Alberta’s Redford faces questions over government flight from Palm Springs

EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Alison Redford is facing renewed accusations of extravagant travel at the taxpayers’ expense.

Redford’s office has confirmed that the premier, her daughter and two bodyguards used a government plane to fly back from a holiday in Palm Springs to attend a memorial service for former premier Ralph Klein.

The total cost of the trip was $9,200.

Redford’s office said they looked into much cheaper commercial flights, but avoided them after wind shear created havoc for air travellers three days earlier.

Redford has already been under fire for spending $15,000 on a government plane to fly to Ottawa to catch another plane to South Africa for Nelson Mandela’s funeral.

Her office said she decided not to fly commercial in that instance out of fear the plane could get held up for de-icing.