Central Peace-Notley MLA Todd Loewen (Facebook)

By Liam Verster

UCP Vacations

Central Peace-Notley MLA condemns UCP vacationers

Jan 5, 2021 | 12:16 PM

In the wake of the news that Alberta MLAs and staff have vacationed out of the country over the holidays, a Peace Region MLA is condemning the actions taken by his fellow party members.

Todd Loewen, the United Conservative Party MLA for Central Peace-Notley, issued a statement on his Facebook page on Monday.

Todd Loewen’s Facebook post from Monday, January 4

In an interview with EverythingGP, Loewen said that while politicians are in a position of power, in no way does it give them the right to break the rules.

“Elected officials are held to a higher standard. When we see Albertans around us suffering, and people kept away from their loved ones, it’s obviously tough when the public has this going on in their lives and then they see politicians travelling and apparently having a great time. The people of Alberta want to see the people that have positions of public trust sacrifice along with them.”

Loewen’s comments come following news that Grande Prairie MLA Tracy Allard had resigned from her position as Minister of Municipal Affairs after having travelled to Hawaii with her family for a vacation.

On Monday, Premier Jason Kenney also accepted the resignation from Jeremy Nixon, who stepped down as Parliamentary Secretary for Civil Society, and from Jason Stephan, who has left the Treasury Board.

“Obviously, it was a poor decision,” said Loewen. “I think it was a time when these people had to step down. It’s too bad, but that’s what the public demanded, and rightfully so.”

Along with Allard, Nixon and Stephan, MLA’s Tanya Fir, Pat Rehn and Tany Yao have also lost their legislature committee responsibilities.

Kenney also fired his Chief of Staff Jamie Huckabay on Monday.

Though the MLAs lost their cabinet and committee responsibilities, they have not been removed or stepped down from their MLA positions.

In an emailed statement to EverythingGP, Travis Toews’ office says the Grande Prairie-Wapiti MLA and Minister of Finance stayed “at home in his constituency” for the holidays.