The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says the controversy swirling around Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pat Rehn shows the need for provincial recall legislation..Rehn was booted from the UCP caucus on Thursday morning after Premier Jason Kenney claimed that he was not doing enough to help represent his constituents..Rehn was one of seven UCP snowbird MLAs who jetted out of the province over the holidays while their own government had Albertans under a strict lockdown..Rehn tweeted a picture of himself from a cave in Mexico, one of the moves that kicked off the entire scandal.. Mossleigh pub briefly opens before authorities move in .“Kenney kicked Rehn out of caucus, but it should be up to his constituents whether he stays in the legislature or gets sent packing,” said Franco Terrazzano, the CTF’s Alberta Director, in a Thursday statement..“The premier has done all he can and now it should be up to the people to decide whether Rehn should continue to collect his six-figure MLA paycheque.”.Last week, the mayor and entire council of Slave Lake called on their MLA to resign in an open letter..In a withering letter to Rehn, the entire Slave Lake council alleged a litany of problems they have had with Rehn..Rehn will now sit in the legislature as an independent MLA with an annual salary of $120,936. MLAs also receive $16,548 through a retirement investment payment along with other expenses and benefits..Kenney promised recall legislation when he was campaigning in 2019 and has made the vow again after the election..The province’s Democratic Accountability Committee recommended a 40 per cent signature threshold to trigger a recall by-election. The CTF has recommended the province set the threshold at 25 per cent of votes cast in the last election..“Local politicians and constituents shouldn’t have to resort to backroom political brokering or rely on media coverage to hold their MLA accountable,” said Terrazzano..“That’s why we need recall legislation that works for Albertans and let’s us hold politicians accountable.”.Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
