A day after the opposition called for a criminal investigation, over details leaked from an Auditor General report surrounding the former premier’s travel habits – the opposition turned their attention to the Finance Minister, and Redford’s former campaign manager shared her thoughts on the controversy.

Susan Elliot has inside knowledge on Redford – and said she is not only her former campaign manager, but a long-time friend – but she’s made her thoughts public in a blog post.

“I have watched with unbelievable sadness as this unraveled,” Elliot said.

Elliot told CTV News she’s disillusioned – and called Redford’s $45,000 trip to South Africa for Nelson Mandela’s funeral troubling, but the latest controversy is too much.

On Tuesday, leaked details of an Auditor General report alleged false passengers were booked on flights on the government fleet, and later removed – leaving the aircraft nearly empty for Redford’s flights.

“Is she still my friend? I believe she is,” Elliot said. “The time people need their friends, when we need them the most, is when they are going through difficult times.

“I do believe we need to turn the page and move forward.”

After news of the allegations broke, many have turned to social media to express anger – a number of the responses condemned the former premier, and call for her resignation from her seat as MLA of Calgary-Elbow.

Elliot said it’s a level of anger against a politician she had never seen before.

“I haven’t seen this level of hate levelled at a politician, probably ever,” Elliot said.

Meanwhile, Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith said distrust of the governing party extends beyond Redford, to others in cabinet – including Finance Minister Doug Horner, head of the ministry in charge of government travel.

“Either he was wilfully blind, or trying to pretend he’s not responsible, or he wasn’t managing it and was incompetent,” Smith said. “Either way, he has to be held to account for it as well.”

The Auditor General said the report in question will be finished and released soon – no date has been announced, but officials have said it would be distributed in August.

With files from Serena Mah