August 15, 2025
RED FM News Desk
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government may undo a recent policy change that stopped the public disclosure of ministers’ and officials’ expense receipts over $100.
Speaking at an Alberta Next town hall in Edmonton on Thursday, Smith said the change had caught her off guard. She explained it was meant to address safety concerns, such as redacting hotel names where ministers frequently stay, but instead resulted in broader limits on transparency.
“It turned out to be something quite different,” Smith told the audience. “We’re going to see if we can track down how that happened and look at a reversal.” Her office confirmed Friday that the issue will be reviewed at a cabinet meeting next week.
The decision has triggered widespread criticism. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation called the move “baffling,” warning it gave the impression the government was hiding expenses from the public. “Premier Danielle Smith needs to step in and reverse this,” said Alberta director Kris Sims.
The Opposition NDP branded the change “shameful,” accusing the United Conservative Party of deliberately concealing spending. “Albertans deserve an ethical, transparent and competent government,” NDP house leader Christina Gray said. “Right now, they’re getting the opposite.”
Privacy commissioner Diane McLeod echoed concerns, saying the change undermines transparency. Former UCP infrastructure minister Peter Guthrie also accused the government of shielding misuse of tax dollars.
Gray urged Smith to restore eight years of past expense records recently removed from the government website, an issue the premier has not yet addressed.
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