Opponents are crying foul after it was revealed Premier Jason Kenney rented a plane to get three of his fellow conservative premiers from Calgary to a meeting in Saskatoon..Documents show Alberta taxpayers footed $16,764 for the charter flight, which later returned to Calgary empty..The “like-minded” premiers, and two of their wives were enjoying the Stampede in Calgary in July and had to get to Saskatoon for a national premiers’ conference..On the Sunwest Aviation plane were conservative Premier Scott Moe, of Saskatchewan, his wife Krista, Conservative New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs and his wife Marcia and then Northwest Territories Premier Bob McLeod. Several of the premiers’ aides were also on board..“I just want to confirm, do you really believe that it makes sense to drop $14,000 flying conservative premiers from other provinces who have their own budgets, and their wives, and their staff from Calgary to Saskatoon?” Notley asked Kenney Thursday morning at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future in Edmonton..Kenney lashed back saying it was the only way to get to the meeting on time, adding he hasn’t misused aircraft at any time..“It’s the only time I’ve chartered a flight, apart from wildfires. We only do that in exceptional cases. I really do believe it is worth us investing in the critical relationships across the federation to help to protect this province, its jobs and its interest, against a hostile federal government.”.Notley later tweeted: “I just cant believe this. It would be almost comical if it wasn’t so deeply insulting to Albertans who have just had education, health, AISH, child care and much more cut from under them.”.Notley said a one-way flight from Calgary to Saskatoon usually costs between $300-$400..Former NDP finance minsiter Joe Ceci also blasted Kenney..“Kenney says he doesn’t see why this is a big deal. Hard to believe his disdain for Alberta taxpayers,” Ceci tweeted..The Canadian Taxpayers Federation also blasted Kenney for the flight..“Abertans didn’t vote for Kenney to waste tax dollars on fancy charter plane rides,” Alberta CTF director Franco Terrazzano said in a Thursday news release..“Albertans voted for Kenney to clean up the culture at the legislature and this is the same old frivolous culture that has plagued taxpayers for years. Kenney needs to fix this culture immediately.”
Opponents are crying foul after it was revealed Premier Jason Kenney rented a plane to get three of his fellow conservative premiers from Calgary to a meeting in Saskatoon..Documents show Alberta taxpayers footed $16,764 for the charter flight, which later returned to Calgary empty..The “like-minded” premiers, and two of their wives were enjoying the Stampede in Calgary in July and had to get to Saskatoon for a national premiers’ conference..On the Sunwest Aviation plane were conservative Premier Scott Moe, of Saskatchewan, his wife Krista, Conservative New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs and his wife Marcia and then Northwest Territories Premier Bob McLeod. Several of the premiers’ aides were also on board..“I just want to confirm, do you really believe that it makes sense to drop $14,000 flying conservative premiers from other provinces who have their own budgets, and their wives, and their staff from Calgary to Saskatoon?” Notley asked Kenney Thursday morning at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Future in Edmonton..Kenney lashed back saying it was the only way to get to the meeting on time, adding he hasn’t misused aircraft at any time..“It’s the only time I’ve chartered a flight, apart from wildfires. We only do that in exceptional cases. I really do believe it is worth us investing in the critical relationships across the federation to help to protect this province, its jobs and its interest, against a hostile federal government.”.Notley later tweeted: “I just cant believe this. It would be almost comical if it wasn’t so deeply insulting to Albertans who have just had education, health, AISH, child care and much more cut from under them.”.Notley said a one-way flight from Calgary to Saskatoon usually costs between $300-$400..Former NDP finance minsiter Joe Ceci also blasted Kenney..“Kenney says he doesn’t see why this is a big deal. Hard to believe his disdain for Alberta taxpayers,” Ceci tweeted..The Canadian Taxpayers Federation also blasted Kenney for the flight..“Abertans didn’t vote for Kenney to waste tax dollars on fancy charter plane rides,” Alberta CTF director Franco Terrazzano said in a Thursday news release..“Albertans voted for Kenney to clean up the culture at the legislature and this is the same old frivolous culture that has plagued taxpayers for years. Kenney needs to fix this culture immediately.”
