Alison Redford plagued by expense questions as party looks to recover

Alberta's Progressive Conservatives are still in damage control modeafter two MLAs resigned from the Tory caucus thislast week.

• Alison Redford gets work plan from PC Party after 'brutal' talks
• INTERACTIVE | Vanishing Tories: Dissent in Alison Redford's party

SomeMLAsare still talking about following suit andmore examples of questionable spending have emerged.

Liberal LeaderRajSherman says an access to information request produced anuntenderedcommunications contract to a PC insider during the Alberta floods for more than $250,000.

"Aquarter of a million dollars is a lot of moneywhen the government has a public affairs bureau that ishighlyskilled and heavily financed," he said.

A four-day trip to Chicago and Toronto by the premierand anexecutive assistant that cost more than $16,000is also raising some concerns.

"I think the record is crystal clear this premier doesn't respect public funds and has an attitude of entitlement," said NDP leader Brian Mason.

But the government house leader says it's time to move on and return to the business of governing.

Plan laid out for premier

PC Party presidentJim McCormick says he supports Redford asleader and believes the embattled premier can turn the party's fortunes around.

"We've laid out a plan we hope and truly believe that will get us out the other side, shall we say," he said.

The work plan was drafted on the weekend after a day-long meeting between Redford and the party's executive. It came one day afterCalgary Tory MLA Len Webberabandoned his party to sit as an independent in protest againstRedford's leadership.

Since then associate minister Donna Kennedy-Glans quit cabinet to sit as an independent.

• Premier Alison Redford faces another resignation from Alberta Tory caucus
• Calgary MLA Len Webber quits Tory caucus to protest premier

"It was disappointing to hear that she made that choice," saidMcCormick.

Several other MLAsareconsidering the same moveand held a secret meeting to talk about it.

More MLAs to follow?

"It is speculation and I would be playing into that speculation other than to comment I've heard the same speculation you have," saidMcCormick.

Edmonton MLA Matt Jeneroux is among those deciding on his future with the party.

"There's definitely been things that have concerned mein the last little while with the premier's leadership and it's stuff Ineeded a lot of answers to," he said.

"And each caucus meeting I get more answers, [but]it's still up in the air for me."

Redford was roundly criticized for billing taxpayers $45,000 for her trip last year to South Africa for the memorial service for Nelson Mandela. Earlier this month, she agreed to foot the bill herself, but only after weeks of uproar during which more of her travel expenses came under scrutiny.

Redford also announcedshe would repay $3,156the cost of flying toVancouver for an uncle's funeral and forbringing her daughter's friends along on fourothertrips.

Despite the damage control, it might be too late for the premier.

"It's kinda hard to imagine what the path to resurrection looks like for Alison Redford right now," said pollsterJanet Brown.

Next few weeks to be crucial, says pollster

Shesays the next few weeks will be crucial.After Thursday, MLAs return to their constituencies for two weeksand will most likely discuss the leadership crisis with their constituents.

Brown predicts there could be more defections early next month.

"That's when you may see a couple of them say, 'My constituents told me to leave and I'm leaving,'" shesaid.

While party brass are convinced the new work plan will resolve the premier's leadership problems, the plan also includes a strategy to deal with disgruntled party members.

"Not only with the leader, but ongoing communication with our membership, members of caucus, because they're part of our membership as well."

McCormick says he's going to meet with Redford later in the week to iron out some of the details of their new plan.