Next step is to follow Ottawa's lead and put hospitality and travel expenses on-line for politicians, their staff and senior government staff

Letter to Hon. Lloyd Snelgrove

EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) sent a letter today to Hon. Lloyd Snelgrove, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Service Alberta, commending him, his ministry and the new Stelmach government for their decision to put government flight manifests on-line where they are fully accessible to the public.

"This is an excellent first step by this new government to recognize while these aircraft manifests were technically available to the public previously, they weren't all that accessible," said CTF-Alberta director Scott Hennig.

"By putting them on-line, they are now completely accessible and available to be viewed by all Albertans and taxpayers who ultimately foot the bill," continued Hennig. "This is an excellent move that sends the right signals of transparency and accountability by this new government."

In its letter to Minister Snelgrove, the CTF recommends the Alberta government follow Ottawa's lead by also making all travel and hospitality expenditures by ministers, their staff and all senior government staff available on-line.

"The Stelmach government has clearly said that there 'would be more openness and transparency in the way the government conducts its business,' and we think putting all travel and hospitality expenses on-line would be an excellent next step," concluded Hennig.

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Government-Wide Reporting website can be found here: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pd-dp/gr-rg/index_e.asp

A copy of the CTFs letter to Minister Snelgrove can be downloaded
here.