EDMONTON — A member of the Alberta legislature who was cleared of conflict of interest after he tried to get rule changes to help his home-building company is back in the government caucus.
Backbencher Peter Sandhu tweeted that he is honoured to be back with the Progressive Conservatives.
The government confirmed that Sandhu, who represents Edmonton-Manning, is indeed back in the fold.
Sandhu stepped out of the caucus in May when ethics issues surfaced in a CBC report that said he had tried to get changes that would help him with what he called “vexatious” liens against his company, NewView Homes.
Ethics commissioner Neil Wilkinson acknowledged several senior civil servants felt Sandhu was inappropriately using his office to further the interest of his business. But Wilkinson ruled the actions were acceptable given Sandhu believed the changes would benefit other home-builders, too.
Tory Caucus whip Steve Young welcomed Sandhu back in a statement. Wilkinson found that Sandhu had raised the issue of vexatious liens in committee and had fellow members of the legislature ask questions of the Service Alberta minister in question period about the Builders Lien Act.