Alberta Premier Says Controversial Expense Policy That Stopped Disclosure Didn’t Meet Intent, Will Be Reversed

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says recent changes to the policy governing how senior officials report expenses deviate from their original intent of protecting officials’ privacy and security, and that she plans to reverse them.

The premier made the comments at an Aug. 14 Alberta Next town hall in Edmonton, after being asked by one of the attendees to explain the rationale behind the policy shift. The province on Aug. 1 published an updated version of its public disclosure of travel and expenses policy, removing the requirement for the premier, ministers, associate ministers, and their political staff to post receipts for reimbursed expenses over $100.