Redford, opposition square off over MLA pay on Day 1
The fall session of the Alberta legislature got off to testy start Tuesday as opposition leaders challenged Premier Alison Redford over her government’s financial struggles, the tainted meat scandal at XL Foods, and attempts by her MLAs to give themselves enriched retirement benefits.
Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith started question period by asking Redford where she stands on a committee motion raised last week to introduce a new transition allowance for outgoing politicians, and have taxpayers cover 100 per cent of MLAs’ RRSP contributions ($22,970) each year.
The premier repeated her assertion that she will not support any kind of transition allowance, but declined to take a position on the enhanced RRSP benefit idea. She said the issue affects all MLAs, meaning it should be handled by the allparty members’ services committee rather than her government. “I don’t understand it’s my role to direct the members of the committee to do anything,” Redford said in
“It is the job of MLAs, not the government.” PREMIER ALISON REDFORD
response to Smith’s question.
“We will not support a transitional allowance,” she said later. “We have made no commitment to any increase with respect to MLAs, nor should we. That’s why we have a members’ services committee. It is the job of MLAs, not the government.”
The retirement package proposal was raised by a group of seven PC members who sit on the committee, including caucus whip Steve Young. Smith tried to ask Redford whether the premier’s office approved or directed the proposal, but the question was shut down by Speaker Gene Zwozdesky, who said the committee’s motion had not yet come to the legislature for debate.
The premier was also asked by reporters to clarify whether her office had anything to do with the proposal or whether Young’s group of MLAs acted on its own. She said only that members of the committee are allowed to proceed as they see fit.
Young’s proposal came as a surprise last week, since Redford vowed during the election to abolish transition allowances, and the legislature followed through with a motion in May. Young said Tuesday he was set straight by Redford and the PC caucus, and will no longer pursue the idea.
However, the fate of the proposed 100-per-cent RRSP benefit remains unclear. Both the Wildrose and NDP have said they will oppose it, while the Liberals have abstained from voting on any issue dealing with MLA compensation.
One spirited exchange involved Redford and NDP Leader Brian Mason, who suggested the premier had endangered Albertans during the tainted meat scandal by encouraging them to continue eating beef as long as they cooked it properly. Redford shot back that Mason had endangered the province’s beef industry by “fearmongering.”