Letter to Servus RE: Political Contributions

The following letter was submitted to the Board of Directors and Leadership of Servus Credit Union on April 30, 2013.

ATTN: Servus Credit Union Board of Directors and Leadership

April 30, 2013

RE: Contributions to Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta

Dear Board of Directors and Leadership Personnel;

I am writing as a member of Servus Credit Union about a political contribution made to the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta.  I take issue with this donation for two reasons; one is in regards to the appropriateness of any corporate entity or similar donating to any political party, and the other in regards to the decision to support that particular party.

Donation to any political party should be an individual decision.  Support of any political party is an individual choice, based on individual values and individual beliefs in how a province should be governed.  As Servus Credit Union currently represents many individuals from all walks of life, unless it has a mandate to represent every one of those members politically, it has no place providing any support to any political organization on its members’ behalf.  I for one am exceptionally disappointed that Servus Credit Union has chosen to represent me as a supporter of the Progressive Conservative Party without my consent.

Further, it seems odd to me that a financial institution such as Servus Credit Union would choose to support a political party with such a troubling fiscal history as the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta.  There are serious questions surrounding that party’s methods of collecting financial support during elections, one such allegation proving to be founded with regards to Paul Marcaccio of the Katz Group.  There are also serious concerns about the party’s issues with fiscal restraint and fiscal prudence; it has developed a perpetual spending problem coupled with an inability to guarantee cash flow.  An investment in the form of a political donation raises serious concerns over any organization doing the investing, especially a financial institution such as Servus Credit Union, simply based on the risk associated with a political party that can’t balance the books without it involving inappropriate conduct.

I am not certain how the decision was made to provide this contribution to the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta, and would like to be informed how it was.  I would also urge Servus Credit Union to halt any future plans to provide contributions to any political party, regardless of brand.  With the current choice of political party to invest in, it leads me to believe Servus Credit Union is not qualified to support any political organization, and it ill-represents the membership of Servus Credit Union, myself included.

I expect Servus Credit Union to remain focused on the skills it was built for; managing financial products and providing financial services, not supporting political organizations.  That is the best way to help me “feel good about my money”.

Sincerely,
[Original Signed]
Joel Windsor, B.A., B.Ed.