Former chief of staff tweets he got $130K in severance

Premier Alison Redford's former chief of staff Stephen Cartersays he was paid $130,000in severance when he left the job.

"In respect for the premier's demand for openness, the amount of my severance was $130,000," Carter tweeted.

• Alison Redford says accusations on FOIP request misleading

Many had expected the number to be substantially higher, including Mount Royal University political scientistDuane Bratt.

"There's got to be more to this and if there isn't more to this, why all the secrecy?" he said.

The government refused for months to publicize the figure, and even today won't confirm it.

Bratt wonders what conditions were in the severance package.

He says it appears Carter was on a one-year contract andhe was paid out the remainder of his salary when he left half way through.

"The 130 doesn't particularly shock me. It doesn't connect with the way that Redford has tried to avoid it."

Wildrosestill wants to see documents

Global News said Wednesday the Alberta government denied theirformal FOIP request for the information.

TheOffice of the Information and Privacy Commissioner reviewed the caseandruled that the public has a right to know the amount ofCarter's severance pay, but the information still has not been released.

WildroseParty leader Danielle Smith describes the amount of money paid to Carteras "eye-popping."

Smith says that amount is out of line with what's acceptable.

"Would anyone else have that kind of rich severance package? I don't think so, not in the private sector," she said. "So we need to start seeing some standards put around this and I have to say the more we find out about this the more questions there are."

Smith says she would still like to see the official documents to make sure the severance was nothigher.

She also wants to see the severance packages that were given to a number of other senior government officials.

Too much money, says critic

The number is alsoalarming for Derek Fildebrandtofthe Canadian TaxpayersFederation.

He said it's too much moneyfor only working sixmonths.

While Carter's tweet stateshe released the figure in respect for the premier's demand for opennesshe is not commenting any further on the matter, nor is the premier.

Redford did release a statement on Thursday saying she had nothing to do withthe decisiontonot release her former chief of staff'sseverance pay informationand says, anyone who suggests otherwise is flat-out misleading Albertans.

Smith had said earlier in the day the premier was flouting the law by denying Global'sFreedom of Information request.

"Let me be perfectly clear,"said Redford. "These contracts are covered under Albertas Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacylaw, and no politician is involved in decisions on their release, including me."

Redford sayssheinstructedDon Scott, the associate minister of accountability, transparency and transformation,to replace the current disclosure in the Government of Albertas annual report with a policythat expands the proactive disclosure of salary and severance information for senior government employees.