NDP apologizes for wording of Calgary fundraiser
'I understand that there was an error made by the party in describing the fundraising event'
The NDP is apologizing for a fundraising event in Calgary the Wildrose claims sells access to Premier Rachel Notley, her cabinet and MLAs.
Tickets to the Nov.16 event at Stampede Park cost $250 a ticket.
- NDP admits 'serious mistake' in linking invitations to fundraising
- Critics slam $5,000 fundraisers with premier
"Join Premier Rachel Notley, Cabinet, and MLAs for the evening to discuss issues facing the province that are important to you," said a message on the NDP website.
Moments after defending the event in question period, Health Minister Sarah Hoffman read an apology to the house about the wording of the notice.
"I understand that there was an error made by the party in describing the fundraising event," she told the legislature. "That error is being fixed.
"On behalf of my party, I sincerely apologize for a mistake that was made and the impression it has created."
Hoffman said the NDP's provincial secretary will have more to say about the incident. Notley was not in the legislature at the time but defended the event when asked about it during an appearance in Edmonton earlier Thursday.
"I think the fundraiser is simply a fundraiser," she said.
"I believe that in lieu of dinner, I believe that both previous government and other opposition parties tended to charge between $500 and a thousand dollars to attend their fundraisers. And this is a more modest one, so I think that we will continue as members of a political party to raise funds for our political party."
NDP accused of hypocrisy
The Wildrose is demanding Notley cancel the fundraiser. Wildrose MLA Jason Nixon noted NDP house leader Brian Mason spoke out against a similar fundraiser organized by the PCs under former premier Ed Stelmach in 2007.
The events in Calgary and Edmonton sold $5,000 tickets for people to meet with Stelmach.
The PCs cancelled the event after coming under harsh criticism from Mason and other opposition MLAs.
This is the second time the NDP was forced to apologize for a fundraising event. In May, the party apologized for emailing an invitation to supporters to the publicly-funded swearing-in ceremony for Notley and her cabinet.
People clicking on the RSVP button were taken to another invitation to donate up to $2,500 to the New Democrats.
