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It looks like a little red-tape reduction thing, buried amid a lot of detail in the UCP’s new Bill 22, introduced Monday.

But this is a genuine gasping shocker that will be controversial in Alberta for a long time.

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The bill cancels the contract of Election Commissioner Lorne Gibson, who has been hitting UCP leadership campaign operatives with massive fines — $210,000 worth, as of early November.

Bill 22 rolls the commission duties into Elections Alberta, the outfit that governs the wider realm of running and regulating elections.

Chief electoral officer Glen Resler can decide if he wants to rehire Gibson, whose job was to enforce the election and financing laws.

The government says current investigations will continue, whether Gibson is retained or not. All fines and penalties are still valid. All this has nothing to do with Premier Jason Kenney, they say.

But holy illicit donation, who wouldn’t suspect they’re slamming the lid on this raging investigation?