Premier Hancock responds to Auditor General’s report on premier’s office expenses and use of government aircraft

“I’m grateful to the Auditor General for his report and recommendations. Oversight and transparency are fundamental to the work we do as public servants.

“Governments are entrusted to put the interests of the people they serve ahead of their own and to use public resources for public purposes only. That trust has been broken.
 

“While we have measures in place to prevent the inappropriate use of public resources, the findings of this report make it clear that we can and must do better. Albertans deserve nothing less than the highest standard of ethical behavior from their public servants.

“Our government accepts all six of the Auditor General’s recommendations, and we will take immediate action to implement them fully.

“The Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta has stepped forward to reimburse government for the cost of flights which the Auditor General has determined to have been primarily for party purposes.

“As the Auditor General notes in his report, this was an audit of the expenses of Premier Redford and her office, and it would be wrong to extrapolate his findings to the public service of Alberta as a whole.

“On the contrary, I can tell you that Alberta’s public servants – both elected officials and members of the Alberta Public Service – are dedicated to those we serve, responsible in the use of public resources, and respectful of the public trust placed upon us. 

“It’s unfortunate that the Auditor General’s report may cast a shadow on the excellent work done by public servants. And I accept that our government now has a responsibility to re-earn the trust and confidence of Albertans.

“This will be our highest priority, beginning now and continuing under the leadership of a new premier in the fall.”