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- Are you more like George Bush or Nelson Mandella? Pope Jean Paul II or the Dalai Lama? Take a 5 minute test and find out where you fit. Email me your results if you want along with which Alberta Party you support today; PC, Liberal or NDP. I'll compile the results and post them here; anonymously of course.
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Ralph Klein has gone and it is time to retire Ralph's World. Thanks to all of you who have supported this venture by contributing material and through your comments. It has been fun.
Should we get another blog underway? Let me know your thoughts by e-mailing me at johnnyslow@gmail.com.
John Slow
January 1, 2007
Friday, December 05, 2003
Party Money for Leader's Pleasure
I read with interest an article in today's Edmonton Journal in which Premier Klein talked about a special fund for his pleasure. Click here to read the article. The premier said and I quote "It's my money," he said. "I mean, it's the party's money for my pleasure. But it's my money."
My feeling is that some clarification of the size and use of these funds would be in the public interest. Consequently I have sent the following e-mail addressed to the leaders of our three main parties; - Premier Klein, Ken Nicol, and Raj Pannu.
To: Leaders of the Alberta PC, Liberal and NDP Parties
Subject: Party Money for use at the Leader's Pleasure
To further assist me in understanding the ways of politics in Alberta could you please answer the following questions regarding the use of your party's funds for use by your leader. This question was prompted by Premier Klein's recent discussion regarding his acceptance of private flights for personal use. The Premier is quoted as saying "It's my money," he said. "I mean, it's the party's money for my pleasure. But it's my money."
The questions I have are:
1. What is the current size of your party's fund set aside for this purpose and how much typically is spent per year from this fund?
2. Specifically, what types of transactions is the money used for? Could you provide some recent examples with their associated costs?
3. Does your fund come from political contributions which are eligible for an income tax credit for political contributions? If the answer is yes, is this not equivalent to the Alberta Tax Payer subsidizing this fund? If this is not the source of funds, could you please say what is?
Thank you in advance for your consideration of this issue. I look forward to your response. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours truly
John Slow
johnnyslow@hotmail.com
As always, I will post any responses if and when I receive them.
Click here to see responses to letters that have been sent to MLAs.
My feeling is that some clarification of the size and use of these funds would be in the public interest. Consequently I have sent the following e-mail addressed to the leaders of our three main parties; - Premier Klein, Ken Nicol, and Raj Pannu.
To: Leaders of the Alberta PC, Liberal and NDP Parties
Subject: Party Money for use at the Leader's Pleasure
To further assist me in understanding the ways of politics in Alberta could you please answer the following questions regarding the use of your party's funds for use by your leader. This question was prompted by Premier Klein's recent discussion regarding his acceptance of private flights for personal use. The Premier is quoted as saying "It's my money," he said. "I mean, it's the party's money for my pleasure. But it's my money."
The questions I have are:
1. What is the current size of your party's fund set aside for this purpose and how much typically is spent per year from this fund?
2. Specifically, what types of transactions is the money used for? Could you provide some recent examples with their associated costs?
3. Does your fund come from political contributions which are eligible for an income tax credit for political contributions? If the answer is yes, is this not equivalent to the Alberta Tax Payer subsidizing this fund? If this is not the source of funds, could you please say what is?
Thank you in advance for your consideration of this issue. I look forward to your response. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours truly
John Slow
johnnyslow@hotmail.com
As always, I will post any responses if and when I receive them.
Click here to see responses to letters that have been sent to MLAs.
