Photo courtesy of MLA Tracy Allard's Facebook page

By Shaun Penner

Provincial Politics

Actions, not words the key to earning back Grande Prairie’s trust: Allard

Jan 25, 2021 | 2:06 PM

Grande Prairie MLA Tracy Allard says she is looking forward, not backward, as she looks to rise above her travel scandal that has brought with it much public backlash and criticism and to earn back the trust of her constituency.

Allard, speaking publicly for the first time Monday since New Year’s Day, says she is sorry for her decision to travel to Hawaii over the holiday season, despite advisories against such travel and ongoing public health restrictions here in Alberta.

Since the news broke of her vacation on New Year’s Eve, Allard described the last month as “tumultuous”, but that there have also been many lessons learned.

“I think that there are always lessons that will serve us going forward, and certainly I will be served personally by the lessons I have learned from this.”

Those lessons have come in many forms, including a sign posted outside of her constituency office earlier this month which publicly pointed to her destination of choice.

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Whether it be that, or through the many emails or phone calls her constituency office has received over the last month from residents voicing their opinions, Allard understands the reaction and why people are, justifiably she adds, upset; especially as she sees times as being tough in Alberta.

“I think that the last five years for Albertans have been terrible and trying,” said Allard. “It’s just like, if we don’t have bad luck, we would have no luck right now, that’s how it feels.”

Some reactions from the public, she admits, did go too far, especially some of those directed towards her family and children.

“Graphic death threats, regardless of who you are or what you’ve done, are never acceptable.”

Having heard the anger and frustration, she says apologies are not going to be enough to regain the trust of her constituents.

“I think what’s more important than your words are your actions. I think that’s where the true apology lies, and I hope that over time people will see that I am very committed to this city and this constituency,” said Allard. “While I can sit here all day and say my intention was good and pure, and it was, it doesn’t matter. People were hurt and I made a mistake.”

One action taken by Allard was her resignation from the post of Minister of Municipal Affairs earlier this month. With her move back within the UCP caucus, she hopes to quickly regain her moniker as the hardest working MLA, a recognition bestowed upon her by fellow MLAs back in 2019.

That will have to be done as some continue to call for her to resign from politics altogether. Though Allard admits she did seriously consider stepping down as the MLA for Grande Prairie, she thought back to her “why”, the reason she went into politics as the reason for her to continue.

“I got into this, truthfully, to bring something into government. I wanted to make an impact for the greater good,” said Allard. “The thinking that really got me to stay was that I don’t believe that when the going gets tough, you run away.

“That’s not how I’ve ever lived.”

Allard also issued a letter to constituents early Monday, where she says an overwhelming theme she has heard from constituents is “to move on and refocus on the important work of the constituency.”

The letter, in its entirety, can be found here.