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Friday morning, after the column below appeared, the NDP issued an apology for “the serious mistake” of inviting people to Sunday’s swearing-in ceremony while asking them to contribute money to the party.

“In this, unfortunately, we were mixing a party fundraising appeal with a publicly-funded event,” said Mary McLean, acting provincial secretary of the NDP.

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“This was a serious mistake, conduct we committed to end during the campaign.”

“As acting provincial secretary I have directed an immediate end to this fundraising appeal and the removal of information on the internet supporting it. And I have directed that there be no repetition of fundraising appeals that refer to publicly-funded events in this way.

“We sincerely apologize to Albertans for this mistake.”

On Thursday the New Democrats first justified of the practice, then decided to sever internet links to the fundraising campaign. The apology came about 15 hours later.