Canada PoliticsA portrait of former Alberta premier Alison Redford is in the works, to be hung in legislature
She may be retired from politics, but former Alberta premier Alison Redford will have at least one more bill to pass on to taxpayers.
Like some other jurisdictions across country, ex-premiers in Alberta have the honour of having a portrait painted in his or her likeness and displayed in the legislature.
According to the Edmonton Journal, that process has begun for Redford.
The premier’s office confirmed Tuesday negotiations are ongoing with the artist chosen to depict Redford in her official portrait.
No further details can be released until that contract is finalized, said spokeswoman Kathleen Range.
Former premiers can choose any artist they’d like for their portrait.
Redford was forced to resign as premier in March after coming under fire from both the public and members of the Progressive Conservative party caucus for her questionable travel expenses. In particular, she was chided for a $45,000 round-trip flight to attend Nelson Mandela's funeral last December.
Last week, following more stories about her alleged spendthrift habits and an auditor general's report suggesting improprieties in the use of government planes, Redford resigned as the MLA for Calgary-Elbow
[ Related: Former Alberta premier Alison Redford resigns as MLA ]
The story of the portrait has generated some anger and some humour on social media.
Ex-premier Alison Redford to have official portrait in legislature. Lone visage framed by airplane window, perhaps? http://t.co/7EImbDPmJS
— Jason van Rassel (@JasonvanRassel) August 13, 2014
“@1003TheBear: ALISON REDFORD: has chosen an artist to paint her official PORTRAIT..." All of her pockets will have money falling out. — Brian (@paulhus611) August 13, 2014
@calgarysun #letthemeatcake #ableg #pcaa #pcldr pic.twitter.com/UJIKVryDI9
— Dawn (@hhwyfe) August 13, 2014
Despite the jokes and the frustration from taxpayers, Derek Fildebrandt of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation says that Redford deserves this honour.
"Alison Redford may have disgraced her office and few are sorry to see her go, but the Legislature of Alberta is bigger than any one person," Filderbrandt, the CTF's Alberta Director, told Yahoo Canada News.
"It has traditions that are important to it any the province as an institution that require continuity, regardless of how we may feel about individuals who have served in it.
"Alison Redford was the premier and the premier gets to have their picture hanged on the wall. I just don't envy the premier who has to oversee the ceremony to do it."
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The Journal notes that premier Don Getty's portrait cost about $21,000 (the bill included a portrait of a former speaker).
The QMI Agency, claims premier Ed Stelmach's portrait cost taxpayers $10,000.
And, according to the Alberta Diary blog, British Columbia makes do with hanging photographs instead of paintings to honour their premiers.
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