Shocking.
Premier Alison Redford under investigation by ethics commissioner
One month after a scandal-plagued sitting of the legislature adjourned, Premier Alison Redford is the focus of an investigation by the province’s ethics commissioner into allegations she awarded part of a $10 billion lawsuit against Big Tobacco to her ex-husband’s law firm in 2011 while justice minister.
The alleged conflict of interest dominated the end of the fall sitting in December, where Redford denied any wrongdoing in the awarding of the litigation contract to a consortium of law firms that included her ex-husband Robert Hawkes’ firm.
“It has been widely publicized that Mr. Hawkes was Ms. Redford’s transition team leader after she won the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta and became premier,” Sherman said in the letter to Wilkinson.
“This is an extremely troubling revelation that clearly puts Ms. Redford in a potential conflict of interest.”
Wilkinson will now investigate whether Alison Redford violated Section 2 of the Alberta Conflicts of Interest Act which deals with decisions made by members of the legislature that knowingly further the interests of the member or a person directly associated with the member.
“The evidence in this case is clear,” said Wildrose justice critic Shayne Saskiw. “The decision to award the contract to a firm with strong political and personal ties was primarily hers.”
The Wildrose has repeatedly requested Redford and the governing PCs disclose the details around the bidding process, the contingency fees agreed upon and to prove that the bid was the lowest tendered.
“Taxpayers are in the dark on whether or not they received the best deal,” Saskiw said. “We hope that proper sanctions are handed out for any wrongdoing and that all litigation activity for this case is suspended and the contract appropriately re-tendered.”
Premier Alison Redford under investigation by ethics commissioner - Beacon News
Premier Alison Redford under investigation by ethics commissioner
One month after a scandal-plagued sitting of the legislature adjourned, Premier Alison Redford is the focus of an investigation by the province’s ethics commissioner into allegations she awarded part of a $10 billion lawsuit against Big Tobacco to her ex-husband’s law firm in 2011 while justice minister.
The alleged conflict of interest dominated the end of the fall sitting in December, where Redford denied any wrongdoing in the awarding of the litigation contract to a consortium of law firms that included her ex-husband Robert Hawkes’ firm.
“It has been widely publicized that Mr. Hawkes was Ms. Redford’s transition team leader after she won the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta and became premier,” Sherman said in the letter to Wilkinson.
“This is an extremely troubling revelation that clearly puts Ms. Redford in a potential conflict of interest.”
Wilkinson will now investigate whether Alison Redford violated Section 2 of the Alberta Conflicts of Interest Act which deals with decisions made by members of the legislature that knowingly further the interests of the member or a person directly associated with the member.
“The evidence in this case is clear,” said Wildrose justice critic Shayne Saskiw. “The decision to award the contract to a firm with strong political and personal ties was primarily hers.”
The Wildrose has repeatedly requested Redford and the governing PCs disclose the details around the bidding process, the contingency fees agreed upon and to prove that the bid was the lowest tendered.
“Taxpayers are in the dark on whether or not they received the best deal,” Saskiw said. “We hope that proper sanctions are handed out for any wrongdoing and that all litigation activity for this case is suspended and the contract appropriately re-tendered.”
Premier Alison Redford under investigation by ethics commissioner - Beacon News
