Watchdog scolds NDP MLA over Kenney trip complaint

EDMONTON Alberta ethics commissioner Marguerite Trussler has cleared United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney and his colleague Prasad Panda, MLA for Calgary-Foothills, of any wrongdoing in their recent trip to India.

New Democrat caucus chairwoman Heather Sweet, MLA for Edmonton-Manning, lodged a formal complaint in September, noting concerns about private aircraft travel. Sweet also had a problem with Kenney’s public comments about Reliance Industries — in which Panda owns shares — and questioned whether Panda used his connections to facilitate a visit to the Reliance refinery in India to further his own private interests.

Although she understood why Sweet had concerns, Trussler wrote, her report closed with a warning. “In the future, it would be appreciated if those requesting an investigation did not post the request to social media before I have the courtesy of receiving the request,” Trussler wrote.

“As well, given that Alberta is having a general election within the next year, I want to make it clear that I do not want members filing complaints against other members for the purpose of scoring political points.”

Trussler interviewed both Kenney and Panda in her investigation, the results of which were released Tuesday. The third UCP MLA on the trip, Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Devin Dreeshen, was not part of the investigation.

In a nutshell, Trussler found no breaches of the Conflicts of Interest Act by Kenney or Panda, noting they were “very careful” and “forthright throughout.” She also noted she had already given the OK for all three UCP MLAs to accept a Reliance Industries flight to visit the refinery.