Fildebrandt eager to take lone, angry voice to legislature
Embattled politician announces bid to slash MLA salaries by five per cent
EDMONTON Embattled MLA Derek Fildebrandt is back at work after licking his wounds and says he wants to be a constructive nonpartisan voice during legislative debate.
“Politics is full of bulls--t,” he said at a news conference on Wednesday, where he announced plans to introduce a private member’s bill to cut MLA salaries by five per cent.
“Politics isn’t fair, there’s no justice in it, it’s not balanced.”
The MLA for Strathmore-Brooks said he was devastated when he learned that he wouldn’t be allowed to seek the nomination in his riding under the banner of the United Conservative Party that’s led by Jason Kenney.
“It’s been unfortunate the way things have gone,” he said.
Fildebrandt quit the UCP caucus after it was discovered he was subletting his taxpayer-subsidized accommodation on Airbnb.
He also came under fire for double-expensing meals — which he called a rounding error of $192 over two years — and was found guilty in traffic court with hitting a neighbour’s vehicle and leaving the scene.
But in November he met with Kenney to discuss potentially returning to the caucus. He said he was passed over for the nomination because Kenney wanted to grow female membership and deputy leader Leela Aheer would run in the redrawn riding for Chestermere-Strathmore.
“I was informed I was free to challenge any of the male incumbents who had constituencies overlapping into mine,” Fildebrandt said. “I pretty much locked myself in my apartment with scotch for a few weeks.”
UCP house leader Jason Nixon said Wednesday that party officials gave Fildebrandt an honest assessment at the time — “we did indicate to Derek that (riding) may be problematic for him to get if he was running against (Aheer). But we also made it very clear we did have an open nomination process.”
The ultimate decision to bar Fildebrandt’s return stemmed from his failure to disclose being charged with illegal hunting, marking the latest in a string of controversies, Nixon said.
“Leadership just lost trust in Mr. Fildebrandt and went a different way.”
In February, Fildebrandt pleaded guilty to illegal hunting after shooting a deer on private property, and was ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.
He said he hasn’t ruled out joining a party, or running as an Independent in the provincial election expected in 2019.
“I’ve been approached by some people in the Alberta Party,” he said. “I’m ruling out nothing other than joining the NDP.”
Alberta Party caucus spokesman Niall Condon said party officials haven’t spoken to Fildebrandt and have no plans to do so.
Government house leader Brian Mason chimed in during a news conference Wednesday — “Fildebrandt unchained, what could possibly go wrong,” he said.