EDMONTON, AB (January 25, 2012): The Calgary Zoo is world famous and a source of pride for Calgarians and Albertans. Like most zoos, it is under almost constant funding pressure which makes the Wildrose Caucus wonder why in 2009 the Calgary Zoo contributed $725 to the Banff-Cochrane Progressive Conservative Association.

The Calgary Zoo is wholly owned by the City of Calgary and as such under the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosures Act [Section 1 (l)] it is prohibited from contributing to political parties. 

Section 34 of the same Act makes it illegal for political parties to solicit and accept money from prohibited groups. Yet in 2009, the Banff-Cochrane PC Association issued the Calgary Zoo two tax receipts.  One of the tax receipts is for an in-kind donation.

Today the Wildrose Caucus wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer asking him to investigate the PCs for soliciting donations from a prohibited group and to determine how this group or any group could possibly make an unsolicited in-kind donation.

“What Albertans have to ask themselves is why all these prohibited groups feel compelled to donate money to the ruling PCs,” Wildrose Deputy Leader Paul Hinman said.  “We know the PCs have solicited and accepted money from municipalities, school boards, universities, arms of Alberta Health Services, even government funded advisory organizations. This time it’s the Calgary Zoo.  As this scandal continues to unfold, I think Albertans should ask themselves why does this government have no respect for the law.”

Hinman said the ongoing revelations about non-partisan organizations giving money to the ruling PC party indicate that something is wrong with how Alberta is governed.

“I don’t believe that these public services, charities, school boards, universities and municipalities are all managed and run by card carrying PC members,” Hinman said. “I can only imagine the intense pressure they must have felt to curry favour with the PCs in order to secure funding.”

The media has recently reported that Elections Alberta has 48 investigations underway regarding this issue. 

With this request, we have presumably reached 49 investigations into the PCs soliciting and accepting illegal contributions.  Stay tuned for the 50th.

The Wildrose Caucus stands for free enterprise, less government, increased personal freedom and democracy.

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For further information or to arrange an interview, media are invited to contact:

Brad Tennant, Wildrose Caucus