Several United Conservative Party MLAs have been stripped of their legislative responsibilities after it was found they had travelled out of the province during the holidays.
Premier Jason Kenney announced on Twitter he has accepted the resignation of Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard who vacationed in Hawaii in December. Kenney also asked his Chief of Staff Jamie Huckaby to step down, which he has done.
MLA Jason Stephan has resigned from the Treasury Board while MLA Jeremy Nixon stepped down as Parliamentary Secretary of Civil Society. MLAs Tanya Fir, Pat Rehn and Tany Yao were also stripped of their Legislature committee responsibilities.
“Albertans have every right to expect that people in positions of public trust be held to a higher standard of conduct during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he says. “Over the weekend, I have listened to Albertans who are sending a clear message that they want real consequences for these actions.”
Allard, at a media conference last Friday, called her decision to spend Christmas in Hawaii “regrettable” and felt confident her family was fully compliant with the province’s health mandate.
Transportation Minister Ric McIver will serve as interim Minister of Municipal Affairs and the Premier’s Principal Secretary Larry Kaumeyer will serve as interim Chief of Staff.
