Take Back Alberta head lashes out at Elections Alberta probe

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The chief of a political motion group with shut ties to the UCP is lashing out at Elections Alberta for investigating its political donation practises.

David Parker, who heads Take Again Alberta (TBA), stated he’s refusing to give up a donor listing to the elections watchdog that he accuses of corruption.

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“They’re demanding that I launch the whole listing of donors to Take Again Alberta. This can be a violation of the Elections Act, for the reason that donors to Take Again Alberta weren’t donating for political promoting,” he stated in a March 15 publish on X, previously often called Twitter.

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“I cannot be releasing the names of our donors in order that they are often harassed by left-wing activists.”

He stated he’s been subpoenaed to seem earlier than Elections Alberta officers on Friday and stated his group is organizing a protest outdoors its Edmonton workplace that day.

TBA is broadly thought to wield appreciable affect on the UCP authorities, on points akin to lately introduced limitations on medical remedy for trans youth and vaccine coverage.

These with shut hyperlinks to TBA take up a lot of the UCP board of administrators, and the group takes credit score for ousting former premier Jason Kenney and making certain the management of present Premier Daniel Smith, who’s a good friend of Parker’s.

The occasion has vehemently denied it takes route from TBA.

Parker stated the group is being unfairly focused “for merely educating folks how their democracy works and inspiring folks to get entangled of their democracy.”

Elections Alberta doesn’t touch upon ongoing investigations however does make the outcomes of them public, stated company spokeswoman Robyn Bell.

However she stated “investigating any potential breach of the Election Funds and Contributions Disclosure Act is inside the authority of the election commissioner.”

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Many, together with Mount Royal College political scientist Duane Bratt, say it may be argued the group is orchestrating UCP coverage, akin to permitting political events to compete in municipal elections.

And he famous different third-party advertisers publicly listing their donors.

“Everybody else does, no less than these not sanctioned by Elections Alberta,” stated Bratt.

On its web site, TBA promotes a petition to cease NDP Chief Rachel Notley, with the message, “We’re conscious that Alberta has a protracted historical past of conservative management and that the NDP doesn’t signify the values of most Albertans.”

TBA additionally takes coverage positions in keeping with these of the UCP authorities, although Bratt stated that’s not at challenge with Elections Alberta, though how the 2 co-ordinate on these is likely to be.

On X, Parker insisted Elections Alberta operates on a double normal by not investigating issues over “collusion between the Alberta NDP and unions.”

Elections Alberta had no touch upon that accusation, nor did the Alberta NDP.

No person from TBA responded to requests for remark.

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

X (Twitter): @BillKaufmannjrn

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