories.
NDP Leader Rachel Notley called out the Premier Thursday during a committee meeting on the province’s economic future.
“I don’t think you needed to bribe them. Are you seriously saying that in order to get people to sign off on communique that looks a great deal like the communique that had been written previously, you need to pay for them to fly around the country and drag them out to a party at the Calgary Stampede?”
As revealed by @RachelNotley in Budget Estimates today. Jason Kenney spent $16,000 of Alberta Taxpayer dollars to fly two Conservative Premier's, their spouses and their staff from Calgary to Saskatoon. #ableg #abpoli pic.twitter.com/o9dsvbufQm
— Thomas Ockley (@tsockley) November 7, 2019
Kenney defended the expenses in the committee saying it was no big deal and wasn’t ashamed to spend money on improving relationships with other governments.
“I’m going to be spending more on travel expenses to get around the country. To St. John’s, Halifax, Iqaluit, Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Ottawa to strengthen those relationships and this is a promise made and a promise kept.”
Notley calls the money spent unacceptable for taxpayer dollars and is asking Kenney to pay the funds back.
