Wildrose demands Government respect democracy on caucus funding
Edmonton, AB (June 9, 2010): Today, the Wildrose Alliance Caucus released a letter it has sent to all members of the Members’ Services Committee to be discussed by the Committee on Monday, June 14th (1:30 p.m. 4th Floor, Legislature Annex, Committee Room A). In the letter, Paul Hinman, Acting Leader, Wildrose Alliance Caucus and MLA, Calgary-Glenmore, requests the Committee approve the same amount of caucus funding to the Wildrose Alliance Caucus as is now received by the New Democrat Caucus.
“As we have said before, the decision of whether or not to equitably fund opposition parties should not be partisan,” stated Hinman. “Our legislature has a proud history of supporting opposition caucuses in the name of democracy. It would be a shame to see that tradition furthered tarnished by continued petty partisanship.”
“Every caucus has a job to do on behalf of Albertans,” said Rob Anderson, Wildrose Alliance House Leader and MLA, Airdrie-Chestermere. “The job of the Wildrose Alliance Caucus is to hold the government accountable for its actions and to propose alternative policy solutions for Albertans to examine and evaluate. In order to perform these tasks we need an adequate amount of caucus funding for research and communications.
“Should the government MLAs on the Members’ Services Committee deny the Wildrose Alliance the same caucus funding as is presently provided to the New Democrat Caucus, such a decision would be unprecedented in the Legislature’s history,” continued Anderson. “It would undermine the fairness and integrity of the committee, its members, and indeed the Alberta Legislature itself.”
“While some in the government may be tempted to use this issue as a partisan tool, we hope government MLAs will examine their conscience and do what is right,” concluded Hinman. “We should properly resolve this issue and ensure that there is equitable funding for all opposition MLAs. Which would hopefully bolster the confidence of Albertan’s in the process of the legislative assembly.”
The Wildrose Alliance was formed in January 2008 and has three elected Members of the Legislature. The Wildrose advances competent, principled and conservative policies that will lower government spending, increase economic opportunities, empower communities and strengthen individual liberties and freedoms.