(April 21, 2021) – Barry Petten, PC Opposition House Leader, says he’s disappointed to see the Liberal caucus vote against accountability to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador by allowing their Justice Minister to hold the reigns of the crucial post-election investigation.

The PC Opposition had proposed a return to the previous make up of the All Party Committee on Democratic reform, which saw no single party with a majority. The Liberals have decided they want to control the committee by voting against the PC motion and handing the review to the Liberals.

“The questions about this election are not about who gets to form government or whether it’s a majority or a minority. It’s about protecting the democratic rights of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Petten.

“The Liberals holding a majority on the All Party Committee means they’re inserting politics in what should be a non-political process. By controlling the committee, the Liberals will act in their own self interest, rather than working together and collaborating on the issues important to the people of the province.”

Petten says the PC members of the committee will work hard to ensure the best possible results come from the Hogan Committee, but the process is off to a difficult start.

“It’s unclear whether Minister Hogan plans to suspend Mr. Chaulk from his position while the review takes place, which is another concern of the PC caucus. Mr. Chaulk’s own conduct is subject to the review, so he cannot have any role in delivering documents to the committee’s investigation,” said Petten.

“It’s just one more example of the Liberals damaging the independence of this critical review. The people of the province deserve better.”
 

Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Communications

(p) (709) 769-2216

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