Ralph Klein and the Progressive Conservative party owe taxpayers an explanation for using a government airplane on the night of the Tory leadership vote, say Alberta Liberals.

On Dec. 2, Klein took his wife and two others on a flight from Calgary to Edmonton, officially to attend meetings with government officials.

But the only public event that night was the Tory leadership vote, where Klein gave an 11-word speech: "Thank you all for your support over the years. Thank you."

'The Tories should be paying.'—Liberal Leader Kevin Taft

On the passenger manifest, the reason for the flights that day is listed as: "Attend meeting(s) with government officials."

Liberal Leader Kevin Taft says even though the Conservatives feel entitled to use the province's air fleet like taxis, the bill for the flights should be sent to the party and not taxpayers.

"There was only one reason that the Kleins were off to Edmonton that night and that was for a big Tory party event. The Tories should be paying."

No comment: president of Tory party 

Officials with the provincial government aren't commenting. Tory party president Doug Graham said he wasn't aware of the flights.

When asked if the party should pay, Graham said: "No comment."

Scott Hennig, a spokesman for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said if it can't be shown that Klein had to be in Edmonton that Saturday night for real government business, the bill should be sent to Tory headquarters.

"It's pretty clear that this was a trip to coincide with the festivities of the night of the PC leadership vote and unquestionably, if Premier Klein was flying in for that purpose and that purpose only, the PC party or Mr. Klein himself should be paying for the flight, the full cost of it, and it shouldn't be a burden on the taxpayers."

A charter company contacted by CBC News estimated it would have cost $5,200 to charter the same plane for the same flight.

On Dec. 2, the plane flew without any passengers from Edmonton to Calgary just after 4 p.m., picked up Klein, his wife Colleen, and Klein's top staffer in Calgary, Rich Jones, as well as a government security officer. It then returned to Edmonton.

The Kleins appeared on stage after the leadership vote results were announced and he gave his thank-you speech.

The same four people then boarded the same plane in Edmonton at 1:22 a.m., arriving in Calgary at 2:03 a.m. The plane returned to Edmonton, again carrying no passengers.