Albertan democracy cannot afford special favours for special interest groups

(EDMONTON) The National Citizens Coalition today called for a review of the process which elected Alison Redford as the new leader of Alberta's PC Party and Premier of Alberta.

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Redford's vote tally soared from 11,127 votes on the first ballot to 28,993 votes on the second ballot this Saturday - and it appears that a highly controversial, backroom union deal made just prior to the second ballot could have played a major role in her surprise victory. In a personal letter sent between the first and second ballot to the President of the 43,000 member-strong Alberta Teacher's Association, Redford promised to restore $107-million of funding that had been cut by the outgoing Stelmach government - a government where Redford sat at the cabinet table.

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"Alberta cannot afford special favours for special interest groups," says Peter Coleman President and CEO of the National Citizens Coalition (NCC). "An allegedly conservative party should be on the side of taxpayers." With Alberta already struggling to balance the budget, the nearly-depleted Sustainability Fund will be used to fund Redford's brazen promise. "The Sustainability Fund is not the personal piggy-bank of Premier-elect Redford. It is highly troubling that Alberta's treasury is being raided to fill the coffers of Redford's new allies, while Alberta's taxpayers foot the bill," says Stephen Taylor, Director of the NCC. Alberta's wide-open political party registration system allows non-PC Party supporters to immediately register and cast their vote for the next party leader. "Alison Redford won a contest with these terribly lax rules - rules which are rife-for-abuse. The NCC is calling for review of the process," adds Taylor. Peter Coleman President and CEO National Citizens Coalition Email: pcoleman1@rogers.blackberry.net Stephen Taylor Director National Citizens Coalition Email: staylor@ncc-on.org

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