Wakeham Calls on Liberals To Cancel Secret Payments to Ministers

St. John’s, NL (July 18, 2025) – Tony Wakeham, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and MHA for Stephenville-Port au Port, today issued the following statement:

Investigative reporting has revealed the level of corruption in this Liberal government.

The Liberal cabinet secretly granted itself cash payouts of up to $48,000 each if they lose their seat or even if they voluntarily retire.

So far, we have eight Liberal Ministers who have announced they aren’t running again. This group will pocket almost $300,000 of taxpayer dollars.

Liberal Premier Hogan said he didn’t comment on the travel nurses scandal recently because no one asked him about it. So, I ask him today: Will you immediately reverse this decision? Do you have the political courage to do the right thing?

To each of these retiring Ministers, I ask: Will you refuse to accept these secret payments?

At a time when food bank use is at an all-time high across the province, and people are struggling with the cost of living and not getting the healthcare they need, clearly the Liberals are out of touch with the priorities of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Their focus is more about taking care of themselves and their Liberal friends. 

A PC Government under my leadership will cancel this secret Liberal fund, and will invest in lower taxes, better healthcare, and safer communities for all of us.