By Shaun Penner

Stepping Down

Allard resigns as Minister of Municipal Affairs

Jan 4, 2021 | 1:03 PM

Grande Prairie MLA Tracy Allard has resigned from her post as Alberta’s Minister of Municipal Affairs, amid growing criticism and outrage from the public over her decision to vacation in Hawaii over the holidays, despite advisories from federal and provincial government officials to avoid all non-essential travel amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Premier Jason Kenney, in a statement released on his social media Monday, says he accepted her resignation from her role within provincial cabinet.

“Albertans have every right to expect that people in positions of public trust be held to a higher standard of conduct during COVID-19,” said Kenney. “Over the weekend I have listened to Albertans who are sending a clear message that they want real consequences for these actions.”

Kenney responded to the revealing of Allard’s international trip, among other MLAs, on New Year’s Day, where he said he would not sanction any of his ministers or other government officials as they did not break any public health laws or regulations.

Criticism mounted over the lack of punishment over the weekend from the Premier, with the #resignkenney trending on Twitter for a majority of the long weekend.

Here in Grande Prairie, public criticism led to a “welcome” sign being erected outside MLA Allard’s constituency office on Sunday. Allard apologized for the vacation on Friday, saying she made the wrong choice in going.

Allard is not the only UCP MLA being punished. MLAs Jeremy Nixon, Jason Stephan, Tanya Fir, Pat Rehn and Tany Yao have all had their roles within provincial cabinet, or Legislature committee responsibilities revoked. Those MLAs were also discovered to have left the country over the Christmas break.

Kenney’s chief of staff, Jamie Huckabay, has also resigned following his trip to the United Kingdom earlier in December.

“Millions of Albertans have made real sacrifices over the past 10 months to help keep each other safe. They are right to be angry about people in positions of leadership vacationing outside of the country,” adds Kenney in his statement.

“By travelling abroad over the holidays, these individuals demonstrated extremely poor judgment.”

EverythingGP has reached out to Allard’s office for further comment.

Minister of Transportation Ric McIver will be taking over the role of Municipal Affairs Minister on an interim basis.