First posted: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 07:18 PM MST | Updated: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 07:57 AM MST
Premier Alison Redford’s sister needs to answer questions about using taxpayer dollars to boost Alberta’s Tories because she is “a person of interest.”
That’s according to the opposition Wildrose Party, which sent a letter Tuesday to Justice John Vertes — the commissioner appointed to Alberta’s Preferential Access Inquiry — demanding that Lynn Redford testify.
“We are of the opinion that these circumstances would make Lynn Redford a person of interest for the Health Services Preferential Access Inquiry,” party leader Danielle Smith wrote in the letter.
“Indeed, we think that she should be one of the first persons called to testify at the inquiry.”
Lynn Redford was acting as a government relations adviser in the Calgary Health Region when she expensed tickets to PC and Liberal fundraisers.
Vases, ice, booze and flowers were also expensed.
Of her expenses, 40% of the $7,668.28 between 2005 and 2008 went to political causes, revealed documents obtained by the Wildrose Party through a freedom of information request.
“Albertans are very concerned with the allegation that our limited health resources were accessed preferentially by some members of the political class and their delegates,” Smith said.
“It’s in everyone’s interest to get to the bottom of these issues are restore public confidence in the integrity of the health care system.”
In question period Tuesday, opposition parties continued to hammer the Tories on the spending allegations, but it was Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk who fired back.
He called the allegations “innuendo” and accused Smith of expensing a federal political party fundraising dinner for her and her husband.
Smith said the allegations were false.