(May 26, 2022) – Barry Petten, PC Official Opposition House Leader, and Helen Conway Ottenheimer, PC Official Opposition Deputy House Leader, today issued a letter to Speaker Derek Bennett calling for an emergency meeting of the House of Assembly Management Commission in light of serious allegations circulating through media.

“The people of Newfoundland and Labrador deserve better than what they’re getting from Speaker Bennett, Premier Furey, and Minister Hogan on the report which is alleged to contain serious allegations about workplace harassment at Elections Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Petten.

“The report exists. Of that we are certain, but the Speaker and the government refuse to acknowledge its existence. As members of the Management Commission, it is our duty to oversee every aspect of the House of Assembly, including its statutory officers. We need to understand this situation, so an emergency meeting is crucial.”

Conway Ottenheimer says transparency is crucial on this issue.

“Complainants are speaking through the media, expressing their dismay at a lack of information surrounding the status of this report. Why government and the Speaker’s Office refuse to even acknowledge its existence is an insult to the intelligence of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” said Conway Ottenheimer.

“We hope this meeting can be about gathering facts about how this report is being handled by government. If there’s nothing in the report, then the people of our province deserve to know that too. But we cannot accept a cover up of this report. And we will not.”

Letter to Speaker Derek Bennett calling for an emergency meeting

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca