(November 17, 2022, St. John’s) – Barry Petten, PC Official Opposition House Leader and MHA for Conception Bay South, says it’s been a month since the Premier was first asked to provide details to back up his claim of “my time, my dime” and has continuously refused to do so.

“The Premier and a Billionaire Liberal Donor who is also one of the proponents of a billion-dollar project go to said donor’s hunting lodge and months later a government decision is made that directly benefits this donor. And the Premier doesn’t think the public has a right to know what happened?” said Petten.

“Premier Furey thinks he’s above scrutiny. He doesn’t think the people of Newfoundland and Labrador have a right to know whether he was given a gift by a billionaire donor to influence the decision making of his government. All the people of Newfoundland and Labrador want is assurances that the Premier isn’t giving away opportunities to his close friends. The Premier refuses to offer those assurances.”

Petten says he was encouraged to see Health Minister Tom Osborne offer some transparency on the Premier’s fishing trip – and he’s hopeful Premier Furey will follow suit.

On Sunday’s airing of NTV’s Issues and Answers, speaking about the decision to end the province’s wind moratorium at a March 24 cabinet meeting, Minister Osborne stated:

“I may be breaking the rules, but I went back: that issue was not discussed.”

“Minister Osborne is the first government official to offer any sort of transparency surrounding this controversy – but his statement only raises more questions,” said Petten.

“We are forced to assume if the decision to end the wind moratorium was not discussed at the Cabinet table, then Premier Furey himself must have made the decision to end the moratorium. That revelation is more troubling, as the Premier’s decision would directly benefit his close, personal friends.

Premier, it’s time to end this: table your receipts and be transparent with the people of the province, once and for all.”
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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca