NDP TO CALL FOR LESSER SLAVE LAKE MLA PAT REHN TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR INAPPROPRIATE EXPENSES

EDMONTON - At today’s meeting of the Special Standing Committee on Member’s Services, the Alberta NDP will call for Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pat Rehn to address his erroneous and inappropriate expense claims.

On January 18, after it was revealed that former UCP MLA Pat Rehn had claimed per diems for nearly every day for four months, Rehn blamed his assistant for making “errors” and claimed that he was “not aware of” this, despite the requirement that MLAs certify and approve all expense claims.

“Albertans have a right to expect that their elected representatives are accountable with taxpayer dollars,” said Thomas Dang NDP member of the Member’s Services Committee. “Pat Rehn failed his constituents. It’s really simple - he should pay back these funds. The people of Lesser Slave Lake and Albertans expect more. It's not enough for him to claim he won’t claim expenses in the future. He needs to own up to and be accountable for his actions and our caucus will call for him to do so at today’s Member’s Services committee.”

The Committee Meeting will be held from 10am till noon on January 20. It will be live streamed by the Legislative Assembly.

“I hope that the UCP will join with us in this simple request for accountability from Pat Rehn,” said Dang. “Supporting this call would go a long way to show that they have learned their lessons and are willing to work to restore the trust with Albertans lost by the actions of UCP MLA’s this holiday season.”