Former Alberta premier Alison Redford ‘hunted’ in Palm Springs while absent from legislature

The hunt for Alison Redford has widened in scope — all the way to California.

As we reported 10 days ago, the former premier of Alberta -- and current MLA for Calgary Elbow, is MIA. Essentially, she hasn't shown up at the legislature since she resigned as premier in March.

Last week, Redford’s staff invoked a protocol that would allow her to still collect her $134,000 salary: they told the Speaker that Redford could not attend legislative proceedings due to illness or injury, bereavement, or public or official business outside the legislature.

Here's where the story gets weird: Redford has allegedly been spotted in Palm Springs with her daughter.

And...there seems to be photo evidence.

Over the weekend, an Albertan travelling in California, posted this photo on his Facebook page.

Kurt Bowley wrote that the image is of Alison Redford at a restaurant called 'Guissepi's'.

[ Related: Should we cut former Alberta premier Alison Redford some slack for poor attendance? ]

There have apparently been other Redford sightings in the Golden State.

The National Post has posted a picture with the caption: "Alison Redford and her daughter were spotted at the Target in Cathedral City, California. She was driving a Chrysler 200 with Illinois plates."

The Calgary Herald has a picture of Redford riding a bike — sans a helmet — in a her condo-complex in Palm Springs.

And CTV News spoke to another Albertan who saw Redford at another restaurant.

"She came in and said that she had a reservation under the last name Redford and she sat across from me for about five or 10 minutes," Sasa Kovacevic said.

"We awkwardly exchanged glances because I am pretty sure she knew exactly that I knew who she was."

[ Related: Premier Redford’s departure could cost Alberta taxpayers $1 million ]

While most of the reaction on social media is of people outraged that Redford would be 'vacationing' in Palm Springs but not showing up for work, she does have at least one defender.

"Despite everything that happened - and I think that (Redford) really abused the taxpayers' trust - she still went through a terrible time, and her daughter as well," Alberta NDP leader Brain Mason told Sun News.

"And to see newspapers publishing pictures of her daughter on the front page is just disgusting to me. I think that people are hounding her like a hunted animal on social media and in the mainstream media and, quite frankly, it offends me."

What do you think?

Should we leave Redford alone as Mason suggests? Or should the hunt continue?

Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)

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