A member of a southern Alberta health board has resigned from her government-appointed position after coming under fire for taking out a newspaper ad endorsing a Conservative candidate in Monday's election.
Donna Bier broke down Friday as she told reporters that she agreed to endorse the Tory candidate in Lethbridge-East on a personal level, but not as a board member of Chinook Health, which serves southwestern Alberta.
An ad featuring Donna Bier endorsing a Tory candidate was published in the Lethbridge Herald on Feb. 24 and 25.
(CBC)
She explained that she was forwarded an e-mail of the ad to proofread while out of the country, and that she did not pay close enough attention to notice the direct connection with her board position.
"This was a huge oversight on my part and one that I am taking responsibility for," Bier said in a statement.
"To clarify the issue, I did not write, place or pay for the advertisement that appeared in the paper."
Bier said she regretted the circumstances but felt it was in her best interest to step down.
The ad that appeared in the Lethbridge Herald on two days has Bier encouraging voters to support Tory candidate Jason Herasemluk.
"As a board member with the Chinook Health Region, I have become very aware that there are great challenges in providing Albertans good quality health care," reads the ad that features Bier's photo and the PC Alberta logo.
It goes on to say that she believes the Tories are the party best suited to meet those challenges.
Bier unsuccessfully ran for the Tory nomination in Lethbridge-East last fall.
The Chinook Health Region said Bier's replacement will be determined at a later date by the health minister.
Both Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach and Health Minister Dave Hancock had said they didn't support Bier's actions, but that any decision on what to do about them would have to wait until after the election.
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