(October 13, 2022, St. John’s) – Barry Petten, PC Official Opposition House Leader, and Tony Wakeham, PC Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Finance, say the Liberal government is refusing accountability for their Future Fund, instead choosing to create a Liberal Slush Fund to be used as only they see fit.

“The people of our province deserve a say in how the Future Fund dollars will be spent. Our amendments intended to bring any decisions on spending from cabinet back to the House of Assembly for debate. The Justice Minister said he didn’t have to, the Finance Minister said she didn’t need to – in reality, the Liberal Government simply didn’t want to make this fund transparent and accountable to the people of our province.”

“Any time the Liberal government gives itself a blank cheque should be concerning to the people of our province. Our caucus fought to ensure the fund is accountable to the people of our province, with all expenses publicly debated. The Liberal Government instead believes they know better than the people of our province.”

The PC Caucus proposed multiple amendments to increase accountability and ensure public dollars cannot be spent without the approval by the legislature. The amendments were defeated in the legislature by the Liberal Government.

“Planning for the future must include assurances that funds set aside for the future cannot be used for partisan purposes. As proposed, the Future Fund allows the Liberal Cabinet to spend funds on ‘extraordinary expenses’ which only the cabinet will define,” said Petten.

“The public will only find out if the money was spent and how months afterwards through an annual report. That is not accountability, it is not transparency, and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador cannot sign off on a blank cheque to this Liberal cabinet.”

Because the amendments were not passed, the PC Caucus voted against the Future Fund, as public dollars spent without public accountability shouldn't be allowed.

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca