Registered lobbyist hired for top PC job

November 03, 2011

Alberta’s NDP Opposition leader Brian Mason says Premier Alison Redford is showing extremely poor judgement in hiring Kelley Charlebois, a registered lobbyist with a checkered past in government, as executive director of the PC party.

“Alison Redford has picked a lobbyist for private health system services and a bargain beer company to head the PC organization. That’s hard for most Albertans to swallow,” says Mason, noting that Charlebois is registered to lobby for GE Healthcare (a division of General Electric) and Crest Mountain Brewing, along with law firm Field LLP.

Charlebois is infamous as the friend and former executive assistant to PC leadership candidate Gary Mar for taking $400,000 of public money in return for “oral advice” to Mar.

“His appointment is inappropriate and disappointing but I can’t say I’m surprised he’s been welcomed into the heart of the PC party once again,” Mason says. “The PCs are out of touch with the standards Albertans expect from their government.”