"I have every confidence that Albertans want to see their elected representatives paid fairly for the important public service that they do," stated Smith. "But the current process that quietly provides large increases in pay, tax-free allowances, spending accounts, expense accounts, per diems and a host of other perks does not pass the smell test."

"I am honoured that Danielle Smith has asked me to work with her and Mark Dyrholm to look at an issue that is so important to Alberta taxpayers," stated Link Byfield, Alberta Senator-elect and Chairman of the Citizens' Centre for Freedom and Democracy. "The public is rightly cynical when they see elected officials quietly giving themselves pay and perk increases, especially when so many people are unemployed or underemployed."

"We need a modern and transparent process that lets taxpayers know exactly what their elected representatives are being paid, and what is being paid for expenses and why," stated Mark Dyrholm. "I look forward to working with Danielle, Link and party members to come up with a better way to determine a proper pay and benefits package and to make sure that the process we recommend is beyond reproach."

"The Tories, Liberals and NDP seem to believe that they are entitled to huge pay raises and the public is rightly outraged. A Wildrose government is determined to get it right by demonstrating our accountability to taxpayers. I look forward to the recommendations of this task force in determining what MLAs should be paid and I have already committed that I will abide by the figures and process that result," Smith concluded.

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For more information media are invited to contact:

Shawn Howard
Director of Communications, Office of the Leader
Wildrose Alliance Party
Phone:              403-850-0885 (media only)

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MLA PAY & PERKS TASK FORCE

The Wildrose Pay and Perks Task Force will consist of party members working with experts, opinion leaders and others to develop a realistic policy that ends the current practice of politicians in effect setting their own pay. The process will conclude at the Wildrose AGM, and thereafter be binding on all MLAs and ministers when Wildrose forms government.

The party will develop as broad a consultation and decision-making process as possible, including meetings, events, online discussions and voting.

Wildrose Alliance Leader Danielle Smith has already committed to accepting the recommendations of this task force process and will campaign and accept the compensation levels that are approved. All Wildrose candidates will also campaign on these recommendations before they are elected to serve constituents in their respective areas.

About Link Byfield

A founding member of the Wildrose Alliance, Link was editor and publisher of the newsmagazine Alberta Report for 18 years. A strong advocate for democratic reform, he was chosen by 238,000 Albertans in 2004 to represent them in the Senate as an Independent nominee. He chairs the Citizens Centre for Freedom and Democracy, a national constitutional reform group.

Link is a freelance writer and lives near Edmonton in the village of Riviere Qui Barre.

About Mark Dyrholm

Dr. Mark Dyrholm is a chiropractor and a strong advocate for democratic reform and accountability. He graduated from Western States Chiropractic College in Portland with a Doctor of Chiropractic and received a Bachelor of Commerce from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary.

Mark has served as Vice President of the Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors and has been an advocate for business owners and taxpayers. He also has extensive policy development experience in the Reform Party of Canada, Canadian Alliance and Alberta PC Party. Mark owns his own practice, Wellness Naturally Chiropractic, and is based in Calgary.