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Watch above: Stephen Mandel’s expenses during his time as mayor are under fire by the Wildrose Party which claims he expensed thousands for Oilers tickets. Tom Vernon reports.

EDMONTON – The day advanced polls opened in Alberta’s byelection the Wildrose accused PC Edmonton-Whitemud candidate Stephen Mandel of expensing over $69,000 in Edmonton Oilers tickets while he was Edmonton’s mayor.

The Wildrose says the expenses were released as part of a freedom of information request.

The opposition party says the average spent on Oilers tickets per year by the former Edmonton mayor was almost $14,000 between 2008 and 2012.

The Wildrose says the City of Edmonton has refused to release detailed receipts with the FOIP.

“However, the city has access to a skybox at Rexall Place, so these tickets should not have been required for hosting purposes,” read a Wildrose release.

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Wildrose Edmonton-Whitemud candidate Tim Grover called on Mandel to pay back the money.

“Even the prime minister of Canada pays for his own hockey tickets. Mr. Mandel owes taxpayers an explanation as to why he believes he’s entitled to free Gold season tickets at taxpayer’s expense,” said Grover.

Mandel spokesperson Steve Buick claims the money was part of the mayor’s office budget to share a suite with EEDC, tickets were not for the mayor personally.

“Stephen Mandel did not expense Oilers tickets for his own use. He wouldn’t and he didn’t. He might have been at the skybox with visitors once or twice during the course of his time as mayor; but basically, these were not for his own use,” Buick said.

“The truth is the mayor did give out a lot of tickets during the time he was mayor, mainly to charity groups for them to raffle off to raise money for themselves, not for him. And he gave out some to visiting business partners or dignitaries— just like you’d expect from any mayor.”

Buick adds that these allegations simply distract from “the real issues” such as health care and leadership.

READ MORE: Advance polls open in Alberta byelection

Last month, Mandel was selected by Premier Jim Prentice to serve as the province’s health minister.

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Election day for the four byelection ridings is Monday, October 27th, 2014.