Despite Premier Dave Hancock’s apology yesterday, Grande Prairie-Smoky MLA Everett McDonald isn’t budging.
He maintains his October 25, 2012 flight to Grande Prairie on a government plane was for business purposes, as he helped announce another $100 million for the new Grande Prairie Hospital.
“I think it was very important that I was here and I stand by that. Whether some of my colleagues unfortunately took the government plane back to Calgary, I didn’t; I stayed here and stayed in my constituency because I had other things on for the following weekend.”
In his report, Alberta’s Auditor General concluded the flight was not for government business, as it brought former premier Alison Redford to a PC Party fundraiser, and the Wildrose Party has called for an apology.
However, McDonald doesn’t feel one is warranted.
“I haven’t had one of my constituents ask for an apology. Every one of them that I’ve talked to has said, ‘you’ve got a lot of work to do, we understand that.’ [$100 million] is big news. As an MLA you want to be in your constituency when they’re making that announcement, and I was.”
McDonald adds it may be an issue of bad timing, with the party on the same day, and a delay in the announcement after MLA Wayne Drysdale flew to St. Paul to support families after a minivan crashed into a school, killing an 11 year old girl.