Airbnb listing lands Alberta MLA and former taxpayer watchdog Derek Fildebrandt in ho
- Thread starter spaminator
- Start date
I believe that he kept the money until he was exposed, so he was actually making money on an apartment that the government was renting for him. It is the very thing that Fildebrandt used to go after the former government for doing. It may be legal, but it outlines a bit of a glitch in the system when an MLA can profit from a perk that was not intended to be used in that manner.
Your statement says the government was renting the apartment for him. I am not sure that is true, I think the he is renting the apartment himself and is getting a fee for the government for him being from away. Some MLA's have bought a residence and are paying a mortgage payment on it, and what would be the difference if they put their residence up on AirBnB? Or does renting vs owning make a difference, in somebody's mind?
Yes this is correct. Many MLAs will purchase their own apartment/condo and then use the government rental allowance to make the mortgage payments on their purchased unit.
But at the end of their term, they will sell their purchased unit, often for a hefty profit. So in a way they are making money from their rental allowance.
He was getting an allowance from the government amounting to $23,160 a year as an out-of-Edmonton MLA. What he did was technically not illegal, but it was never the intention of of the government that set up the plan to have MLAs rent out the properties they rented at a profit.
Taxpayer advocate-turned-MLA sublets Edmonton condo while claiming public allowance
Taxpayer advocate-turned-MLA sublets Edmonton condo while claiming public allowance - Edmonton - CBC News
"it was never the intention of of the government that set up the plan to have MLAs rent out the properties they rented at a profit."
This is not written anywhere. How do you know it was even considered?
Obviously it was not considered. If it was there would have been a clause added to the plan to prevent it. Mind you the plan was set up by the PCs so it is possible they just did not care.
This character has a fascinating story. I had heard about it long before the media reported on this politician. I read about his situation and how he shot a deer in his backyard, forbidden animal hunting. Here is this article: https://globalnews.ca/news/7960375/fildebrandt-western-standard-retract-apologize-kenney-restaurant-story/. There are quite a few other details of Derek Fildebrandt's lousy reputation here.
I thought he would be punished more severely, but he wasn't. I continue to follow events because I expect people to become more reasonable. This does not only apply to politicians.
I thought he would be punished more severely, but he wasn't. I continue to follow events because I expect people to become more reasonable. This does not only apply to politicians.
Derek Fildebrandt barred from rejoining UCP
It looks like Mr. Fildebrandt proved to be too great an embarrassment for the party. That must look great on his resume, "Not Good Enough for the UCP". Not that he really needs a resume. As the publisher of The Western Standard he has found money to be made in the booming industry of online misinformation. Move over Ezra.
It looks like Mr. Fildebrandt proved to be too great an embarrassment for the party. That must look great on his resume, "Not Good Enough for the UCP". Not that he really needs a resume. As the publisher of The Western Standard he has found money to be made in the booming industry of online misinformation. Move over Ezra.
Last edited:
Will he need donations to fund a vast team of a paralegal for summary tickets that ultimately get dropped for already being a hot potato?
Since the subsidy is annual, if an MLA rents a hotel room by the month for the 10 months a year he needs it should he be able to keep the other 2 months worth of housing allowance? Not really seeing a difference.
In this case the "glitch" might better be described as a loophole, allowing someone not burdoned by honesty or integrity to pocket a little extra cash. It speaks volumes that repayment did not come until after he was exposed.