By The Canadian Press

Election commissioner fired in new bill introduced in legislature

Nov 18, 2019 | 3:25 PM

EDMONTON – Alberta’s United Conservative government is firing the province’s election watchdog.

Finance Minister Travis Toews says the decision to end the contract of election commissioner Lorne Gibson has nothing to do with Gibson’s investigation of the UCP.

Toews says it’s strictly about saving money.

The decision is contained in a bill introduced in the house today that’s aimed at reducing spending across government.

Gibson’s job and five staff positions are to be transferred to current chief electoral officer Glen Resler.

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Resler is to be responsible for hiring a new election commissioner, and the office will decide whether to proceed with existing investigations.

The move is expected to save $1 million over five years.

Gibson had been investigating the 2017 United Conservative leadership race, which Jason Kenney won before he became premier

Gibson has issued more than $200,000 in fines for fundraising violations.

The RCMP is conducting a separate investigation into whether voter ID fraud was committed in the leadership race.