Musings —08.10.2017 07:37 AM
—Alberta Conservative fraud?
A United Conservative Party MLA says there’s nothing wrong with him subletting his downtown Edmonton apartment while claiming thousands of dollars in rent from the public purse.
Derek Fildebrandt, MLA for Strathmore-Brooks, advertises his downtown bachelor suite for rent online as “newly renovated, modernly furnished and very well-kept.”
“It has a sweeping view of the city and is in the thick of the action on Jasper Ave.,” the Airbnb listing says.
Between January and March, eight Airbnb renters reviewed the apartment. Over the same three months, Fildebrandt claimed $7,720 for accommodation in Edmonton.
Here’s the definition of fraud under the Criminal Code of Canada, which still applies in Alberta:
Every one who, by deceit, falsehood or other fraudulent means, whether or not it is a false pretence within the meaning of this Act, defrauds the public or any person, whether ascertained or not, of any property, money or valuable security or any service, (a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding fourteen years, where the subject-matter of the offence is a testamentary instrument or the value of the subject-matter of the offence exceeds five thousand dollars…
Now, this Fildebrandt character has been a bottom-feeding scumbag for a long time – see here and here and here. This Trumpian little creep is everything that is wrong with politics.
But this latest episode takes it to a wholly different level. What do you think? If Wildrose doesn’t boot him out (again), I’ll be surprised. And if the cops don’t charge him, I’ll be disappointed.
“…and is in the thick of the action on Jasper Ave.”
Not sure about the rest, but Edmonton and “action” are mutually exclusive so this statement is definitely fraudulent.
He is a loose cannon and in fact he is actually one of the few people conservatives who actually could lose even with a new united right and that is quite an accomplishment when considering Harper got 59.5% of the vote in Alberta so that would mean over 1/3 of those who voted for Harper would go elsewhere. Also the fact he hates Jean is probably another reason why I think the party should choose Brian Jean instead of Jason Kenney. Jean seems more reasoned and better liked of the two.
These Taxpayer Federation guys are assholes — plain and simple. Douchebag hypocrites using their little “advocacy group” to jumpstart their careers in conservative politics.
Warren,
It’s so easy to delude oneself and imagine you are the next leader. A rude awakening awaits. Too bad that but that’s politics for you.