CALGARY — As the Redford government prepares to unveil its first throne speech and budget in February, cabinet ministers will fan out across the province next week to talk to Albertans in a tour critics call a prelude to the election campaign.

Final details are still being arranged, but the four-day tour will begin Monday with groups of ministers visiting cities and small centres, and Premier Alison Redford making an appearance in Edmonton.

The premier’s spokesman Jay O’Neill said the tour is in line with other meetings, such as the property rights task force, meant to give citizens from across the province a chance to speak directly with cabinet ministers.

It’s about “getting out there and listening to Albertans,” he said.

But political scientist Duane Bratt said because a provincial election is likely to be called within the next two months, sending Tory cabinet ministers into the field now will be seen by many as “a campaign tour on the government dime.”

The Mount Royal University political scientist said he will be curious to see whether the meetings are private or public.

“These are things that ministers should be doing anyways. So does it all have to be co-ordinated at the same time?”

Rob Anderson, finance critic for the Wildrose party, called the decision to hold the cabinet tour weeks before an election call “incredible.”

“There’s an election coming up in the next couple of months. So to use taxpayer money to go on this tour is just a joke,” said the Airdrie MLA.

However, O’Neill said the tour has nothing to do with the upcoming provincial election. He noted the Stelmach government held the cabinet tour at the same time in 2011, and cabinet ministers can’t travel while the legislature is sitting.

Similar types of cabinet tours were conducted during the governments of both Peter Lougheed and Ed Stelmach.

As the Stelmach government faced declining popularity in spring 2010, ministers went out on a six-week blitz of seniors homes and community halls.

One year ago ministers headed out on a cabinet tour just days after Stelmach announced he was stepping down.

In Calgary on this tour, there are initial plans for ministers to visit Mount Royal University’s nursing program, SAIT and the Calgary Homeless Foundation.

The next legislature session begins in Edmonton on Feb. 7, with a budget expected a few days later.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it