Elections Alberta is investigating the Lac La Biche – St. Paul – Two Hills Progressive Conservative Constituency Association, president Darrell Younghans confirmed last week.
The local association is one of 10 the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta (PCAA) said are being investigated by Elections Alberta, in a press release on Jan. 4.
In a letter to constituency associations, PCCA president Bill Smith asked the 73 other constituency associations to review records from the past three years "and be in a position to assure me that you are confident all donation are appropriate and have been handled correctly."
"We should welcome this opportunity to ensure that as a party we are as open and transparent as possible."
The constituency association has been involved with Elections Alberta since December. The local association formed a financial review committee to review records from the last three years, chaired by Ron Rudkowsky, reported in the Journal in December.
In a statement to the Journal last week, Younghans and Rudkowsky asked Elections Alberta for clarification on the Elections and Contributions Finances and Disclosures Act with respect to timeliness and the definition of donations.
Younghans said they want clarity on the subtraction of costs related to a fundraiser, providing the example of a $50 per person premier's dinner when the costs of putting on the function are close to the amount charged. "Is that really a fundraiser by definition?" he asked.
Younghans said the work of the association is accomplished by volunteers. "We have no paid staff to take care of business, both legal and financial."
"I appreciate that we are all volunteers and have many commitments in addition to our party, however, this is a serious matter," Smith said in his letter to PC associations.
“It’s a matter of warlord politics that we have a party that’s been in power for 40 years that has a sense of entitlement,” said John Nowak, the local Liberal Party candidate and a Lac La Biche County councilor.
“They use their place of authority to almost bully people, municipalities, associations into supporting them,” he said. Nowak declined to say whether he has seen Lac La Biche County treated in such a way, but added, “I wouldn’t be running for this position if I didn’t feel it was a problem.”
“We’re seeing that it’s systematic,” said Shayne Saskiw, Wildrose Party executive director and Lac La Biche – St. Paul – Two Hills candidate.
The Wildrose Party obtained documents using the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which show the PC Party accepted over $15,000 in donations from the University of Lethbridge, according to a press release last week. Political parties cannot accept donations from any body that receives government funding, including post-secondary institutions.
“The government’s been in there for 40 years and maybe they’ve become entitled and don’t think they have to follow the rules,” said Saskiw. “The PC government is putting a lot of pressure and intimidation onto municipalities to pony up funds to gain access to cabinet ministers, apparently for grant money. It’s very difficult to say no to these types of asks.”
The Wildrose blames the PC association and not the municipalities for accepting illegal donations, he added. In the local constituency, Saskiw said he does his due diligence to make sure donations to the party are legit and said he would take full responsibility for any donations that did not comply with Elections Alberta.