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A United Conservative Party MLA is taking a leave of absence from his role as finance critic in the wake of a controversy over renting out his taxpayer-subsidized apartment on Airbnb for months.

“Since January, I believed that renting out my Edmonton home while I was away was above-board and never costed (SIC) the taxpayer anything extra,” Strathmore-Brooks MLA Derek Fildebrandt wrote in a brief statement late Thursday, before leaving the province on vacation.

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“I, however, recognize the perception that this is not good enough, and have spoken with my constituents, and they are never wrong. I apologize.”

The Journal revealed Wednesdaythat Fildebrandt rented out his downtown Edmonton apartment on Airbnb at least eight times between January and March. Over the same months, he claimed $7,720 in accommodation allowance from the public purse.