Article content continued

While the various parties have staked out their positions on the case, if you’re like me it’s been difficult to know what to make of the controversy, or how much Albertans should care.

Information has come out only in bits and pieces. More questions have been raised than answered, making it difficult to see how, or if, the pieces fit together.

Whether Albertans will get those answers remains a mystery, yet the penalties announced this week indicate there is at least some fire burning behind all that smoke.

The campaign at the heart of this was run by Jeff Callaway, the former Wildrose party president, who was considered a long-shot to win the UCP leadership against front-runners Jason Kenney and Brian Jean. Callaway eventually pulled out of the race and supported Kenney.

Many of those who observed Callaway’s approach noted he spent much of his time picking on Jean.

According to allegations, that was by design. As the story goes, Callaway had no intention of winning but agreed to enter the race chiefly to weaken Jean, taking on a “kamikaze” attack role.

Both Kenney and Callaway have denied the accusation. And even if they hadn’t, there’s nothing illegal about two candidates ganging up on a mutual rival. The worst you could say is that some rather vile politicking occurred, which, admittedly, wouldn’t look good for Kenney.

However, further allegations have suggested that at least some of Callaway’s donors were putting their names to money that was covertly provided by sources connected with Kenney. That would violate election law, since individuals can’t make political donations on behalf of another person or organization.