Incumbent MLA and Progressive Conservative candidate for Lac La Biche – St. Paul – Two Hills, Ray Danyluk, welcomed supporters to the grand opening of his St. Paul campaign office on Saturday.
The first week of the campaign went well, Danyluk told the Journal before the official ribbon cutting.
Danyluk has been the MLA for the constituency for 11 years.
“My commitment has always been to the community. My commitment has been to the people of this constituency and I very much believe that what we need to do is grow this constituency because the economic environment is growing," Danyluk said.
“It's about people. It's about individuals. It's about students, giving them opportunity and access, whether it's primary or secondary education. It's about seniors, seniors being able to live in this community and being proud to be here and having the services that are necessary."
On the campaign trail last week, Danyluk said he has had discussions with voters on land rights. Danyluk said a lot of “fallacies" have been put forward regarding land rights “which aren't depicting exactly where the government is."
Danyluk said he is one of 30 landowners in caucus and would not give up his land rights, nor the land rights of his children.
Last week, Premier Alison Redford said she expected all PC MLAs to pay back “every penny of money received" from sitting on the committee on privileges, elections, standing orders and printing, in a press release. Twenty-one MLAs have been paid $1,000 per month. The committee has not met since 2008, leading many to call it the “no-meet committee."
Prior to Redford's announcement, caucus determined members would pay back $6,000 for six months since Redford became premier.
While Bonnyville – Cold Lake MLA Genia Leskiw sits on the committee, Danyluk has not sat on a committee since 2008 when he became a minister.
Redford also suspended “overly generous" transition allowances paid to retiring MLAs and said she would not take her own “win, lose or draw."
According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, around $10 million would be paid out to MLAs who have announced retirement.
Transition allowances replaced a pension plan in the early 1990s and are based on three months pay for every year a MLA serves.
“Leadership is about making decisions; sometimes difficult decisions and sometimes, admitting you were wrong," the release on Redford's website states.
“MLA Compensation has been broken for a long time. That is why I asked former Supreme Court Justice John Major to take a comprehensive look at how MLAs are paid. At that time I made clear that we must move to a system in which elected officials are paid the way Albertans are paid."
Danyluk supports Justice John Major's review of how MLAs are paid. “That's what's necessary."
“Premier Redford made it very clear that she was stopping the transitions allowance as of the other day and I agree with that. Do I have some transition allowance that's banked up? Yes I do," said Danyluk.
Danyluk said he will live with by Justice Major's decision “very gladly," adding he is challenged by MLAs and cabinet deciding what their salaries should be. “I always thought the pension direction was probably the best way to go," he said.
Danyluk announced Redford will speak at an event at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre on April 20, where country singer Brett Kissel will perform. Tickets are $20.
