Alberta to Replace Ethics Commissioner and Chief Electoral Officer

The Alberta Legislature in Edmonton in a file photo. Achinthamb/Shutterstock

Alberta is looking to replace its ethics commissioner and chief electoral officer.

Alberta’s Standing Committee on Legislative Offices voted to pass motions that will establish separate selection committees to recruit replacements for Commissioner Marguerite Trussler and Chief Electoral Officer Glen Resler.

United Conservative Party (UCP) MLA Glenn van Dijken brought the motions forward at the committee and said that finding the best candidate for each position was the best way to serve the province.

Mr. van Dijken said that while Mr. Resler has done good work, he has been in the role for a long time.

“The individual has been in the role for 11 years and having an open competition to be sure that we have the best-qualified candidate for the position is in the best interest of that office at this time.”

The motion to seek a replacement for Mr. Resler passed quickly, but Mr. van Dijken ran into opposition with the motion to replace the ethics commissioner.

The NDP’s Marie Renaud spoke against the motion.

She said that Ms. Trussler has worked for them for two terms and is familiar with some legislation, including the conflict of interest and the lobbyist act.

“I think it would be a missed opportunity to get rid of that expertise and that experience at a time when we need it the most.”

The UCP’s Grant Hunter said it was important to have an open competition to “see what we have available to serve the people of Alberta.”

He said if Ms. Trussler was “the best and most capable” candidate, she would get the job.

The decisions follow a May 17 report by Ms. Trussler that said Premier Danielle Smith violated the conflict of interest act in relation to criminal charges facing pastor Artur Pawlowski related to the Coutts border crossing blockade in 2022.

Mr. Pawlowski had given a speech at the protest event and was facing criminal charges.

The report concluded that Ms. Smith should not have discussed the case in a phone call with then-minister of justice and attorney general Tyler Shandro.

The report did not call for sanctions on Ms. Smith at the time, but Ms. Trussler said she reserved the right to make recommendations once the legislature was back in session.

Ms. Smith apologized in the legislature on June 20.

“Although I had no ill intent, the Ethics Commissioner found it was improper for me to contact the Minister of Justice in the way I did, and I apologize to all members of the Assembly and to all Albertans for the error,” she said.

The Epoch Times reached out to Mr. Resler and Ms. Trussler but did not immediately hear back.