Alberta Government Reinstates Expense Disclosure Policy After Backlash

The Alberta government, led by Premier Danielle Smith, has reversed a recent change to its expense disclosure policy after widespread public backlash and criticism from across the political spectrum. Earlier in August, the province removed the requirement for Smith, her ministers, and senior staff to publicly post receipts for expenses over $100, sparking accusations that the government was attempting to hide spending from taxpayers. Following heated criticism, including from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and the Opposition NDP, the cabinet decided to reinstate the previous expense posting policy with a modification: the specific location details of accommodations like hotels will be redacted to protect the security of elected officials and staff. Premier Smith acknowledged being caught off guard by the policy change, stating the original intent was to address safety concerns but the implementation deviated from that intent. Additionally, the government removed thousands of expense reports spanning eight years from its website but has committed to restoring these online reports. The reversal aims to balance transparency with security, restoring public trust while safeguarding personal information.