WILDROSE ALLIANCE CAUCUS QUESTIONS DECISION TO LIMIT OPPOSITION AS NEW SESSION SET TO BEGIN

"This is not about a specific political party; it is about the constant undermining of our democratic process by the Stelmach PC government, the ability of opposition members to hold the government to account and to properly fund our research and the work we need to do to fight for Albertans," stated Paul Hinman, Deputy Leader, Wildrose Alliance. 

"We are also disappointed that the Speaker has made the decision to reduce the parliamentary rights and privileges of the Alberta New Democrats," added Hinman.

"The Stelmach PCs are the ones who continue to lose support in and out of the Legislature and they are the ones who should be affected, not the opposition parties."

"The PC Government has a $15 million annual budget for its Public Affairs Bureau, with about 50 staffers whose sole job is to try to make the government look good," added Rob Anderson, Wildrose Alliance House Leader. "We are seeking equal treatment with the Alberta New Democrats (caucus funding of about $233,000 per year) and more questions in the House so we can properly staff our offices and do the work that so many Albertans want us to do."

The Wildrose Alliance Caucus solution to this issue is:

1. For the Speaker and the Stelmach PCs to honour previous precedents and give the Wildrose Alliance and the Alberta new Democrats the same amount of caucus funding (currently referred to as the Leader's Allowance). 
   
   
2. That the opposition parties be allotted far more time during Question Period when the House is in session to fulfill their duties in representing the interests of their constituents and holding the government accountable. 
   
   
3. That questions from opposition members be given priority and government members should only be able to make inquiries at the end of Question Period. 
   
   
4. The Member Services Committee be convened to update recognized funding formulas and protocols for party caucuses. This would eliminate the ability of the governing party to freeze out opposition members in the parliamentary process (both funding and government accountability through Question Period and committees).  

The Wildrose Alliance Party was formed in January 2008 and currently has three elected members in the Alberta Legislature. The Party strongly encourages free enterprise initiative, individual and property rights, inclusive policy development, true democratic reform and accountability, community empowerment and streamlined, high performance government. 

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For further information, media are invited to contact the Wildrose Communications team:

Shawn Howard

Director of Communications, Wildrose Alliance Caucus

Phone:  (403) 850-0885 -- media only

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