Alberta NDP MLA Christina Gray (Edmonton-Mill Woods) denounced United Conservative Party MLA Jason Stephan (Red Deer-South) for missing his swearing-in event to go on vacation. .“The fact that Jason Stephan chose to be travelling outside the province rather than fulfilling his duties to the people of Red Deer is extremely disrespectful, not just to his constituents but all Albertans,” said Gray in a Wednesday tweet. .Barring an emergency situation, Gray said it is “incumbent upon all #ableg #Alberta MLA-elects to be sworn-in and begin the work of representing their constituents as soon as possible.” MLAs cannot begin this work before they are sworn in. .She went on to say she was “deeply troubled that the MLA-elect for Red Deer-South would so casually defer his responsibilities.” .Gray acknowledged Stephan is not a rookie. Therefore, he knows the process for swearing in. .“Choosing to leave your constituents without representation is a shameful display of contempt for the Albertans who voted for him,” she said. .“The people of Red Deer deserve better.”.Stephan lost a government appointment in 2021 after he was involved in the snowbird scandal. .READ MORE: UPDATED: Allard, Huckabay resign; other Alberta snowbird MLAs punished.The scandal had been brewing since it was revealed nine Alberta UCP MLAs and staffers ignored provincial guidelines and travelled to warmer climates over the Christmas break. .He lost his job as Treasury Board parliamentary secretary for going to Arizona..Stephan could not be reached for comment in time for publication.
