Dave Mabell
LETHBRIDGE HERALD
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The University of Lethbridge broke the law by donating more than $15,000 to the governing Progressive Conservatives, alleges the opposition Wildrose party, following a search through university records.
Calgary MLA Paul Hinman - the first Wildrose member elected, initially in the Cardston-Warner-Taber constituency - says the political payments were uncovered during a Freedom of Information request initiated by his party's caucus. The U of L cheques, ranging from $70 to $4,000, went to Conservative party officials over the 2004-05 period.
University officials say since 2005, when they learned about changes to the law, there have been no further political donations.
Hinman says the payments bought university officials such perks as playing in a fund-raising golf tournament, or seats at some of the pricey "Premier's Dinner" events. But as donations from a public agency, he says they contravened the province's Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act.
"I don't blame the university," he says. "This is an entrenched behaviour," with cities and towns paying for access to government leaders, alongside public institutions like universities and colleges.
"This is the economic bullying they do," Hinman says, coming from "a political party that believes it is above the law."
When the government is in the mood to spend, "they all want to be at the roulette table" and they're ready to pay to play.
Using its own research funds, he says Wildrose launched Freedom of Information requests covering a number of post-secondary institutions. The U of L was the first to respond, with all the details requested.
Hinman, the party's deputy leader, says Wildrose is now asking the province's chief electoral office to call for political contribution records from all of Alberta's post-secondary institutions.
"This is one example, from one university over a very short period of time," he says. "How far does this scandal go?"
U of L officials, contacted Tuesday, said their policies on political donations changed after they were notified of the ban in the fall of 2005. Since then, individuals who attend functions organized by any political party are not reimbursed for any expenses.
In Edmonton meanwhile, chief electoral officer Brian Fjeldheim is already investigating 10 Conservative constituency associations, following charges they too had received donations from the public purse - contrary to the law. But neither he nor party officials have disclosed which constituencies are involved.
But Hinman's former riding is believed to be one, after town officials in Cardston said they'd waived green fees to attract a Conservative fund-raising tourney to the Cardston golf course.