NDP questions UCP sincerity after Fildebrandt resignation, open to expense review

The NDP is speaking out following the caucus resignation of MLA Derek Fildebrandt from the United Conservative Party.

“I think they felt backed into a corner and now he’s saying sorry,” Deputy Premier Sarah Hoffman said Wednesday.

Fildebrandt announced he was stepping down from the official opposition Tuesday night, as more scandals surfaced.

“Right now, media controversy is distracting from the work that must be done as the UCP is founded,” he said in a statement. “The UCP leadership race should be focused on issues of leadership and values, and not on personalities.”

“I have made honest mistakes – always doing what I believed was best at the time – and I accept responsibility, and am truly sorry.”

But Hoffman said it took nearly a week of negative coverage and political blowback before the move.

“UCP, Wildrose, PC, it’s just the same values by a different name and only when they really felt the political heat did they take any responsibility,” Hoffman said.

On top of Fildebrandt renting out his taxpayer-funded Edmonton apartment on Airbnb and double-claiming meal expenses, it was reported this week he’s also facing a 2016 hit and run charge, alleged to have hit a parked vehicle and then driving off.

Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark has called for a full review of MLA expenses and Hoffman said the NDP is open to that idea.

“Certainly wouldn’t resist to there being greater oversight, I think that I know how important it is to everyone,” she said. “It’s good for us to hold each other to the same standard that we’d expect of ourselves and I’m confident that our caucus individuals as well as, as a whole, have been providing that same reflection.”

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation – where Fildebrandt served as Alberta director before running for office – first called for a review back in 2012.

UCP Interim Leader Nathan Cooper said in a statement that if Fildebrandt could live up to the expectations he outlined, “there would be consideration for a future path for him back to the UCP caucus.”

The NDP has been in the opposition’s situation before.

MLA Deborah Drever was removed from the NDP caucus shortly after the 2015 election for appearing on a rock album cover simulating a sexual assault.

She also was criticized for several social media posts which included giving the middle finger to the Canadian flag and referring to an Instagram post of former premier Jim Prentice and former interim P.C. leader Ric McIver as gay.

She was eventually let back into caucus and Hoffman said that situation is completely different from Fildebrandt’s.

“She clearly demonstrated remorse right off the bat, she did amazing proactive work in the community,” she said. “It took them almost a week of getting regular bad press and seeing the political ramifications for what everyone knew was wrong on day one, for this to be taken as seriously as it has.”

When asked if she thinks Fildebrandt would be let back in, Hoffman said that’s ultimately up to the UCP leadership.

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