INVITE SNUB?
MLA says he isn’t formally invited to gov’t events, while NDP spokesperson and MLA Wanner say he is informed of upcoming events in the exact fashion everyone else is
MLA Barnes claims gov’t is excluding him from sanctioned events in Medicine Hat
‘Who’ and ‘how’ are two questions that are again cropping up in regards to announcements and meetings held by provincial ministers when they visit Medicine Hat.
Area MLA Drew Barnes penned a release late Friday afternoon suggesting he is being specifically left out of local funding announcements and meetings when New Democratic politicians come to the area.
The premier’s office however, says it has specifically reversed policy of the former government aimed at excluding opposition MLAs from government press events.
A spokesman said Barnes learns about events and grants the same way all MLAs and many local stakeholders, via emailed advisories that go to everyone involved.
The controversy follows a letter to the editor this week that suggests the same thing, which was written by a former member of Barnes’s Wildrose riding association.
Barnes’s statement reads that the governing party “has developed an increasingly bad habit of cutting opposition members out of local announcements.”
He says he has had to show up uninvited to events in his own riding, citing a February visit by Premier Rachel Notley, who announced $350,000 in business program supports for Medicine Hat College.
“All across the province, the NDP is swooping into local communities and making important announcements without involving local MLAs.”
Cheryl Oates of the premier’s office told the News that her office specifically avoids what’s been charged.
“We’re not blocking MLAs, opposition or otherwise, from events,” she told the News.
“It is the case, at certain times, that MLAs wouldn’t be invited to the premier’s events, just like we wouldn’t be invited to opposition events.”
For stakeholder meetings or consultations, “they receive a heads-up just like everyone else does,” said Oates.
Shortly after the 2013 election, local Wildrose Party MLAs complained that ruling Progressive Conservatives would place outof-town PC MLAs front and centre at funding announcements.
It sparked some anger in the general population as well as confusion about protocol.
Medicine Hat MLA Bob Wanner, an NDP member and speaker of the legislature, said his office often draws up a potential invite list when officials visit.
Wanner said Friday that Barnes is listed when Cypress-Medicine Hat is involved, and that he was unaware of any problem.
“Almost all of the events that I’ve been at, Drew has also been at,” said Wanner, saying 22 minister visits have taken place over two years.
“Often the case is the exact dates and times for a visit of a minister are not final until the day before. That might be part of a reason why there’s no formal invite.
“My general philosophy is that we represent the community together.”
Reporters also hadn’t noticed anything askew, as Barnes is often present at local press events. He is usually introduced by Wanner, who often emcees, though sometimes doesn’t take part in formal speeches.
Barnes said his attendance is the result of reading media advisories and then arriving on his own volition.
Speaking earlier in the day Barnes said “the new boss is the same as the old boss.”
“About four of five times recently, I’m not being invited and not being involved,” he said. “My people pick up on it and I attend but not in an official capacity.
“This is a respect thing. I am the elected official.”
The issue was raised this week in a letter to the editor in the News written by Mandi Campbell, a resident of Cypress-Medicine Hat. In an interview on Friday she said she follows politics closely and noticed that Barnes had seemingly been absent from official events.
She said discussions with Barnes’s office led her to believe he’s being snubbed.
“There are some people who are purposely leaving him out,” she told the News.
“If we’re going to have a minister’s meeting, we need everyone there, whether they are in power or in opposition.
“It’s unfair to the taxpayers to only have one side there.”
Campbell is a former board member of the Wildrose Constituency association in Cypress-Medicine Hat, but she said she is no longer active and her concerns are those of a private citizen.