Fildebrandt’s return to UCP possible, but Kenney says legal issues need to be resolved
James Wood
United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney wouldn’t discuss Derek Fildebrandt’s political future Wednesday but made clear the Strathmore-Brooks MLA must still settle his remaining legal issues before he can even try to rejoin the UCP caucus.
On Monday, Fildebrandt was found guilty in relation to a hit and run and fined $402 in Edmonton traffic court, after a judge noted he didn’t provide any evidence to back up his alibi.
The MLA left the UCP caucus to sit as an Independent in August amid controversy over his expenses and the revelation of the traffic charges, which stemmed from a 2016 incident.
Fildebrandt now faces a Feb. 2 provincial court date in Didsbury related to two hunting charges after killing a deer on private land.
Kenney said an MLA can apply to the UCP caucus chair to be reinstated and the issue would be decided by a caucus vote, but he noted Fildebrandt’s wildlife charges as an ongoing factor.
“I would discourage him from doing so unless or until he’s resolved any outstanding issues. He now has another legal issue to deal with,” Kenney said in an interview Wednesday.
“I don’t see us dealing with any prospective admission … until all of that’s been dealt with.”
Kenney brushed off a question on how the judge’s findings in the hit-and-run case could potentially affect Fildebrandt’s readmission.
“Derek’s an Independent MLA. This is something he has to answer for. I think you should direct those questions about his conduct to him,” said Kenney.
Fildebrandt, who has indicated a desire to rejoin the UCP fold, declined to comment for this story.
On the hunting charges, Fildebrandt has said he thought he was on Crown land and he was “deeply sorry for the accident.”
He told reporters earlier this week he accepted the decision in the traffic case, which involved a former neighbour who accused Fildebrandt of a hit-and-run involving her van in June 2016.
The MLA was charged by police for leaving the scene of an accident and failing to notify the owner of a damaged vehicle.
Categorised in: Canadian News