Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard is expected to relinquish her cabinet job, the Western Standard has learned.
A senior Tory source said Allard is expected to officially announce her resignation from Premier Jason Kenney’s cabinet Monday morning. It will be the first attempt to quell a firestorm of anger against the UCP that is sweeping the province.
The source spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Allard has incurred the wrath of many in the province when it came to light she travelled to Hawaii because of a “17-year tradition” to have a family holiday in Hawaii.
This despite the province being in a full lockdown and recommendations against non-essential travel.
The lockdown meant the cancellation of most Christmas plans for Albertans as home and outdoor gatherings were banned. People were also forbidden from seeing relatives in long term care centres.
A total of nine UCP MLAs and staffers have travelled abroad over the holiday season. Allard will be the first to resign her post.
In a Friday press conference that must have set a record for the use of the phrase “I apologize”, Allard vowed to continue to work to get the trust back of angry Albertans.
“I am truly and deeply sorry. I know I’m held to higher expectations and I hope to earn trust back going forward,” she told reporters at an audio-only press conference.
“I need to be fully responsible and all I can do in hindsight is apologize. I’m an eternal optimist and I think brighter days are ahead.”
She called her decision to flaunt pandemic recommendations as “naive.”
Allard said she fully understands why Albertans are furious with her but said the trip has “no malicious intent.”
Allard also admitted she was in Hawaii when a staff member put a social media post out showing her in front of the legislature Christmas tree, but denied it was an attempt to cover-up where she was.
Allard flew back into the country on Wednesday to a firestorm of protest over her actions when the rest of the province was in a full pandemic lockdown. She flew to Hawaii on Dec. 19.
Kenney said he learned Tuesday Allard was in Hawaii and immediately ordered her back into the country.
“This is not good enough, we should be here at home,” Kenney said at a Friday press conference.
“There is now a clear order not to leave the country… unless it’s on government business.”
But Kenney said he would not fire Allard because she had followed international travel rules. This is despite the fact federal and provincial health officials have advised against non-essential travel.
Kenney said he had not made it clear to UCP members that travelling to tropical hotspots might not be the smartest thing to do during a pandemic.
On Friday, Kenney made that travel order clear for his caucus and political staff.
Allard will become the second Canadian provincial cabinet minister to lose her role.
In Ontario, a furious Premier Doug Ford announced he had accepted Phillip’s resignation on Thursday morning, shortly after the MPP returned from a luxury holiday in St. Barts.
Phillips and his wife had left Canada on December 13, following the end of the legislative session, and travelled to the Caribbean island of St. Bart’s.
Although Phillips didn’t violate any federal or provincial travel restrictions, he nonetheless apologized for making the trip.
“It was a significant error in judgment – a dumb, dumb mistake, I apologize for it, I regret it.”
Two Liberal MPs have voluntarily stepped down Sunday from their roles after telling the party about their international travel.
Ontario Liberal MP Kamal Khera has stepped down from her role as a parliamentary secretary because she traveled to Seattle for a service for her deceased father.
Montreal-area Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi has also stepped down voluntarily from his committee roles after telling the party he travelled to Delaware between December 18-31 to be with his wife’s ailing grandfather.
In Alberta, Agriculture Minister Devin Dreeshan made a joke out the political scandal by sending out a photo of himself on an ice-covered lake but geotagged it as being sent from St. Bart’s.
A full list of wayward UCP MLAs can be found here. The list will be updated if, and when, more names are revealed.
Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard
dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com
Twitter.com/nobby7694
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