Preston Manning has no credibility to chair COVID-19 review

By Lethbridge Herald on February 1, 2023.

Editor:

Danielle Smith has allowed Preston Manning to fleece Albertans, doubly. 

 Manning is collecting his parliamentary pension, and has been since he left office in 2002. It is based on his salary earned in the last five years – 1997 to 2002. 

 How is he qualified to chair the panel about COVID-19 measures when he is living on a generous pension, and has this quarter million dollars added on top of that, yet is going to review the COVID-19 measures that caused people to be laid off, lose their homes, lose their vehicles, lose their family businesses? 

Even without the quarter million dollars he’s being paid for chairing the panel, he is in luxury and amply able to live day to day! His father Ernest must be turning over in his grave.

 At the very least, with his life already being paid by the Canadian taxpayer, Manning should have had the integrity to refuse more pay from the Alberta taxpayer (who therefore are being hit twice). 

 Without the integrity to decline money that hundreds of thousands of Albertans desperately need to keep food on the table and roof over their heads, Preston Manning has no credibility to chair an inquiry into the measures that drove Albertans into desperate situations. 

 Refuse the extra money, Mr. Manning. It’ll give you at least a shred of credibility. By taking Smith’s money, you have no credibility. 

 Geoffrey Capp 

Lethbridge