Redfords former executive assistant given all-expenses paid job

Former Alberta premier Alison Redfords executive assistant wentdirectly from his political position to an all-expenses paidprovincial government job, which allowed him to live in Denver, Colo.,at taxpayers expense.

Documents obtained through freedom of information by CBC News Edmontonshow Ryan Barberio racked up tens of thousands of dollars in hotel,food, per diem and travel expenses between September 2013 and April2014 while he worked intermittently in Denver as a commercial officerwith Albertas International and Intergovernmental Relations (IIR).

In total, Barberio spent four months in a Denver hotel at a cost ofmore than $25,000, not including thousands of dollars more in mealclaims, per diems and travel to Calgary.

I dont know how we are supposed to believe that this is not a softpolitical landing for a political staffer known to be a closeconfidant of the former premier, Canadian Taxpayers Federationspokesman Derek Fildebrandt said.

If you are practically living in Denver, you shouldnt be staying inhotels, Fildebrandt said. We have seen this from Redford staffers inthe past, where they stay at fancy hotels, where they do not seemcontent to live in an apartment, like most people do if they areworking away from where they normally live.

Posted online expense disclosures show Barberios successor asRedfords executive assistant, Brad Stables, billed the province morethan $9,000 for 42 nights at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald in Edmonton.

Denver consulate work

The documents show Barberio applied to claim out-of-province travelexpenses. In his applications, Barberio stated only that he would beworking with the (Alberta) consulate in Denver on issues pertainingto Albertas natural resources sector, and also working with theconsulate on specific advocacy files of importance to Alberta.

It is not known what, if any, education or background Barberio had ingovernment relations before he worked closely with Redford as herexecutive assistant. It is also not known exactly when Barberio leftthe premiers office, when he joined IIR or whether he still works forthe department.

Barberio did not respond to an emailed interview request.

The government also paid for Redfords former communications director,StefanBaranski, to fly home to Toronto twice a week. The CalgaryHerald reported taxpayers paid more than $13,000 to flyBaranskitoToronto in the first year of his contract, which paid him more than$180,000 a year.

• Duplicate flights taken by Alberta premier to same destination
• Redford's $131K travel bill includes private trip to London

Redford resigned as premier in March, in part due to the ongoingcontroversy over her lavish expense claims, including a $45,000 tripto Nelson Mandelas funeral in South Africa.