MLA Todd Loewen (Central Peace-Notley) is calling on Alberta's auditor general to open an investigation into big bonuses paid by the Alberta government.."I sent a letter to the auditor general, asking for an investigation and audit regarding the awarding of discretionary mega-bonuses to high-ranking government officials and ministry staff," Loewen stated..Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw received a bonus of almost $228,000 for COVID-19 work in 2021. That figure, on top of her regular salary, put Hinshaw’s pay at more than $591,000.."This was apparently done without the oversight of our elected cabinet ministers, which I find deeply concerning," said Loewen..Loewen wants an investigation and a performance audit completed on the Government of Alberta's budget for fiscal year 2021-22 focusing on the 107 cash bonuses awarded to government officials and ministry staff.."I believe Albertans are demanding clarity around the procedures and directives for the awarding of discretionary bonuses to these employees," Loewen told the Auditor General in the letter.."This week we read a statement from the former finance minister Trevor Toews alleging that he knew nothing about the bonuses given to top ranking officials in Alberta Health."."Alberta's chief medical officer in particular was awarded a bonus that has more than tripled the average Albertans annual salary. Mr. Toews surely saw the increase in funding to public health in supplemental supply. Yet it concerns me deeply that he did not question where the money was spent," Loewen said..According to Loewen' s letter, the report the released by the auditor general this past June showed the government did not provide a clearer picture of what $4 billion in additional COVID-19 funding achieved for Albertans.."Albertans deserve to know where their hard earned tax dollars are spent, and what the government achieved by spending. The awarding of pandemic bonuses seems to be related to that previous issue flagged by your office in order to have confidence that money is spent in a responsible manner," Loewen wrote in the letter.."Albertans expect their elected officials to be aware of what is happening in their departments. We now have statements from multiple cabinet ministers saying that they had no knowledge of these bonuses being awarded. Albertans deserve answers regarding what else happened with Alberta's finances that cabinet was not aware of and whether the directors in place were truly being followed."."I am deeply concerned government bureaucrats seem to be ruining the finances of this province with little to no political oversight in some cases. We need to know how widespread this was. If, as I suspect the former finance minister delegated authority to prove large sums of money without his knowledge, it's in the public interest to know about it and learn where that money was spent."."We must ensure we have a public service that accurately serves the public and that our elected officials have appropriate oversight of such large expenditures. I believe that Albertans deserve answers and hope that you agree to investigate this manner fully and expediently," Loewen said.
MLA Todd Loewen (Central Peace-Notley) is calling on Alberta's auditor general to open an investigation into big bonuses paid by the Alberta government.."I sent a letter to the auditor general, asking for an investigation and audit regarding the awarding of discretionary mega-bonuses to high-ranking government officials and ministry staff," Loewen stated..Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw received a bonus of almost $228,000 for COVID-19 work in 2021. That figure, on top of her regular salary, put Hinshaw’s pay at more than $591,000.."This was apparently done without the oversight of our elected cabinet ministers, which I find deeply concerning," said Loewen..Loewen wants an investigation and a performance audit completed on the Government of Alberta's budget for fiscal year 2021-22 focusing on the 107 cash bonuses awarded to government officials and ministry staff.."I believe Albertans are demanding clarity around the procedures and directives for the awarding of discretionary bonuses to these employees," Loewen told the Auditor General in the letter.."This week we read a statement from the former finance minister Trevor Toews alleging that he knew nothing about the bonuses given to top ranking officials in Alberta Health."."Alberta's chief medical officer in particular was awarded a bonus that has more than tripled the average Albertans annual salary. Mr. Toews surely saw the increase in funding to public health in supplemental supply. Yet it concerns me deeply that he did not question where the money was spent," Loewen said..According to Loewen' s letter, the report the released by the auditor general this past June showed the government did not provide a clearer picture of what $4 billion in additional COVID-19 funding achieved for Albertans.."Albertans deserve to know where their hard earned tax dollars are spent, and what the government achieved by spending. The awarding of pandemic bonuses seems to be related to that previous issue flagged by your office in order to have confidence that money is spent in a responsible manner," Loewen wrote in the letter.."Albertans expect their elected officials to be aware of what is happening in their departments. We now have statements from multiple cabinet ministers saying that they had no knowledge of these bonuses being awarded. Albertans deserve answers regarding what else happened with Alberta's finances that cabinet was not aware of and whether the directors in place were truly being followed."."I am deeply concerned government bureaucrats seem to be ruining the finances of this province with little to no political oversight in some cases. We need to know how widespread this was. If, as I suspect the former finance minister delegated authority to prove large sums of money without his knowledge, it's in the public interest to know about it and learn where that money was spent."."We must ensure we have a public service that accurately serves the public and that our elected officials have appropriate oversight of such large expenditures. I believe that Albertans deserve answers and hope that you agree to investigate this manner fully and expediently," Loewen said.
